Genesis 19:1-14 (NLT)
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
1 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.”
“Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.”
3 But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate. 4 But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. 5 They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”
6 So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.7 “Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing.8 Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”
9 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.
10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door. 11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.
12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”
14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.
Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 19:1-14 (NLT)
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
1 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom.
Lot was sitting there,
City officials and other prominent citizens conducted the community’s affairs at the gate.
Lot had become involved with the politics of Sodom.
Proverbs 4:10-19 (NLT)
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
Psalm 37:27 (NLT)
Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
Lot was teaming up with unbelievers (the wicked).
- Lot had become a part of the political system of Sodom.
- Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.
and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground.
Like Abraham
Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
2 “My lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.”
Good host
(note: It doesn’t say that Lot would wash their feet.)
No indication that Lot knew these men were angels. (See verse 13)
“Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.”
Lot was certainly aware of the perversity of the Sodomites.
Lot wanted to protect these men (angels) from the perversity of the Sodomites.
3 But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate.
4 But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house.
- The perversity in Sodom was widespread.
5 They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”
Blatant homosexuality
What is a root cause of homosexuality?
Romans 1:18-27
God’s Anger at Sin
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other.
- Wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
- They knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.
- God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.
6 So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.7 “Please, my brothers,”
My brothers
My friends
Don’t team up with unbelievers.
he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing.8 Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish.
Don’t try to rationalize this behavior in any way.
But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”
Again, being a good host.
9 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge!
We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.
The men of Sodom turned against Lot.
John 15:19 (NLT)
The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
- The world hates those who God chose to come out of the world.
10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door.
The two angels saved Lot.
11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.
Exodus 23:20 (NLT)
A Promise of the Lord’s Presence
“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.
- God uses angels to carry out His plans.
12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else.
The angels warned Lot to leave Sodom.
13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”
By this time it would have been clear to Lot that these men were angels sent by God.
- God sent angels to destroy Sodom because of all the wickedness present in the city.
Divine judgment.
Romans 1:18
God’s Anger at Sin
But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Psalm 34:16 (NLT)
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
Psalm 94:23 (NLT)
God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.
He will destroy them for their sins.
The Lord our God will destroy them.
Malachi 4:1 (NLT)
The Coming Day of Judgment
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.
- God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.”
But the young men thought he was only joking.
Lot had lost all of his credibility.
