Sodom and Gomorrah Lessons
Sodom and Gomorrah lessons. Genesis 19 records God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah somewhere around 2,000 BC for their sinful wickedness. Here are lessons for us today.
Sodom and Gomorrah lessons. God will judge human wickedness
I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. (ESV, Genesis 18:21)
Sodom and Gomorrah were located in the Jordan valley described in Genesis 13:10 as “well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord.” In other words, rich, fertile land great for farming. But the two cities had a reputation for sinful wickedness.
So God sent two angels as men to report on its moral condition. When the men entered the city, they met Lott who immediately offered the strangers hospitality for night. Although the men offered to sleep out in the city square, Lott insisted they stay in his home. His concern for their safety was well founded. That night, a mob of men from the city tried to break into Lott’s home to sexually assualt his guests. Therefore, the angels struck them with blindness and they groped around harmlessly, unable to find the door.
Sodom and Gomorrah lessons. God’s grace spares the righteous.
Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (ESV, Genesis 18:23)
Meanwhile, Abraham appealed to God on Sodom’s behalf. Why? Probably to save his nephew Lott along with his family.
“Wait, Lord,” he said. “If you find 50 righteous people in the city will you spare their lives?” God agreed, Still, Abraham persisted.
“What if there are 45, 40, or 10 righteous?” Again, God agreed.
Is God wishy washy? No. But Abraham’s boldness in bargaining illustrates an important point. God does not want to punish mankind.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV, 2 Peter 3:9)
However, because he is just, God cannot simply ignore sin. It carries a death penalty that must be paid. Fortunately, that’s exactly what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.
Lott’s hospitality to the angels.
Hospitality was an important Jewish, cultural mandate. And Lott’s insistence and attempt to protect the angels demonstrated his righteousness as a Jewish man of faith. However, righteousness before God is not based on godly actions themselves, but the motivation of the heart. In other words, a heart that seeks to please God and obey his commands. It is this same desire that represents righteousness today. Not the perfection of righteous actions, but a heart that is devoted to pursuing them.
In the morning, the angels urged Lott and his family to leave the city because God was going to destroy it. But the family resisted. Of course, this is understandable from a human perspective. To suddenly learn their guests were angels about to destroy the city was shocking information. When Lott informed his daughter’s fiances, they thought he was joking and refused to leave with them.
Finally, the angels grabbed Lott, his wife, and two daughters by the hands and led them out of the city.
Sodom and Gomorrah lessons. Take God’s warning seriously.
God’s word is full of warnings, advice, and wise counsel. And to ignore, disregard or grow complacent regarding them invites consequences. Although much of God’s word requires thoughtul study, the message in this story is clear. When God declares he will do something, he does it. So take his warnings seriously and adjust accordingly.
The angels warned the family to not look back. But Lott’s wife couldn’t help herself. Just one more wistful look at the life she was leaving behind. A life of cherished memories. Of friends and neighbors. Was that too much to ask?
And she turned into a pillar of salt. Was that literal or perhaps some form of mummification by sulphur and volcanic ash? We don’t know. And while reminiscing on cherished memories has a rightful place, Christ-followers should exercise a faith that moves forward. Striving to follow, grow, and imitate our Lord.
For it is by God’s grace and the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ that we are eternally saved.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.
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