The story of a Philistine King behaving better than a man chosen by God.

Back to Abraham – Trust and Obey

Genesis 20 (NLT)
Abraham Deceives Abimelech
¹ Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, ² Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.
³ But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”
⁴ But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? ⁵ Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”
⁶ In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. ⁷ Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”
⁸ Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified. ⁹ Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! ¹⁰ Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”
¹¹ Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ ¹² And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.¹³ When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’”
¹⁴ Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. ¹⁵ Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” ¹⁶ And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”
¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. ¹⁸ For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

 Examine the Scriptures

Trust and Obey

Genesis 20 (NLT)
Abraham Deceives Abimelech
¹ Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar.

Back to Abraham’s travels.  (see map)

Gerar: A Philistine city on the border between the Promised Land and Egypt.??

While living there as a foreigner, 

 ² Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.

 Sinfulness and lack of faith

God had promised Abraham a son through Sarah.

Same sin in chapter 12 (Pharaoh in Egypt)

Isaac will do the same thing in chapter 26

• In this lesson, Abraham demonstrated a lifestyle of sinfulness and a lack of faith. (a lack of trust)

Our challenge:

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NLT)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

 Not only was Abraham sinning, but he was also setting Abimelech up for failure.  He was setting the stage for Abimelech to commit a “great sin” (see verse 9).

Matthew 18:7 (NIV)
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

• Abraham was setting the stage for Abimelech to commit a “great sin”.
• Our sins may be setting others up for failure.

³ But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him,

 In Genesis, dreams often bring divine revelation.

God intervened.

“You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”

Exodus 20:14 (NLT)
“You must not commit adultery.

Leviticus 20:10 (NLT)
“If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death.

• God intervened in Abraham’s life to preserve the promise he had previously made to Abraham.

Genesis 17:19 (NLT)
But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

⁴ But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 

 In chapter 18 Abraham had prayed for the righteous to be spared.

Abimelech’s pray is much the same.

⁵ Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”

 Abimelech respectfully presented his case to God.

• There are times when it is appropriate to respectfully present our case to God.

 ⁶ In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. 

•  God is in control.

God protected Sarah.

⁷ Now return the woman to her husband,

 Repent

Change your behavior.

Turn from wrong.

 and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet.

A prophet – One who is divinely inspired to communicate God’s will to others.

God’s spokesman

One who intercedes for others.

Spoke to God on behalf of Abimelech.

• God used a sinful man to minister to others.

 Then you will live.

 Forgiveness

 But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

Abraham is a prophet.

If / then

Abraham spoke to God on behalf of Abimelech and Abimelech returned Sarah to Abraham.

⁸ Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified. 

Abimelech’s men feared God.

 ⁹ Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! ¹⁰ Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

 Abimelech rebukes Abraham.

• A heathen king rightly rebuked a prophet of God.

“Great sin.”

“No one should ever do what you have done!”

Abimelech understood immorality.

 ¹¹ Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ 

             Abraham’s response

“I thought”

I thought this is a godless place.

I thought I would be killed.

I thought since Sarah was my half-sister, it was O.K. to lie.

Abraham did not fear God.

Abraham did not trust God.

Abraham misjudged the people Gerar. (They did fear God.)

¹² And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.¹³ When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’”

A partial truth.

Premeditated

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

•  Our thoughts are nothing like God’s thoughts, which makes it dangerous for us to act on our thoughts rather than trust God’s ways.

¹⁴ Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. ¹⁵ Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” ¹⁶ And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”

Abimelech was both repentant and generous while

Abraham was deceptive.

Abimelech felt a need to make restitution for his actions.

 ¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. ¹⁸ For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

Far-reaching consequences for sin.  (literally death)

Verse 7 …But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

Again, this is an example of how God was clearly in control.

• The sins of one or two individuals can impact the lives of many other people.

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NLT)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

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Will This Lesson Have A Predictable Ending Or A Surprise Ending

Genesis 19:30-38 (NLT)
Lot and His Daughters
³⁰ Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters. ³¹ One day the older daughter said to her sister, “There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can’t get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children. ³² Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.”
³³ So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.
³⁴ The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, “I had sex with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.” ³⁵ So that night they got him drunk with wine again, and the younger daughter went in and had intercourse with him. As before, he was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.
³⁶ As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their own father. ³⁷ When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites. ³⁸ When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 19:30-38 (NLT)
Lot and His Daughters
³⁰ Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters. 

Remember Lot’s earlier request.

Genesis 19:19-22 (NLT)
¹⁹ “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. ²⁰ See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”
²¹ “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. ²² But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)

Deuteronomy 6:18 (NLT)
Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
⁸ “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.  

• God’s way is always best.
• Remember God’s promises.

God’s promises for His chosen people.  God’s plans for those of us who have been adopted into His family.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)
⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Exodus 19:5 (NLT)
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.

• God’s plans for us are plans for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.

Lot’s daughters missed all of the above.

³¹ One day the older daughter said to her sister, “There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can’t get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children. ³² Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.”

Note:

Biblical character reference for Lot.

2 Peter 2:7-9 (NLT)
⁷ But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. ⁸ Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. ⁹ So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

 The daughters’ goal was to preserve their family line.

Their plan worked!  BUT!!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

• Seek God’s will in everything you do.

³³ So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.
³⁴ The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, “I had sex with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.” ³⁵ So that night they got him drunk with wine again, and the younger daughter went in and had intercourse with him. As before, he was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.

Sodom and Gomorrah’s immoral philosophy had a corrupting influence on Lot’s daughters.

• Society has a strong influence on our thoughts and actions.

Back to Sodom – repeating Lots mistakes.

The two following passages were used in a previous lesson about Lot.

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?

 Proverbs 4:14-15-19 (NLT)
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.
                                     ^…
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

 Two very real kingdoms.

• We live in two very real kingdoms: The Kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.

Colossians 1:13(NLT)
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

Exodus 23:2 (NLT)
“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.

Proverbs 4:14 (NLT)
Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT)
Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

•  We are influenced by the company we keep.

³⁶ As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their own father. ³⁷ When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites. 

The Israelites were forbidden to molest the Moabites.

³⁸ When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites.

 The Israelites were forbidden to molest the Ammonites

Predictable outcomes.

• Choices have consequences.

Exodus 34:7 (NLT)
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Deuteronomy 5:9 (NLT)
You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

The Moabites and Ammonites were Israel’s longstanding enemies.

Deuteronomy 23:3-6 (NLT)
³ “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord. ⁴ These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Be-or from Pe-thor in distant Ar-am-nah-ar-aim to curse you. ⁵ But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the Lord your God loves you. ⁶ As long as you live, you must never promote the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites or Moabites.

The surprise ending

Ruth 1:4  (NLT)
The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth.

Luke 3:23 (NLT)
The Ancestors of Jesus
Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry.
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.

Luke 3:32 (NLT)
David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of Obed.
Obed was the son of Boaz.
Boaz was the son of Salmon.
Salmon was the son of Nahshon.

 Lot’s daughters were ancestors of Jesus.

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Genesis 19:15-29 (NLT)
¹⁵ At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”
¹⁶ When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. ¹⁷ When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”
¹⁸ “Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. ¹⁹ “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. ²⁰ See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”
²¹ “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. ²² But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)
²³ Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon.²⁴ Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. ²⁵ He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. ²⁶ But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
²⁷ Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. ²⁸ He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.
²⁹ But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 19:15-29 (NLT)
¹⁵ At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”

 Not as literal, but just as important.

Amos 5:14-15 (NLT)
¹⁴ Do what is good and run from evil
so that you may live!
Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper,
just as you have claimed.
¹⁵ Hate evil and love what is good;
turn your courts into true halls of justice.
Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies
will have mercy on the remnant of his people.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

• Do what is good and run from evil.

• Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.

Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction.

¹⁶ When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. 

•  God is merciful.

Mercy

Withholding disserved punishment. (to be correctly punished for your mistakes or bad behavior)

“Mercy and grace are often confused. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not the same. To summarize the difference: mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.”

Psalm 91:14 (NLT)
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.

• God will rescue those who love Him.

Psalm 55:16  (NLT)
But I will call on God,
and the Lord will rescue me.

¹⁷ When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

Don’t look back.

Philippians 3:13 (NLT)
¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

 Don’t be controlled by your past.                                                  

Luke 9:62 (NLT)
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

 Isaiah 43:18-19 New International Version (NIV)
¹⁸ “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. 

• Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead.

¹⁸ “Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. ¹⁹ “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. ²⁰ See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”

Compromise

²¹ “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. 

More mercy

²² But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)

Lingering, halting, and being dragged to safety.

Lot is not being a role model.

²³ Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon.²⁴ Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. ²⁵ He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10  (NLT)
⁶ In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
⁷ And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. ¹⁰ When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

Romans 2:6-10  (NLT)
⁶ He will judge everyone according to what they have done. ⁷ He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. ⁸ But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. ⁹ There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. ¹⁰ But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

Galatians 6:7  (NLT)
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

• You cannot mock the justice of God without receiving a consequence.

²⁶ But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.

             Unable to give up her past.

Matthew 10:39 (NLT)
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

• Those who try to keep the life they have will lose it.

 ²⁷ Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. ²⁸ He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.

 ²⁹ But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.

James 5:16 (NLT)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

• The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

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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.

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Genesis 18:16-33 (NLT)
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
¹⁶ Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
¹⁷ “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. ¹⁸ “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. ¹⁹ I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
²⁰ So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. ²¹ I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
²² The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. ²³ Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? ²⁵ Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
²⁶ And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
²⁷ Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. ²⁸ Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
²⁹ Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
³⁰ “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
³¹ Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
³² Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
³³ When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 18:16-33 (NLT)
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

¹⁶ Then the men

The Lord and two angels. (last lesson)

got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.

¹⁷ “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. ¹⁸ “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 

My plan

Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. (God’s plan repeated.) Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4 Acts 3:25

Galatians 3:8 (NLT)
What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”

¹⁹ I have singled him out

• God had a plan for Abraham.

1 Corinthians 12 (NLT)
One Body with Many Parts
¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

• God has a plan for us.

so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.

• Abraham’s role:

Be a good father and grandfather.

He will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.

Do what is right and just.

What scriptures pop into your minds?

Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Deuteronomy 6  (NLT)
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
¹ “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, ² and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. ³ Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
⁴ “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. ⁵ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. ⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Psalm 78:4-7 (NLT)
⁴ We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
⁵ For he issued his laws to Jacob;  he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,
⁶ so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
⁷ So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

Summarize the above.

Redeemer Day School. (One of the school’s core values)

Redeemer Day School partners with parents and comes alongside them as they rear their children. We believe that a child’s home, church, and school should work together to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6). Teachers and parents must rely on the Holy Spirit to develop Christ-like character in these precious children. We are looking down the road at what each child will become as they grow into the person that the Lord has created them to be. Our prayer is that they will never know a time that they do not love, serve, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”

Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NLT)
¹⁵ “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. ¹⁶ For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
¹⁷ “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, ¹⁸ then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

• God carries out His promises.

²⁰ So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. ²¹ I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard.

Jeremiah 23:24 (NLT)
Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?
Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”
says the Lord.

Job 34:21 (NLT)
“For God watches how people live;
he sees everything they do.

Psalm 139
¹ O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
² You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
³ You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.

• God knows everything we do.

If not, I want to know.”

Genesis 13:13 (NLT)
But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.

Contrast

Blessings and curses

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (NLT)
²⁶ “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! ²⁷ You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. ²⁸ But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.

• You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord. You will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord.

²² The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. ²³ Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 

• The Lord remained with Abraham.

Abraham approached God

Hebrews 4:14-16  (NLT)
Christ Is Our High Priest
¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

• Because of all that Jesus has done for us we can come boldly to God’s throne of grace.

²⁴ Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 

Proverbs 14:34 (NIV)
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.

²⁵ Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same!

• Abraham was genuinely concerned for the righteous. (Lot)

Genesis 14:16 (NLT)
Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.

Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

Psalm 11:7 (NLT)
For the righteous Lord loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face.

Psalm 89:14 (NLT)
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.

Psalm 7:11 (NLT)
God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day.

Psalm 7:11 (NIV)
God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.

• God is a righteous judge. He does what is right.

²⁶ And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”

²⁷ Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord,
 even though I am but dust and ashes. 

            Insignificant compared to God.

²⁸ Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”

And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”

²⁹ Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”

And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”

³⁰ “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”

And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”

³¹ Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”

And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

³² Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”

It was turning out that Sodom was truly an intensely wicked city.

Genesis 13:13 (NLT)
But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.

Genesis 19:16 (NLT)
When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful.

And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

³³ When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

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