The Sin of Sodom

Prayer: Father, we thank you for every blessing of life. Thank you for you grace, mercy, and peace. Thank you for your word and how it blesses us. Thank you for king Jesus who is sitting on his throne in heaven, right now. And we do ask that you will speak to us. Our desire is that you word will speak to us, but also that the Holy Spirit will speak to us us now. Lord, I’m so grateful for this church and these people, and their commitment to your word and to learn more and more. So Lord teach us now. Save the lost in this place. Father, May you increase, and may I decrease. Forgive me of my sins. In Jesus name, Amen.

Introduction: In a book entitled Down to Earth, John Lawrence tells the story of a city that dared God to show Himself and paid a terrible price. It seems that the city of Messina, Sicily, was home to many wicked, irreligious people. On December 25, 1908, a newspaper published in Messina printed a parody against God, daring Him to make Himself known by sending an earthquake. Three days later, on December 28, the city and its surrounding district was devastated by a terrible quake that killed 84,000 people. God rightly judged these people.

Well, in Genesis 19, we will see God judge two wicked cities.

Now, let’s be honest, judgement is not a popular topic. To preach, for me was difficult in the past.

But God’s attributes, and God’s word forces us to consider these things.

Consider the words of Jude and what the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah means for us ------- Jude 7 “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”

Did you get that? These cities and their judgment is an example for us and every generation. An example of THE TEXT SAYS, A PUNISHMENT OF ETERNAL FIRE.

This is a place called hell. Heaven and hell are real places. One a place of blessing, the other a place of punishment. One a place for righteous. The other a place for the unrighteous. To use who go to heaven, we do not go because we deserve it, but because of grace. To those who go to hell, they will all deserve it.

So as we consider this chapter and this narrative, remember, this is an example for us. Let it be a reminder, that hell is a real place.

Now, in Genesis 18. we remember Abraham being visited by three men. One being God, the others being angels. The chapter concluded with Abraham say in

Genesis 18:25 “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?””

Is it right and just for God to judge? Yes it is.

And he will always judge rightly.

Even Abraham, pleaded with God what if there are 50 righteous, would you destroy it. And he pleaded 50, 45, down to 10, and God said if there are ten, he will not destroy it.

And that’s were we will pick back up in Genesis 19:1.

And we will first see THE CORRUPTION OF THE CITY.

the corruption of the city

Genesis 19:1 “The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth”

So in Chapter 18, we had God and two angels with Abraham, but here we see only the two angels come to Sodom.

Genesis 19:2 “and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.””

Genesis 19:3 “But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.”

So at first it seems Lot is being hospitable. This is a good thing. This is what Abraham did as an example for us as he greated his guests and cared for them.

But Lot appears to have a different motive. You see Lot wanted them to go straight to his house and then leave early in the morning. And when they stated otherwise, Lot would press them, in vs 3, strongly.

You see Lot knew wickedness of the city, and appears to be protecting these angels from the city.

We see an element of Lot’s living within a wicked community and how that has impacted how he lives.

How do the unrighteous treat the righteous. Even for us, how do those who oppose God, treat the believer. Well, it does depend on the culture and nation, but the darkness opposes the light. And so the child of God can expect the world’s opposition.

Now, as we look at the next two verse, notice how wicked the people of the city are.

Genesis 19:4 “But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.”

Genesis 19:5 “And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.””

Notice, the identifiers, the men of the city, young and old, all the people to the last man.

This really points to the wickedness of the entire city.

That they were unified in their wickedeness.

As Abraham inquired, what if there are 50 40 30 20 10. We see here there would not even be 10.

And their immorality is so great.

Now, there is a list of the sins of Sodom.

But recall Judes words - the example is about their in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire,

Is homosexuality sin? Yes.

Leviticus 18:22 “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”

Yes, it is a sin, and the great depravithy of this city if emphasized this way.

Remember, even if others says something is ok, if the bible says it’s sin, it’s sin.

even if the government allows it, legalizes it, and promotes it, if the Bible says it’s sin, then it’s sin.

And what is the punishment for this.

1 Corinthians 6:9 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,”

What we have is Lot, surrounded by a people in sin and heading for judgement.

We are in a similar place not in the history of our nation. Lot the righteous, but we are the church. But we can’t be silent on issues compromise or let up.

We must stand on the word of God, and trust Him above all.

So we’ve seen the corruption of the city.

Next, notice the compromise of Lot

The compromise of Lot

Genesis 19:6 “Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him,”

Genesis 19:7 “and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.”

Genesis 19:8 “Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.””

Lot was a man of dispair.

First, he was led by his culture, to invite his visitors to his home, and compelled to offer is daughters.

A foolish thing to do, and sinful itself. Although, it may have been accepted by the culture.

Lot not of the world, was living in the world, and influenced by the world.

Remeber, Lot is a foreigner. Not a Sodomite.

He surely was tormented in this moment, to protect his guests, willing to do anything.

But he was so desperate to appease the sinful culture, he offered his own daughters.

Genesis 19:9 “But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down.”

Genesis 19:10 “But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door.”

Genesis 19:11 “And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.”

So the man try to break the door down, but they are blinded.

And even blinded, they continue to try to fufill their sinful desires.

Is this not the way of sin?

Even blinded, still desiring

Illustration: Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. "First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. "Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder the wolf licks the blade in the arctic night. So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his OWN warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more--until the dawn finds him dead in the snow!" It is a fearful thing that people can be "consumed by their own lusts."

Is this not a right description of the sins of Sodom?

The compassion of God

‌Genesis 19:12“Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place.”

‌Genesis 19:13“For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.””

‌Genesis 19:14“So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.”

This truly is an example.

Lot is warned here, and told to tell all his family, that judgment is coming

We are warned, and told to tell all people, that judgement is coming

Now Lot does go and tell his son in law, hurry up, judgment’s coming, judgments coming, let’s go.

But they thought it was a joke.

Is this not a reponse of many to the gospel?

So many are deaf to the gospel.

They hear and they do not listen. We can plead and try to convince, but they are deaf and blind. IT’s a joke to them.

Bu this is not joking matter. We must too have this urgency. Hurry, let’s get ready, Right now, get right with God. Do not wait, do not wait, surrender to God now before it’s ever too late.

Genesis 19:15“As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.””

‌Genesis 19:16“But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.”

Genesis 19:17“And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.””

‌Genesis 19:18 “And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords.”

‌Genesis 19:19“Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die.”

‌Genesis 19:20“Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!””

‌Genesis 19:21“He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.”

‌Genesis 19:22“Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.”

God is being compassionate here on Lot.

God is saving the righteous from Judgment.

But notice,

He hesitated - unsure if he would give up the world.

why? i don’t know for sure, but He would have to leave some of his family. his home. his stuff.

Didn’t Jesus say Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

None the less, God does what is right. God saves the rightesous and punishes the wicked.

The consequences of sin

Genesis 19:23“The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.”

Genesis 19:24“Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven.

‌Genesis 19:25“And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

This is such large scale, not just Sodom, but Gomorrah was 13 miles away, and the valley.

This was such a great destruction.

Archeologist beleive they have found the remains of Sodom and Gormorrah.

an article says, “these scholars are suggesting that it is possible Tel el-hammam (the name of the location) was destroyed by a large scale mid air metore explosion that could have been 1000 times more powerful than the horrific nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in WW II”

Yet,

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

She loved the world, she was like the rich young ruler, and many not willing give the things of the world, she looked back because that’s what her heart loved.

Genesis 19:27“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.”

Genesis 19:28“And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.”

‌Genesis 19:29 “So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.”

I’d like to close with the words of Jesus. Jesus speaks of the last days.

A reminder, Jesus is coming again, and Jesus is going to judge the world. And in those days of his return.

Luke 17:28–30 “Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

In closing; - This example is a warning to all of us. Jesus came first to save, and hes coming again to judge.

But as God was merciful and compassionate with Lot, he is with us. If we would but trust in Jesus, we will be saved. But we must let go of the things of the world, and follow Christ. So during our time of response. If you do not know that you know that you know, that you are a Christian, today come. Today place your faith in Jesus.

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