Problems With Being In The World

REVIEW

Genesis 18 gave the backdrop for the events of Genesis 19. God had just spoken to Abraham and Sarah and promised them a son, but Abraham and Sarah laughed. The three visitors were two angels and the pre-incarnate Christ who came to Abraham and looked over Sodom (Genesis 18:16). “Then the Lord said, ‘Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?” (v. 17). Again, in verse 19, God promises that Abraham would become a great and powerful nation. God protected Abraham and his seed and his family because ultimately that would lead to Christ. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was immense (v. 20). The remainder of Genesis 18 is Abraham’s negotiations with God to save the city.

TEACHING

Genesis 19 may be one of the most extreme chapters in Scripture. What can be worse than Sodom and Gomorrah? One occasion may be when Jesus cursed the three cities in Matthew 11:20–24 because they did not repent of their sin. There’s nothing politically correct in this lesson. We’re just going to look at the Word of God. When we fall into sin and temptation, it leads to this, and it isn’t good.

Genesis 19:1: Were these the same two angels that were just with Abraham? It would make sense. Abraham was sitting at the opening of the tent (literally at “the gate”) when the angels came, showing that he still functioned as a foreigner in the land. Lot sat at the gate of Sodom and had become entrenched in the city. Warren Wiersbe said this was a sign of authority, maybe even as an elder or a lawyer.¹Abraham viewed his home as the heavenly city, not of this world. Lot viewed his home as the earthly city of Sodom. Wiersbe said Abraham was a friend of God and not this world, whereas Lot was a friend of this world²(James 2:23; James 4:4). Based on how they lived their lives, Abraham was a friend of God, and Lot was an enemy of God. Lot was spared because of his relationship with Abraham and not because of anything he did. People associated with Abraham were blessed.

Genesis 19:2: Lot didn’t show much hospitality. Lot knew things weren’t good in Sodom, so he offered them a place to stay but didn’t seem to go out of his way to welcome them as Abraham had (Hebrews 13:2).

Genesis 19:3–4: Lot prepared a feast and baked unleavened bread for the men. That evening, “the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house.” Based on what is known, the “whole population” of young and old men are estimated at 600 to 1,200 men. Remember, Abraham had a tent, but Lot had a home. This wasn’t originally the case for Lot. Along the journey, Lot made Sodom his home (Genesis 13:10–12).

Genesis 19:5: The men of Sodom wanted to have sexual relations with the men who were guests in Lot’s home. There are over 20 references to Sodom and Gomorrah outside of Genesis 19 (Jude 1:7; Isaiah 3:9; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). Understand that what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah was not good. It was detestable. So, God said He would destroy this place (Jeremiah 23:14; Ezekiel 16:49–50; Matthew 10:14–15; 11:23–24). The more we open up the doors and say it’s tolerable or that people are born like this, then we ignore that it’s sin. I think that’s why America is getting closer and closer to destruction.

Genesis 19:6–8: Lot went outside because he knew the men of Sodom, but he was also courageous (v. 6). Lot knew the distinction between good and evil. In 2 Peter 2:6–8, we’re told that God rescued “righteous Lot, distressed by the unrestrained behavior of the immoral.” Lot, a righteous man, lived amongst these evil things and was tormented by what he saw. Does anyone else have a red flag here? He offered his two daughters to the men of Sodom instead of the men who were his guests. Maybe Lot knew something we don’t know . . . maybe he thought if they did something to his daughters, he could punish them? Deuteronomy 22:23–24 prescribed death by stoning to a man who had sex with a virgin engaged to another. But this was Mosaic Law, which hadn’t been implemented yet, so this is a weak argument.

Genesis 19:9–14: Suddenly the men of Sodom called Lot a foreigner (v. 9). Bruce Waltke said it was like their eyes were dazzled and they were deceived; they couldn’t tell which way was which.³It’s interesting that God cared for Lot’s family, just like He did for Noah’s family. Look at how Lot’s sons-in-law responded. They thought Lot was crying wolf. Lot had no credibility with his family (v. 14). Wiersbe said that after Lot left Abraham, his character deteriorated. But once again God came in and spared him.⁴

Genesis 19:15–20: Lot’s sons-in-law did not go with him. In Genesis 18:24, Abraham had prayed, “Will you really sweep it away?" The sweeping away was coming. Lot hesitated. He didn’t have that depth of trust in the Lord. He’d put his roots down. Bruce Waltke said that Lot found more security in the evil city than he did in leaving the city with God and going into the unknown.⁵Even though Lot hesitated, God spared him (v. 16). This was the theme—the sweeping was coming. Run! Don’t look back (v. 17)! Lot was still constantly debating and arguing. Fear had overtaken Lot. He was completely functioning in fear (vv. 18–20)

Genesis 19:21–25: The small town was named Zoar, which means “insignificant.” The historian Josephus said, “God sent a thunderbolt to set the city on fire.”⁶K. A. Mathews said: “This heaven’s rain cannot be explained solely as a natural phenomenon such as an earthquake; it was exceptional, never again repeated . . . The twin calamities of Noah and Lot illustrate Jesus’ teaching on the suddenness of the coming of the Son of Man.”⁷The point was that the suddenness of this destruction. At any given time, Christ can return.

Genesis 19:26–28: Lot’s wife looked back for her safety and security. She was turned into a pillar of salt. Compare this with Psalm 107:34: God turns a “fruitful land into salty wasteland, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.” Salt implies no fruit (salty wasteland). When you look back, you’re missing out on what God has for you in the future (Luke 9:62; 17:31–33). If you want to live your life in such a way, being comfortable at the gate, destruction is coming. Remember this was where Abraham had looked over the town and negotiated with Christ earlier in Genesis 19.

Genesis 19:29: Lot was connected to the Seed, because of Abraham, and God spared Lot. God showed us this destruction so we can see how He has spared us from that same demise. I don’t think we really realize what hell is like. I don’t think we realize that if we are apart from the Seed, Christ, destruction is coming to you and me. Until we put our trust in the Seed, hands to the plow, not looking back, destruction is coming. We must put our trust in Christ, who was the Seed of Abraham.

CLOSING

Please don’t be conformed to the world. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Abraham was able to discern this. Lot had a hard time.

Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us not by the works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” It has nothing to do with what we have done and has everything to do with His mercy. We are at a point where we need to plead for His mercy. And my prayer is that you will see that mercy can come because of the Seed who is Christ.