God’s Judgment on Sodom

Genesis 19:1-29

Genesis 19 tells one of the most dramatic stories in all the Bible. It records how destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with a flood fire and brimstone. It tells about Lot’s encounter with the angelic visitors, the perversion and mob violence from the Sodomites, the desperate last-second escape, and the strange, sad tale of Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt. As if that weren’t enough, tucked away at the end of the chapter is a sordid story of drunkenness and incest. No wonder Hollywood has made several movies based on this chapter, it has everything they are looking for.

Last week in our study of Genesis 18, the Lord revealed to Abraham His plan to judge Sodom and Gomorrah. And Abraham was moved to intercede on behalf of those cities. He pled with the Lord mightily for those who were under the condemnation of God’s righteous judgment. Genesis 19 answers Abraham’s question: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25).

God’s judgment is never arbitrary or capricious. The Lord is just and will judge rightly. If we listen closely, we will see not only God’s righteous judgment, but also God’s mercy toward sinners and some important warnings to our own hearts.

¹ Now 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 he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. ² And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” ³ But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

⁴ Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. ⁵ And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.” ⁶ So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, ⁷ and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! ⁸ See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” ⁹ And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. ¹⁰ But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. ¹¹ And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

¹² Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city–take them out of this place! ¹³ For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” ¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

¹⁵ When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ¹⁷ So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” ¹⁸ Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! ¹⁹ Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. ²⁰ See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” ²¹ And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. ²² Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. ²³ The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.

²⁴ Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. ²⁵ So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

²⁶ But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

²⁷ And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. ²⁸ Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. ²⁹ And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.

In this Genesis 19 we see first of all …

1. The case for God’s judgment: wickedness of Sodom (Gen. 19:1-14)

In Genesis 19:1-14, basically we have the prosecutor, the divine prosecutor making his case for God’s judgment on Sodom. What we see in these verses justifies the ferocity of God’s judgment against these cities. It pains us to think of men and women and children and animals and crops being consumed by the judgment of God. And yet when we see the wickedness displayed here, we see God vindicated, just as we saw with the flood judgment in Noah’s day.

In Genesis 19:1-3, those two angels who had been visiting with Abraham earlier in the afternoon come to Sodom. The Lord had sent them there to confirm the outcry against the sinful city (Gen. 18:21). As we said last time, it is not that God doesn’t already know the wickedness of Sodom, He does. He knows the outcry against that city. But God comes down and sends the angels to show that He is taking a personal interest in this matter.

Lot, in the manner of oriental hospitality, just like we saw with Abraham, bows low before these visitors (Gen. 19:1) and invites them into his home (Gen. 19:2). This was the appropriate thing to do. Lot invited the men to come to his house not only because he was a hospitable man, but also because he knew very well how his neighbors were likely to treat them if they remained in the city square. So when the angels refused, saying “No, but we will spend the night in the open square” (Gen. 19:2), Lot “insisted strongly” until they agreed. Indeed, Lot seemed to hope that they would spend the night and then slip quietly out of town early the next morning. Lot knew the men of Sodom.

Lot had probably lived near or in Sodom for about twenty years now. Remember that Lot has separated from Abraham in Genesis 13. Having seen the plain of the Jordan in its lush prosperity (Gen. 13:10), “Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east” (Gen. 13:11). By stages it appears that Lot had integrated himself into Sodom’s society. Genesis 13:12 says that “Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.” By the time of the invasion of the Kings of the East in Genesis 14, Lot had settled in Sodom (Gen. 14:12). Now we find that Lot is “sitting in the gate of Sodom” (Gen. 19:1) where the city elders met to adjudicate legal matters, transact business, make bargains, and discuss current affairs. Lot’s presence there indicates his assimilation into Sodom’s society. Unlike Abraham who is still dwelling as a pilgrim in a tent, Lot has settled in Sodom in a permanent house.

Sodom had its attractive side. It was sophisticated and prosperous. Ezekiel 16:49 says, “She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness …” (Ezek. 16:49). They were affluent. Their economy was booming. They could take it easy and pursue their pleasures. Listen, even though the world without God is corrupt and under God’s judgment, it still has its appeal. The apostle John warns us,

“¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

What Moses emphasizes here in Genesis 19, though, is the moral corruption of Sodom. Sodom shows us the world without God. It is an ugly, repulsive picture. It was a city where it wasn’t safe to be on the streets after dark, where not only the young men, but even the old (Gen. 19:4) were living to satisfy their lusts, even if it meant homosexually raping two visitors. That’s what they intend to do when they ask “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally” (Gen. 19:5).

Paul writes in Romans 1 that when a society openly accepts and promotes homosexuality, it is a sign that God has given those people over to their sin, to degrading passions (Rom. 1:26-27). It is a sign of the wrath of God judging that society. Homosexual practice is soundly condemned throughout scripture (Lev. 18:22-24, 29; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9). But what we see here is not the ‘broad-minded’ tolerance of a city whose laws permitted such conduct between consenting adults in private. It was not even the shameless solicitation to sin. Rather, it was rape, and that of the worst form. Imagine it, a whole city, young and old. Surely judgment was due.

Lot’s response is typical of his spiritual state; it is a strange blend of courage and compromise, of strength of character and situationism. When the mob demanded that Lot turn over his guests, Lot stepped outside, closing the door behind him, hoping to defuse the situation. He pleaded with them, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!” (Gen. 19:7). And, just as we are about to applaud his courage, Lot offers to surrender his two daughters to the appetites of these depraved degenerates (Gen. 19:8). How unthinkable! Lot’s virtue (his concern for his guests) has become a vice (a willingness to surrender his own daughters). We may breathe a sigh of relief that the crowd refused Lot’s offer, but I must tell you that Lot will face dreadful consequences for this compromise in the end.

Genesis 19:9 gives the mob’s reaction to Lot: “And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door.” For twenty years Lot had lived in Sodom, yet he was still an alien to the men of the city. I suspect that the reason Lot had been left alone was that these people still remembered the military might of uncle Abraham. Had Lot been attacked they would have Abraham to deal with.

It is implied by their statement that Lot either never or rarely challenged Sodomites over their sin. For years Lot had seemingly been content to stand aloof from the sin of this city, but not to rebuke it. Now he would play the part of the judge by speaking out against their wickedness. This was too much for the mob. Finally forced to protest their perversion, he has angered the mob. They will first deal with Lot, then with the other two. A society that is given over to tolerating and promoting immorality and violence will not tolerate someone speaking up for righteousness.

2 Peter 2:6-9 said this about Lot:

6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned [them] to destruction, making [them] an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, [who was] oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented [his] righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing [their] lawless deeds)– 9 [then] the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

Peter called Lot righteous (three times) and said that Sodom’s sins tormented his righteous soul; however, it must be assumed that it stopped there. He was tormented but didn’t speak out against it.

In fact, as mentioned, he had so little spiritual influence, he barely affected his family. He lost his wife to worldliness and love for Sodom. He lost his sons-in-law who thought he was joking when he warned them about God’s judgment (Gen. 19:14). Obviously, he had never warned them about God’s judgment, and therefore, they could not take him seriously. He also lost his daughters who eventually raped him.

Finally Lot had to be rescued by the men he was trying to protect. Genesis 19:10-11,

¹⁰ But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. ¹¹ And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

The angels confirm that God is going to bring judgment on the city, “For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” (Gen. 19:13).

And again this highlights the fact that God is totally aware of what the people of Sodom are doing. No one can say, “Lord, Your judgment is arbitrary. You just didn’t what was going on there.” The point is that God knows and judges justly.

Next we come to …

2. The rescue of Lot from Sodom (Gen. 19:15-23)

Genesis 19:15 says, “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.”” Here we see God taking the initiative in Lot’s rescue. Morning came without one new convert, let alone one righteous soul who would flee the wrath of God. Time was up. The angels ordered Lot to take his wife and his two daughters and get out of the city before judgment fell.

But what happens? Lot lingers. Genesis 19:16 says, “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” The unbelief of the citizens of Sodom is predictable, but the reluctance of Lot is incredible. Have you ever seen anyone who tried so hard to keep from being saved? Lot and his family were literally dragged from the city by the angels. Why would God save such a man who was too attached to the world? “the LORD (was) being merciful to him.”

Even though Lot was a righteous man (as Peter indicates), he was not only in the world, but in a sense the world was in him. Steven Cole mentions several signs of conformity to the world:

You’re living for the same goals as the world. Lot moved to Sodom for the same reason other people moved to Sodom: to get ahead financially. Paul warns, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim. 6:9).
You’re expedient in morals. Lot tries to prevent one appalling sin by suggesting one just as appalling! If you change your morals to adapt to the situation, you’re compromising with the world.
You’re not respected by the world for your beliefs. In all these years Lot failed to speak up, now when he does no one believes him. The world may hate your viewpoint, but if you live consistently before them, usually they will respect you.
You’re not sure you want to give up the world, even when it’s going to cost you your life. Lot hesitated (19:15-16) even though he knew the city would be destroyed. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). If your treasure is in your things, then you won’t want to give them up, even if it costs you your life to hang on to them.
You attempt to keep a little bit of sin in your life, even when God is dealing severely with you. Lot, his wife, and two daughters reluctantly leave Sodom, dragged out by the two angels. The angels urgently tell him to flee for his life, and incredibly, Lot wants to barter with them to keep a bit of his old way of life intact. He thanks them for their mercy in saving him, but then he protests that he can’t flee to the mountains as they tell him to do. That would be just a bit too much. Instead, he wants permission to go to a small town nearby, the implication being that since the town was small (Zoar means “small”), its sins won’t be too bad.

Note that God didn’t prevent him. The Lord will let you hang onto your sinful way if you insist on it. But it will have dreadful consequences.

Finally we see …

3. God’ judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24-29)

Sunrise came just as Lot, with his wife and daughters, approached Zoar (verse 23). Safely out of reach of the devastation, the Lord rained down fire and brimstone from heaven upon the cities of the valley. Many commentators suggest natural elements like earthquakes, volcanos, lightning or asteroids that God might have used to bring about this destruction. Even if God used natural phenomena, this makes it no less a miracle. This was judgment from the Lord (Gen. 19:13- 4, 24-25), and He was in full control of its extent and timing (Gen. 19:22, 24-25). The devastation included the four towns and even the soil on which they were built. It was a picture of complete devastation.

This destruction of Sodom is a picture of the final judgment. We need to remember that in a day when people are cynical about the judgment of God that the day before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah a cynic could have said to Abraham where is your God? If your God is just, what’s the difference between the way you are living and the way the people in Sodom and Gomorrah are living?

Lot lost everything he had been working for–his house, his flocks, and his wealth all was destroyed in an instant. Not only that, he lost his wife. Probably she lingered behind, her heart not ready to let go of the good life in Sodom. Disobeying the direct command of the angel, she looked back. Overcome by the fumes, she was instantly encrusted with the mineral deposits that fell from the sky.

In Genesis 19:27-29 we see the heart of Abraham in contrast to the self-interest of Lot. Abraham, like God, did not delight in wickedness nor in the destruction of sinners. Both had compassion on the righteous. Abraham had made his appeal to God. I do not think that he went to that same spot as the day before in order to pray, but to watch God answer his prayers. There was no casual ‘what will be, will be’ attitude, but genuine concern over the outcome.

And here we find the real reason Lot was spared. While a just God would not destroy the righteous with the wicked (18:25), the stress here is that ‘the prayers of a righteous man availeth much’ (James 5:16). It was Abraham’s faithfulness and not Lot’s which resulted in Lot’s deliverance. Humanly speaking, there was little reason for sparing Lot other than the character of God and the concern of Abraham over his fate.

A Presbyterian pastor reported that he was talking with a colleague about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. She said, “Well, if that’s the way God really is, then I’m not going to believe in Him!” That’s strange logic! If God is a holy God who pours out His wrath on unbelieving sinners, then we had better believe in Him!

You may not like the idea of a holy God who judges unrepentant sinners. But not liking it doesn’t change who God is! The fact is, you cannot believe in Jesus Christ, even as merely a good teacher, and not believe in the awful terrors of hell, because Jesus spoke often and plainly about it. In fact, Jesus used this story of Sodom’s destruction, which overtook them as they went about their daily routines, to warn us of God’s final judgment. He said, “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. … Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:29-30, 32-33).

Have you lost your life for the sake of the gospel? Have you given all to Jesus who loved you and gave His all for you?