01-58 Fire & Brimstone, Part 1
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Genesis 19:1-16
Genesis 19:1-16
The men and women who crossed the ocean to found a great new nation were principally driven by hunger for God. When the Mayflower dropped anchor in November 1620 in Cape Cod the pilgrim leaders persuaded 41 adult males to sign what is called “The Mayflower Compact.” It addressed the terms under which the new Plymouth colony would be administered.
In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together in a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.
This was a remarkable beginning and the influence of these founding fathers would continue in every aspect of this new country—the USA. Their faith in God was included in our constitution, “In God we trust” would be imprinted on our currency, the Word of God would be foundational to the universities that were raised up.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
In many ways, God has poured out his blessing on our nation—the HS bringing revivals to bring the nation back to its foundation. The people have been graced with abundance, the nation exalted as a superpower. Churches have been greatly influential, missionaries sent around the globe, humanitarians efforts have show American generosity and goodwill to every part of the world.
John Phillips writes:
“The United States is still a bastion of the faith, but it is also the home of Hollywood. The land is riddled with pornography and perversion. Sodomy is countenanced. Thanks to a handful of godless men who served on the supreme court some years ago, abortion-on-demand slaughters countless babies every year. Scandals in high places rock the country. Organized crime flourishes. Our nation is inundated with drugs. Humanism in its worst and most subversive forms has taken over the schools, courts, media, political parties, and government. A large segment of the American church is apostate. Sin, which is a shame to any people, threatens the foundations of our country...The handwriting is on the wall. What the United States of America needs is another Holy Spirit revival that will put conviction back into the pulpits and pews; conscience back into government; common sense, decency, and discipline back into the schools; integrity back into business; commitment back into marriage; shame back into sin; courage back into the courts; character back into our leaders; safety back into the streets; purpose back into our youth; and God back into our national consciousness. Such a revival is the answer to our shame.”
A nation or society can go only go so far until God holds it accountable and brings judgment upon it for its deeds/disgrace. That principle is demonstrated in the destruction of S&G in Gen 19. The rise and fall of nations is always in the hand of our Sovereign God and while we may not always understand the hidden purposes of the Lord in His intervening in the affairs of nations, we do know and can understand that His desire—expressed in His self-disclosure is for His creatures to pursue righteousness. That is the same for us: individuals, families, churches, cities, nation…righteousness will exalt the nation but sin is a disgrace (referring to guilt and condemnation)—an the nation cannot hold up under that for too long. We see this in S&G.
Its going to take a couple weeks to get thru these vv—but lets start with:
I. The Arrival
I. The Arrival
vv 1-3
We are reintroduced to Lot…and the course of his life has been a gradual, downhill slide.
Looked toward Sodom (13:10)—to look with longing (city life was drawing him)
Pitched tents near Sodom (13:12)—acted on what he desired in his heart (this was not sin—but dangerous)
Living in Sodom 14:12—not content to live on the outskirts—he wanted the fullness of life in the city
“Sitting in the gate” 19:1—indication of status
Lot didn’t take the leap all at once—and like so many things gradually pull us away from the Lord, from holy living and righteousness. Important to remember the admonition of God’s Word:
59 I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
Always be in self-examination mode—measuring your desires, activities, thoughts, words up to the standard Scripture.
Lot’s Visitors
Lot’s Visitors
2 angels arrived in Sodom at night. These are the same 2 who accompanied YHWH in the last chapter where they looked down toward Sodom (already described as exceedingly wicked 13:13) and began the journey which would have taken the better part of the day. So they arrive in the evening. Hebrews 13:1-2 instructs us to be careful to show hospitality (love of strangers) b/c some have entertained angels without knowing it. That seems like an obvious reference to Abraham. Angels are messengers (both Heb & Gk terms) and here they are clearly delivering the message of impending destruction of Sodom to Lot so that God’s purposes would be established thru him (and his daughters—more on that in a future study).
Lot’s Prominence
Lot’s Prominence
The reference to “sitting in the gate” was a way to refer to the gathering place of the city’s leaders for conversation, to conduct business and administer justice. If you had some position of prominence—this is where you were in the evening: city leaders, judges, business men—they all had powerful influence on Sodom. Lot is here. He has influence, prominence (should have been at home) but this is where he is—indicating some social status in this pagan city.
Lot’s Concern
Lot’s Concern
As soon as the angels arrive, Lot rises up to greet them and in doing so—shows great respect in bowing down to the ground. At this point, I don’t think Lot realizes who these 2 messengers are (angels who took on human appearance) but he even addresses them with a term of respect “my lords” (vs 2).
The 2 men have approached the square (just inside the city gate) intending to spend the night here but Lot knows what goes on in the square at night. He knows the sins of Sodom. Even though he is comfortable enough to be with those of prominence, he knows the evil that will take place and is concerned that the city’s visitors would not be subjected to it (again, not knowing their identity).
So Lot begs the angels to take advantage of his hospitality. “please...” There are similarities to the hospitality Abraham had shown the day before. But the angels refused Lot’s invitation rather strongly. “No” is emphatic “no indeed” and insist that they would stay in the square.
Notice Lot’s response: vs 3 “urged them strongly”lit “pressed/pushed them with power/strength” I can picture in my mind that the angels might have taken a step forward after refusing Lot’s offer but Lot…out of the depth of his concern put a hand on the chest and pushed them back somewhat forcefully.
Lot knows what’s going to happen and without telling the angels he wants them to stay in the protection his house and leave the city as early as possible the next day.
Lot is concerned…There’s a real interesting dynamic at play in Lot’s life. We see his downward slide, making his way toward Sodom and being at home in this pagan, godless, wicked city. But we also know what Peter writes:
2 Peter 2:6-8;
Lot (who is a believer at this point) is tormented by life in Sodom. That word means to inflict severe suffering or pain thru torture or torment. Lot was physically, spiritually and emotionally harassed b/c he dared to uphold righteousness while living in Sodom. Now, he is not perfect as we’ll encounter shortly. But he is righteous.
There are countless ways that the world inflicts the believer…tormenting us (if you will) thru godlessness, wickedness, sin and evil. It is flaunted, promoted, exalted, praised—not unlike the Lord’s indictment against Israel thru Isaiah:
18 Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes; 19 Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near And come to pass, that we may know it!” 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!
13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Like Lot—we live in the world but are not of the world and cannot be like the world in living. Continue to resist evil and uphold righteousness, preach the gospel, love your neighbor…b/c this is the only thing that can exalt a nation and spare it from condemnation.
II. The Assault
II. The Assault
vv 4-11
“Before” gives us a sense of the flow of the evening…the meal, conversation, preparing for sleep (usually followed the evening meal—not extravagant like Abraham’s).
Now, for the 1st time we have a clear indicator of the nature of Sodom’s sin (on top of everything else they were known for):
49 “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. 50 “Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.
Sodom’s sin, for which it would be forever known: was sexual in nature. I want you to take note of how pervasive the immorality was:
Pervasive Immorality
Pervasive Immorality
First of all, the men of the city surround Lot’s house. There is an indication of their hostile intentions from the very beginning. This is mob mentality and it brings the city into an uproar.
Moses mentions “young and old…every quarter” (lit from every end). The sin of Sodom was inclusive of everyone…it was multigenerational, it transcended social classes…it was truly pervasive in Sodom. Their sin, the sin of homosexuality was not a “greater sin” than any other sin—but it was a compounding sin. We’ve seen earlier statements:
13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.
20 And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 “I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
But like all sin—the sin of sodomy (homosexuality) is an abomination to the Lord b/c it is a perversion of what he has created for good.
22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.
13 ‘If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
The Law of God (which clearly prohibits all sexual immorality) is designed by God to point sinners to the gospel where there is freedom from that which condemns.
This pagan mob surrounded Lot’s house and “called” to him “where...” The word “called” is a Hebrew Imperfect verb which means incomplete action…they kept calling is the description of this mob…just chanting, yelling, screaming out of godless passion. Now, they have no idea who these visitors are…they only recognize they are new to the city and their passions ignite for the men.
“bring them out...” have relations is the same word that was used: “to know”
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
This clearly puts their sin in the sexual realm—a complete perversion of God’s purpose in creating man and then woman for the man. Everything about this is a rejection of God’s goodness. The reality is that sin spreads likely cancer. For Sodom, sin was infecting every area of life and no citizen was left untouched.
In the NT sin is likened to leaven. Regarding the serious case of sexual immorality in the Corinthian church Paul admonished believers to:
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
Sin permeates and destroys everything. Xns and the church collectively must do whatever is necessary to pursue purity and to “clean out the old leaven.” That begins with personal examination and the personal pursuit of holiness that is becoming of saints—those who are regenerated by the HS.
Perverse Alternative
Perverse Alternative
vv 6-8
Now, Lot recognizes how tense the situation is so… “Lot went out to them...” They’re just about ready to break down the door and Lot manages to get the door closed behind him. This is the aggression the mob was demonstrating. Notice how Lot addresses them— “brothers” (NIV-friends) The term describes the kinship b/t blood brothers and the close friendship b/t those not related by blood. Lot knew these men and he knew their intentions but as he remarks the two visitors have come under the protection (shelter) of his roof (hospitality requires protection—the host would be culpable if anything happened to his guests).
But at this point, Lot does the unthinkable—and we’d have a hard time believing it but this is God’s Word—fully trustworthy. Lot offers his 2 virgin daughters (a point Lot makes to the men). “do to them whatever you like.” (Fathers—you have protect your children, sons & daughters).
Lot is a conflicted man. Peter calls him righteous (3x) though he was not perfect he compromised. He put hospitality above the sanctity of his family. His life of compromise, preferring life in Sodom over the purity of devotion to the Lord. He could have been like Noah...
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Lot didn’t condemn the Sodomites but tried to appease them with the perverse alternative. Thankfully, the men wouldn’t have it Lot’s way. In fact they were beginning to show their true feelings toward Lot (the alien). They pressed hard (same term to describe Lot’s insistence that the angels stay in his house)—so much the door nearly broke down.
The situation is escalating quickly. This is what sin does. They have no constraint over the sinful flesh. It is out of control.
Your response to Lot is probably like mine. What a snake. What a horrible father. What a spineless little man. And he was…but at the same time Peter tells us Lot is being tormented in his righteous soul. So we know his standing with God—he has been justified, he has been saved. But the sensual conduct of the Sodomites was wearing on him.
How many Xns today can that be said of? How many are tormented by the sin around us? Many are not and they just casually embrace the standards of the world (often a very slow downward slope that takes you farther away from purity and holiness). We might find Lot’s response putrid—but at least he felt something of the wickedness around him.
Powerful Deliverance
Powerful Deliverance
10-11
I’m going to have to close with this—pick it up next time.
At once the angels (Vs 10) they grabbed Lot and brought him back into the safety of the home and shut the door.
There was a work of salvation and a work of judgment. They saved Lot from the mob and struck the mob with blindness (but only a preliminary judgment—as we’ll see next time).
Blindness fell on all (small and great) inclusive of everyone who had joined the mob. Now, you might think that blindness would have cooled their lust but they kept trying to find the doorway to satisfy the desires of the flesh. It is a good illustration how insatiable the lust of the flesh truly is.
Now, think back to Abraham’s intercession that we studied last week. 50,45,40,30,20,10—were there any righteous in Sodom? Not besides Lot. As one commentator says “every mother’s son and by implication every daughter of Sodom, was an unrepentant, hardened sinner.”
We see the powerful deliverance of Lot which also served to authenticate the message of the angels to Lot that he must quickly leave to escape the imminent destruction of the city.
It is important to think in terms of the wickedness of today. We’re familiar with the growing acceptance of the sin of homosexuality and the flaunting of it by LGBTQ+. Manufacturers and retailers have jumped on the bandwagon to show how inclusive and welcoming they are—particularly highlighted during the month of June.
In this, we join the likes of Lot who would not participate in the evil but felt his righteous soul tormented by the wickedness around him. If this is you…let me urge you to do 3 things:
PRAY
PRAY
Pray on behalf of our nation (like Abraham). Pray that the HS would restrain sin so that it does not become the point of the Lord’s condemnation of or country. We love the USA—we’re grateful for the innumerable blessings of being citizens of what is arguably the greatest nation in the world.
Pursue Holiness
Pursue Holiness
This is truly God’s will for your life. God has purposed that in those whom He saves, He will conform to the image of LJC. Pursue the things that promote your sanctification.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
When your life is pure…that’s when your light shine brightest.
Proclaim Christ
Proclaim Christ
The only hope for freedom is found in X. The only hope for the homosexual is X, the holy hope for those snared in any sin is X.
It was the passion of the apostles to preach the gospel—the grand subject being LJC:
We preach Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23).
We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord (2 Cor 4:5)
We preach the unfathomable riches of Christ (Eph 3:8)
We proclaim Christ (Col 1:28)
Promoting legislation that upholds righteousness is good but the only thing that can change the heart is Christ. So as you head out into the world—take the name of Jesus with you. That is what our nation needs most.