Genesis 19

Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?

The statistics are likely disheartening. And is just the reality of life. You will spend the next 35 minutes hearing a sermon on the holiness of God. For some of us, this will be all the Scripture intake we have today, or this week. No judgment, just facts.

35 minutes. These are minutes we can call discipleship. If we include singing together, and prayer, then 90 minutes. Praise God for these moments of reminder of his grace and goodness!

The disheartening reality, though, is some of us will have already, or soon hereafter, consumed more minutes of Instagram reels unrelated to anything about Jesus. Let alone all the other media we will consume in a day.

Now, we are free to have other interests. It is actually for our good to do so. I just want us to recognize the scale, how drowned-out discipleship can become in our age. We push back on with Bible study, devotions, reading plans (just 5 minutes please), and small groups.

Evenso, those efforts are pushed up against the door by accumulated hours of right-leaning propaganda news, or left-leaning, or just “truthful” news. Or streaming of the latest series, rated MA, aren’t they all. Added to the podcasts that finally get it… whatever “it” is…

Then we work with other people, with other perspectives, worldviews, and experiences.

All of it acts as a tsunami that washes out what is meant to keep us anchored, buoyed through the storms of life.

And then come the conversations about changing beliefs. Inspired by famous former celebrity pastors or Christian artists… deconstruction.

Harber defines deconstruction as “a crisis of faith that leads to the questioning of core doctrines and untangling of cultural ideologies that settles in a faith that is different from before” (25).

“Deconstruction doesn't happen in a vacuum; it is catalyzed by a comfortable society, cultural Christianity, compromised churches, and the compounding anxieties of life.” Ian Harber

Recognizing these things we don’t stop. We roll on, keep reminding, staying rooted in Scripture, trusting Jesus, trusting the Spirit to keep us sane!

We come to a text that more often has been used as a warning for outsiders, and we want to see it as a caution against becoming so culturally comfortable, that the legacy and life we can have in Christ is missed.

Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?

Our telos/big idea is from a statement from Abraham pleading with Yahweh to spare Sodom, a city in the Jordan valley. He has been visited by three men, angels as representatives of the Lord.

He shows them hospitality, they tell him that in a year’s time Sarah will have a son. But also they have come to do some business.

Genesis 18:20–21 “Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, [21] I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” (ESV)

Concerned that the righteous would be swept away with the wicked, Abraham negotiates with Yahweh to spare the city if as few as ten righteous people are found. Abraham is advocating because his nephew Lot lives there.

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?” (ESV)

Angels go and what they find confirms the outcry, and justice comes..

As we move through the story, three movements, righteousness, rescue, and remembering.

Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?

Righteousness

Remember chapters ago, Lot’s and Abraham’s crews were too big to stay together so Lot settled near Sodom. Then later Abraham rescued Lot and the city from the Northern kings. And seemingly as time has passed, Lot has moved closer in, and now he is sitting in the gate of the city. He is an influencer. He has a wife, daughters, a house, and some cultural standing.

But the place in which he put down roots was evil.

“Evil.” That’s a loaded word. But it takes us back to the garden. To the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, meaning determining what is right is in God’s authority alone. As Creator, as Sovereign over all things.

By disobeying that command, the first humans side with evil and corruption enters into the story. Evil spreads. Murder comes, humanity is described as wicked. Since the intentions of the thoughts of the hearts of humanity were only evil continually, the flood came as a reset. An experience of God’s wrath against evil, against sin.

Romans 1:18–25 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

[24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (ESV)

This is the human condition. Not just for the cities in our story, but even for us.

God is holy, perfect, without corruption.

Habakkuk 1:2–4 “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help,

and you will not hear?

Or cry to you “Violence!”

and you will not save?

[3] Why do you make me see iniquity,

and why do you idly look at wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

strife and contention arise.

[4] So the law is paralyzed,

and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

so justice goes forth perverted. (ESV)

Habakkuk 1:13a “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil

and cannot look at wrong,” (ESV)

Judgment is dealing with this evil, pouring out wrath against sin. When Adam and Eve are sent out of the garden, when Cain is made to wander, when the flood comes.

“It’s always a danger for us to sympathize with sinners in their sin more than God in his holiness because we have plenty of sin but no holiness of our own.” Ben Brophy

And now the cry has gone up from somewhere about these cities. As the angels have a meal all the men of the city come calling, to the last man, young and old. Some translations make it more clear, but they demanded to have sex with these visitors.

Rape is typically not a chamber of commerce strategy, but this is the welcome of Sodom.

Genesis 19:6–7 “Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, [7] and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.” (ESV)

They criticize him as an outsider for judging them. Sinners rarely appreciate having a cherished sin condemned.

Evaluating the sin, homosexual acts are prohibited in Scripture, even in committed relationships, they violate the Christian or biblical sexual ethic.

Romans 1:26–27 “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; [27] and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (ESV)

More than that though, this is violence, cultural corruption that has reached its zenith. Time for repentance has passed.

The crowd presses Lot, he offers his daughter, which is despicable itself. The Angels blind the crowd who in their lust still try for the door.

Wicked, evil, it violated God’s standard. So there is a standard of righteousness all people are to be judged against. Every one of us will stand before the judgement seat of God.

This is a graphic downfall, fire from God, but the scene is not unique to Sodom. Israel would behave in the same way.

In a story of a murdered concubine we read this in Judges.

Judges 19:19–25 “We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. There is no lack of anything.” [20] And the old man said, “Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants. Only, do not spend the night in the square.” [21] So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

[22] As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.” [23] And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. [24] Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.” [25] But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.” (ESV)

Her death would necessitate a war among the tribes of Israel.

Where we might be quick to judge…

Romans 2:1–5 “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. [2] We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. [3] Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? [4] Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (ESV)

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (ESV)

So the destruction of these cities are a warning to those that would disregard God’s standard.

All of us stand at the door crushed by the sinful lure of our day and remain under wrath in need of rescue.

Rescue

The angels warn Lot, ‘get your people and get out, we are going to destroy this place.’

His sons-in-law (maybe participants in the mob) thought he was joking and didn't go. Showing us we are not responsible for people's response, but we are responsible to share the gospel!

Morning was dawning… but Lot Lingers. After all this is what he knew.

“In a word, Lot was a conflicted soul, at the same time both offended and allured by Sodom. He liked the prosperity, the comforts, the “culture,” and the prestige. But he was worn down by the filthy lives of lawless men and perpetually tortured in his righteous soul by the deeds he saw and heard. As such, he is the prototype and paradigm of so many believers today. He is not a caricature, a joke written on the pages of antiquity. Lot is for real!” Hughes

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.” (ESV)

The key statement in this horrifying account is in Genesis 19:16—“the LORD being merciful to him . . .” This is a story of mercy: mercy to Lot, mercy to Lot’s family, mercy to Abraham in sparing his nephew. And ultimately, this is a story of mercy to us—we who have been similarly rescued from the impending judgment of condemnation and hell.

By Yahweh’s mercy they are saved.

If you have trusted in Christ for salvation this is your story too. While we were still dead in our sin, God rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:4-5).

He took us by the hand, saved us from the fire, from wrath.

Romans 3:23–24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” (ESV)

Lot’s story points to our need for rescue, and God’s mercy in providing it. Seeking refuge from judgment, Christ is the ultimate refuge.

Lot’s life is preserved. In Christ we have eternal life, and His Spirit that empowers us to persevere against the tides of our day. Settled in the finished work of Christ. Looking forward to the day our rescue will be complete and we will be with him forever.

For that we keep remembering.

Remembering

The last bit of this story is the looking back.

Now, the family is rescued. Lot is called righteous by NT writers, but his wife looked back.

Maybe they were her people, it was her home. The things she longed for, or that she was culturally convinced she needed. And looking back she was caught up in sulfur and fire, salted as a memorial.

“Whatever the exact details, her example is meant to instruct us. An angel of grace had taken her by the hand, led her away from certain destruction, and charged her to flee. But having been dragged away from the city of destruction, she returned in heart. For her, it was possessions. For others, it can be many other things — a reputation, a relationship, a particular lust, a comfort. To all Jesus calls, “Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it” (Luke 17:32, 33).”

I am struck by my penchant to “look back,” to be enticed. Daily battle for contentment.

Think of the things inviting us to reject rescue.

Materialism: stuff, lifestyle, maybe even pursuit of the American dream. They might all be good and okay things but when they rule, when they determine by emotional state, my identity, then I have given them a place above God, as idols.

Pleasure-seeking: comfort, normalizing or affirming sin. This can even be the over indulgence of entertainment or pursuit of dopamine, as we are scrolling ourselves to death.

Power: Casting off the way of Jesus for what has become the highest end, to rule.

These and more will leave us as salt.

Jesus warning of his coming again to judge:

Luke 17:28–33 “Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, [29] but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—[30] so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. [31] On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. [32] Remember Lot’s wife. [33] Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” (ESV)

So as we wait we keep clear eyes and full hearts, anchored in our rescue, tethered to scripture, so we don’t lose ourselves to the whims of the world.

Trusting in the judge who calls us his own. And his word promises he will go on rescuing us.

Peter warning the churches of false teachers:

2 Peter 2:6–9 “if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; [7] and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked [8] (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); [9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,” (ESV)

Lot was called righteous, but he doesn’t have much of a legacy. He will be raped by his daughters, and be father to the enemies of Israel.

We can have it different, thankfully! Remain steadfast believers, as you wait for the day. Encourage one another, remind each other of your rescue and the life Jesus has called you to. Fill your life with Him.

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.” (ESV)

Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?

Be Rescued - judgment is real and coming. Repent of your sin, turn away from it and believe in Jesus, that he lived and died for you so that you could be righteous. So you could be in relationship with God, and have the life you were meant for.

Be Reminded - Friends, endeavor to remember, it’s how he keeps us. Talk about Jesus with one another, study the word together, sing of him, pray for those you love and hate to be rescued from fire. And warn the world away from evil to the Son of God.

Malachi 4:1–2 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” (ESV)

There is hope. Jesus the judge has won, and what is to come is glorious.

May we be steadfast, eyes forward, used as search and rescue as we wait, for his glory, and our good.