Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 19:1-29

Reading for Understanding

Two Angels - God had just met with Abraham in Gen 18 - letting him know of the coming destruction on Sodom for “very grave sin” (Gen 18:21).

Lot - Let’s Talk about Lot

Abraham’s nephew - chose to live in Sodom because it was like the Garden of the Lord - Gen 13:10, even though it was a wicked city even then - Gen 13:13

He camped near Sodom (Gen 13:12), then lived in it (Gen 14:12), then sat at the gate (Gen 19:1). He gradually went from the outskirts, to immersion, and eventually being a leader in the community.

Legal matters were decided at the city gate by community elders such as Lot (Deut. 21:18–21; Amos 5:15).

He knew the city was wicked - when the angels arrived, he pleaded with them not to stay in the town square, knowing what the men of Sodom were like. What happened that night was the custom of the people of Sodom, their wickedness was well-known.

What is the Sin of Sodom?

The Scriptural Case on the Sin of Homosexuality

Prima Facie Case -

God’s creative plan for human sexuality - God made man male and female, to procreate within the context of marriage

Scripture - Gen 1:27-28; 2:18-24

Jesus affirmed this basic principle in his teaching on marriage (Mark 10:6-9; Matt 19:4-6)

Also affirmed by Paul - Eph 5:31

Homosexual behavior should be recognized as sinful because it violates God’s original plan for heterosexual monogamy.

Paul argues in Rom 1:18-32, that homosexuality is one consequence of rejecting God as Creator and His created order. through rejection of the “creation” (Rom 1:20) and “the Creator” (Rom 1:25) women “exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural.” He adds also that the men “left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males.”

Homosexuality is a sin that results in judgment -

In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, the severity of the judgment indicates the seriousness of the sin. The NT commentary on this event is that these two cities were turned to ashes as a matter of God’s holy wrath, specifically because their inhabitants had given themselves to “sexual immorality and practiced perversions” (2 Pet. 2:6–7; Jude 7).

Argument 1 - Judgment is not on homosexuality per-se, but homosexual gang rape.

While it is accurate to say that the men of Sodom sought to rape Lot’s guests, the text does not indicate that the sex would have been acceptable if only the angelic visitors had consented. Also, the fact that God’s judgment came upon two entire cities argues that it was not just the one instance of gang rape in Sodom that was an offense to God. Instead, God’s announced plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah before the rape incident occurred indicates that the practice of homosexual behavior in both cities was an affront to the holiness of God. When the homosexuals demanded carnally “to know” Lot’s guests, they were merely attempting again what they had been doing for some time. Lot protested, “Do not act wickedly” (Gen. 19:7 NASB). But long before this, when Lot initially pitched his tent toward the city, we read “the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord” (13:13 NASB). Again, before the attempted gang rape, God said, “Their sin is exceedingly grave” (Gen 18:20), and Abraham also said they were “wicked” (Gen 18:23, 25).

Argument 2 - Homosexuals are born that way

All are born with a broken and sinful nature, especially in regard to sex. We are, because of our sin-nature, inclined to sin in every relationship. “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people” (Romans 5:12). Every one of us was affected by Adam’s sin; there are no exceptions. “One trespass resulted in condemnation for all people” (verse 18). We are all sinners, and we all share the same condemnation, because we are all children of Adam. The Psalmist says, “Surely I was sinful at birth, / sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). “Even from birth the wicked go astray; / from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies” (Psalm 58:3).

The scriptures don’t see this and say there’s nothing to be done. Instead, we are called to recognize sin for what it is, and in faith and repentance, look to God to make us righteous. A scriptural perspective will view same sex inclinations as harmful as proclivities toward any other sin, as negative consequences of fallen human nature that is inclined towards sin (Idolatry, Adultery, Dishonesty, Rebellion, Theft).

Argument 3 - Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin was inhospitality

Eze 16:49–50 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.

The word, “yada” (to know), is not simply a meet and greet. It was used as a euphemism for sexual relations (Gen 4:1, 17, 25). Even in context of Gen 19:8 - Lot says of his daughters, they are virgins, and have not known a man…

In Ezek 16:50, Sodom is named an abomination, the same descriptive in Lev 18:22 - you shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an abomination.

In the NT -

Homosexuality is routinely listed in the vice lists - 1 Tim 1:8-10 and 1 Cor 6:9-11.

As a sin, Homosexuality is forgivable and changeable through Jesus Christ

However ungodly and undeserving of heaven any homosexual might be, there is the opportunity to be forgiven, changed, and declared righteous through Jesus Christ. Paul continues in 1 Cor 6:9-11 to say, “Some of you were like this.” The Corinthian church evidently contained some former homosexuals who had been converted. Furthermore, Paul adds of them, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” The homosexual who repents and believes receives the same cleansing, sanctification, and justification as every other believer who turns from sin to Christ.

What Does Lot Do?

He takes in the angels - to protect them.

He offers his daughters -

In an appalling act, Lot offers his own daughters to the men. As one bound by the ancient Near Eastern code of hospitality, which required the protection of guests, Lot was willing to risk danger to his own family rather than allow harm to come to his guests.

The angels strike the crowds blind

The Destruction of the Cities

Gen 19:23-25

Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah: These cities were judged completely and severely, but only after God confirmed their great wickedness and gave them a righteous witness in Lot.

Before this destruction, the area of Sodom was unbelievably beautiful and productive, like the garden of the LORD (Genesis 13:10). Yet this great privilege and blessing did not turn their hearts toward God.

As well, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah saw more of the power, grace, and mercy of God than any of the other people of the region. They had been delivered from ruin by God’s work through Abraham. They heard the testimony from Melchizedek and saw the example of Melchizedek and Abraham. They had great blessing and great evidence of God’s care for them, yet they rejected it all.

Lot’s Wife

Genesis 19:26 “But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

That look was a little thing, but it told of disobedience in Lot’s wife. The command of the angel was strait and unmistakable: “Look not behind thee.” (Gen. 19:17.) This command Lot’s wife refused to obey.

She seemed to doubt whether God was really going to destroy Sodom: she appeared not to believe there was any danger, or any need for such a hasty flight. But without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb. 11:6.)

Settle it firmly in your mind, that the same Bible which teaches that God in mercy and compassion sent Christ to die for sinners, does also teach that God hates sin, and must from His very nature punish all who cleave to sin, or refuse the salvation He has provided.

Settle it firmly in your mind, that God has given us proof upon proof in the Bible that He will punish the hardened and unbelieving, and that He can take vengeance on His enemies, as well as show mercy on the penitent.

Luke 17:32–33“Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” Jesus, when talking about his return, said it would be like the day Lot left Sodom, swift, certain, and final - don’t turn back.