September 1 – Faithful During Distress

Sunday School Lesson

September 1

Lesson 1 (KJV)

Faithful During Distress

 

Devotional Reading: Luke 17:22, 26–37

Background Scripture: Genesis 18:16–19:29

Genesis 19:1, 4, 5, 15–26, 29

1. And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
2. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

 

5. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

 

16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

 

17. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

 

18. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

 

19. Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

 

20. Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
21. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

 

22. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

 

23. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

 

24. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

 

25. And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

 

26. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
27. 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 the which Lot dwelt.

Key Verse

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 the which Lot dwelt.—Genesis 19:29

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. List the salient points of Lot’s flight from Sodom.

 

2. Explain how this account demonstrates both the judgment and the mercy of God.

 

3. Prepare an explanation (one that could be presented to an unbeliever) of how God’s judgment and mercy are displayed through the message of the gospel.

 

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Gomorrah	Guh-more-uh.
Sodom	Sod-um.
Zoar	Zo-er.

Introduction

1. No “Fair Weather” God

A farmer built a new barn on his property, and on the roof he placed a weather vane. Below the weather vane he attached a sign that read “God Is Love.” On more than one occasion, someone passing by would see the weather vane and ask the farmer, “Are you saying that God’s love changes with the wind?”

“Oh no,” replied the farmer. “I’m saying that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love.”

A similar statement can be made regarding many of God’s qualities, including His faithfulness. He is always faithful, regardless of which way life’s winds may blow. God is faithful not only in displaying His grace but also in carrying out His judgment on humanity’s sin.

1. Lesson Context

Lot was a nephew of the great patriarch Abraham. Lot is first mentioned in the Bible in the genealogy of Abraham’s brother (Genesis 11:27). Lot accompanied Abraham and his household when they journeyed from Ur to Canaan (11:31). Following a brief time in Egypt, the family returned to an area south of where the tribe of Judah eventually settles centuries later (13:1, 3). When land disputes broke out, Abraham allowed his nephew to choose the land he wanted for pasture (13:8, 9). Lot saw that the territory in the vicinity of Sodom and Gomorrah was especially desirable, so he settled nearby (13:10, 11).

The exact location of Sodom and Gomorrah is uncertain; some scholars place them within what later came to be the territory of Moab (Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:33, 34). Along with Zoar, Sodom and Gomorrah are listed as cities located on the Jordan plain (Genesis 13:10–12; see also 14:2, 8). Genesis 13:13 offers an ominous assessment: “The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”

Lot is a puzzling figure in the Bible. He perhaps understood from his uncle Abraham something of the Lord’s righteous standards. Indeed, the New Testament depicts Lot as someone deeply troubled over the wickedness in Sodom. Second Peter 2:7 says that the Lord “delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation [or way of life] of the wicked.” Verse 8 describes Lot as a “righteous man,” who “vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.” However, Lot also seems to have become attached to life in Sodom despite the tension between his righteousness and the wickedness of the city.

Genesis 18 begins with an account of the Lord’s visit with Abraham. He was one of three “men” who came to Abraham (Genesis 18:2). After confirming the Lord’s promise that Sarah would conceive and bear a son (18:10), the three “looked toward Sodom” (18:16). The Lord told Abraham of His intention to discover more about the extent of the sin within both Sodom and Gomorrah (18:20, 21). Verse 22 records that “the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.” At that point the exchange between the Lord and Abraham about sparing the righteous in Sodom occurred. Because the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah became “very grievous” in the Lord’s sight (18:20), He determined that judgment must be carried out on them. Despite Abraham’s intercession and God’s willingness to relent from judgment, both cities were to be destroyed for lack of 10 righteous people (18:22–33).

1. God’s Warnings

(Genesis 19:1, 4, 5, 15–23)

1. Angelic Visitation (vv. 1, 4, 5, 15–17)

1a. And there came two angels to Sodom at even.

 

The two angels are generally taken to be two of the three men who had visited Abraham (Genesis 18:2). The third of those three “men” is thought to have been the Lord in temporary human form (18:33). This may imply that the Lord is not directly present with Lot in the ensuing discussion.

 

1b. And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom.

 

Lot’s sitting in the gate of Sodom may indicate that he holds a leadership position in the city. The gate or gates of a city is the place where important decisions are made (Deuteronomy 16:18; 21:18–21) and business is transacted (example: Ruth 4:1–11). Given the reaction of the men of the town (Genesis 19:9), Lot is more likely there on business.

 

1c. And Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

 

Lot greets his two guests in a manner similar to how Abraham greeted his three guests (Genesis 18:2). In the verses not in today’s text (19:2, 3), Lot eagerly invites the two visitors to spend the night at his house. At first they decline, saying that they will spend the night in the street. But Lot, aware of the wickedness that permeates the city (see the Lesson Context), convinces them.

 

4, 5. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

 

If this is what happens when innocent people are behind locked doors, imagine what would have happened if the visitors were still out in the street! Two intended sins are in view: homosexual behavior and rape (compare Romans 1:24–27).

In the intervening verses not in today’s lesson text (Genesis 19:6–14), Lot tries to dissuade those who surround the house, even offering his two daughters instead. The reply he receives promises that he too will be abused. At this, the two angelic guests pull Lot back into the house and strike the hostile crowd with blindness. The pair then plead with Lot to leave the city in order to avoid the judgment that is imminent. Lot begs his two sons-in-law to flee, but they treat his words as a joke.

 

15. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

 

As dawn approaches, the urgency of the angels’ appeal intensifies. Note that the terms angels and men are used interchangeably of the two individuals throughout this account (Genesis 19:1, 10, 15, 16). The likely speaks both to their appearance as men and their function as messengers, a common usage of the word in both Old and New Testaments. Note that the word translated “angels” here is rendered “messengers” in Genesis 32:3, 6; likewise in the New Testament, see Matthew 11:10 and 2 Corinthians 12:7.

 

16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

 

We are not told why Lot resists leaving Sodom. Is he hesitant to leave the wealth he has accumulated? Is he unsure about where he will live next? Later he will try to negotiate with one of the angels as to where he should go (see commentary on 19:18–20).

Whatever the reason, the angels know they cannot wait any longer for Lot to act. They take the foursome by their hands and lead them out of Sodom. The reason for their deliverance is stated plainly: the Lord is being merciful (compare Revelation 18:4, 5). The word translated merciful is rare in the Old Testament, occurring only here and in Isaiah 63:9 (there translated “pity”).

 

What Do You Think? In what ways can we encourage and help people to escape when they’re trapped in sinful or challenging environments?   Digging Deeper What does biblical encouragement include that secular viewpoints might not?

17. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

 

The reason for the instruction look not behind thee isn’t entirely clear. Perhaps it is meant to prevent those fleeing from getting caught in the shock wave since looking back implies slowing down to do so.

Another possibility is that looking back would signal a desire to remain in the sinful environment of Sodom (compare Luke 9:62). A third possibility is that those fleeing are not to stop to engage in any smug satisfaction or gloating that those who may have troubled Lot’s family are “getting theirs” (compare Proverbs 24:17). In any case, what will be descriptive when Jeremiah 46:5 is written later is prescriptive at the moment.

The Hebrew word translated mountain can also describe hilly terrain (compare Numbers 14:45), so a specific mountain may not be intended. Of primary importance is that Lot and his family move a safe distance away from the judgment that is about to be poured out on two wicked cities.

1. Lot’s Hesitation (vv. 18–20)
2. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord.

As Lot addresses the angels, he uses the same terminology as when he first encountered them at the gate of Sodom (Genesis 19:2). It is a term of respect and does not necessarily imply an acknowledgment of divinity.

 

19. Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die.

 

Lot’s response to the angels’ urgent plea leaves a reader baffled. Three times Lot has been warned about the destruction coming on Sodom (Genesis 19:13, 15, 17), and Lot himself has urged his sons-in-law to leave the city (19:14). Lot readily admits that he has been the recipient of grace and mercy, yet he fears going to the mountain (see commentary on 19:17, above) lest some evil overtake him!

Consider the irony: Lot is more fearful of a disaster that could happen than of one that is clearly going to happen—and soon! Thus Lot reveals his lack of confidence in God’s deliverance. How can Lot think God is rescuing him from Sodom only to allow him to die before reaching safety?

 

20. Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

 

Lot suggests an alternative as a place of refuge. The name of the city is not given yet given (see commentary on verse 22), but Lot twice makes a point of the fact that the city is little. Perhaps his attitude is that a little place cannot be a sin-filled place, or perhaps that a little sinful place can be overlooked by the Lord.

Abraham’s negotiation with God regarding Sodom has already been noted (Genesis 18:22–33; see Lesson Context). Lot is now engaging in his own brand of negotiation. But the motivation of Abraham and Lot could not be more different. Abraham was concerned that others be spared from judgment. Lot, in contrast with Genesis 19:14, seems interested only in self-preservation. He uses the pronouns me and my but says nothing about his wife or his daughters. That the three women in his life should also be spared is an afterthought, if any thought at all.

 

What Do You Think? Under what circumstances, if any, is it proper to attempt to bargain with God?   Digging Deeper How can we ensure that our motives are pure when we are tempted to bargain with God?

The Small-Town Ideal?

Small-town America is frequently used as an image of utopia. Fictional towns like Bedford Falls, Lake Wobegon, and Mayberry evoke images of peaceful lives of communal harmony, where any problem can be resolved.

While small towns have much to offer, they are not the Edens of our dreams. Children growing up in small towns are connected to the same internet, watch the same TV shows, and listen to the same music as those in cities and suburbs. Small-town couples go through divorces. Small towns have their share of crime and injustice. Changing one’s location cannot guarantee that one will avoid the ravages of sin.

When escaping the corruption of big-city living in Sodom, Lot asked his angelic benefactors to allow him to relocate to a diminutive town. Tragically, Lot ended up discovering that his problems were personal, not geographical. When you’re running from sin, be sure you’re also running towardrighteousness!

—J. E.

 

Visual for Lesson 1. Keep this time line posted throughout the quarter to give participants a chronological perspective.

1. Angelic Determination (vv. 21–23)
2. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

 

The angel agrees to Lot’s request; Lot is granted permission to flee to this city. That the angel promises not to overthrow it implies that the town was intended to be included in the impending judgment. Now it will be spared so Lot and family can take refuge there.

 

22. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

 

Once more the angel urges haste. The promised judgment will not occur until Lot has reached the cityto which he has asked to flee. The name of the city, Zoar, comes from a Hebrew word that can indicate small size or insignificance (Judges 6:15; Zechariah 13:7). Perhaps today we would call it something like Smallville. Ironically, Lot and his daughters will later leave Zoar and live “in the mountain,” where the angels had first commanded him to go (Genesis 19:30).

 

23. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

 

Dawn was approaching when the angels urged Lot to leave Sodom (Genesis 19:15). Now the sun is fully up as Lot enters his city of refuge, Zoar.

1. God’s Judgment

(Genesis 19:24–26)

1. Upon Sodom and Gomorrah (vv. 24, 25)
2. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.

 

The promised destruction of both Sodom and Gomorrah begins as brimstone and fire rain down from the Lord on the thoroughly corrupt cities (compare Job 18:15; Psalm 11:6; Isaiah 30:33; 34:9; Ezekiel 38:22). The names of Sodom and its twin city Gomorrah became synonymous with human depravity and the outpouring of God’s wrath as a result (Jeremiah 23:14; Zephaniah 2:9; Jude 7).

 

25. And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

 

When Lot first viewed Sodom and its territory, he had found “the plain of Jordan” to be “well watered every where, … even as the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). Now nothing has been spared from the wrath of divine judgment; the cities, their inhabitants, and any kind of plant life‌—‌all of it is gone.

 

What Do You Think? How can we use biblical accounts like that of Sodom and Gomorrah to communicate the nature of God to unbelievers?   Digging Deeper How do Matthew 11:23; Romans 9:29; 2 Peter 2:4–10; Jude 7; and Revelation 11:8 inform your answer?

1. Upon Lot’s Wife (v. 26)
2. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

 

To this point in the record, little has been said regarding Lot’s wife. When she has been mentioned previously, their daughters have been included as well (Genesis 19:15, 16). Now this woman looks back, perhaps out of a wistful longing to gaze one more time on the city where she has resided. Or, more distressingly, maybe she desires to return. The result of such disobedience of a clear command from the angel (19:17) is immediate: she is turned into a pillar of salt.

Some have noted the presence of salt formations along the shores of the Dead Sea, near which Sodom and Gomorrah were likely located. Lot’s wife thus becomes a kind of monument to the high price of disobeying God. Unlike other monuments, however, she blends in with the surrounding territory and is lost; not even her name is remembered.

Centuries later, Jesus will allude to this incident in warning people to be prepared for His return. The verse is short: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). This suggests that Lot’s wife lost her life because she was unprepared to accept the mercy extended to her (17:28–31). The folly of Lot’s wife illustrates other teachings of Jesus, including trying to save one’s life and losing it (Matthew 16:25; Luke 17:33) and His warning not to put one’s hand to the plow and look back (Luke 9:62).

 

What Do You Think? What steps can we take to protect ourselves from the temptation to “look back” in unhealthy ways (Luke 9:62)?   Digging Deeper How do Ezekiel 16:43; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 2:10, 25 speak to healthy ways of looking back?

Part of the Landscape

The Dead Sea earns its name. Though fed by the Jordan River, the sea has no outlet streams. Water escapes only through evaporation; any minerals swept in stay put. The high salt content‌—nearly nine times that of the oceans‌—prevents almost all organisms from surviving there. Tourists are routinely warned to seek medical attention should they accidentally swallow the water.

Like the Dead Sea, Sodom and Gomorrah became depositories for whatever “washed in.” As wickedness accumulated, the cities became more lethal. As salts make the Dead Sea toxic to most life, so sinfulness in Sodom and Gomorrah choked out righteous living.

We surmise that Lot’s wife may have been comfortable in Sodom’s sinful environment. As a consequence of looking back, she received a permanent home on the shore of the Dead Sea. What sins tempt your heart to look back in longing?

—J. E.

III. God’s Mercy

(Genesis 19:29)

1. Remembering Abraham (v. 29a)

29a. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham.

 

When God is said to remember, it signifies that He is committed to acting on a person’s or group’s behalf in fulfillment of His word. Previously, God remembered Noah and protected him and his family from the flood (Genesis 8:1). Later, God will remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:24) and provide deliverance for His suffering people. This same sense is intended when God’s people are commanded to remember His acts or laws (Exodus 20:8; Numbers 15:39, 40; Deuteronomy 7:18; 16:12; etc.). Lot’s deliverance is attributed not to anything he did but to Abraham.

 

What Do You Think? How can we best use “God remembered” passages such as Genesis 8:1; 30:22; Exodus 2:24; and Revelation 18:5 to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable?   Digging Deeper Considering Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34; and Hebrews 10:15–17, what are some wrong ways to use “God remembered” passages?

1. Rescuing Lot (v. 29b)

29b. And sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

 

The implication is that Abraham’s intercession in Genesis 18:16–33 results in Lot’s rescue. The Lord didn’t find 10 righteous people there, such as would spare the city 918:32). But He did find one.

Conclusion

1. Mercy in Judgment

On hearing the names Sodom and Gomorrah, most people think immediately of God’s wrathful, fiery judgment that befell those cities. God’s mercy, however, is also evident when we read of Lot’s rescue. Lot acknowledged that he had been shown grace and mercy in being spared. Even so, he still wanted to negotiate regarding the place to which he could flee (Genesis 19:19). Rather than losing patience with Lot, the angel granted his request.

The flaws in Lot’s character seen in this account should not draw our attention away from the strength of God’s character. Lot’s behavior may puzzle us, but God’s behavior shouldn’t. The goodness of His mercy and the terror of His judgment both stand out. We are to be genuinely grateful that on the cross Jesus took the judgment that we deserved so that God could display His mercy to us.

Like Lot, we too may be disturbed by the godless trends of our culture (compare 2 Peter 2:6–10) and the increasing contempt we see for the Bible and for Christian faith. But we can also become very attached to the pleasures of this world, which, as Jesus noted in the parable of the sower, can choke the spiritual life from us (Luke 8:14).

1. Prayer

Father, both Your judgment and Your mercy are revealed, not only in this account but throughout Your Word. May we give thanks that in the cross of Jesus “mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2:13). We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

What happened to Sodom illustrates God’s mercy even in judgment.^[1]

 

 

 

KID’S CORNER

Righteous but Unwise

September 1, 2019

Genesis 19:1-5 & 15-29

 

Genesis 19:1-5 & 15-29

(Genesis 19:1) Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.

In Genesis 18, Abraham interceded with the LORD, and the LORD agreed that if He found ten righteous men in Sodom (where Lot, Abraham’s nephew and family lived) that He would not destroy the city. In Genesis 14, we learn that Abraham had rescued Lot, the king of Sodom, the other kings of the plain, their people, and their possessions after King Chedorlaomer had captured them and carried them off. Perhaps that is one reason the king of Sodom tolerated Lot living among them. Perhaps because of Lot’s relationship with Abraham, Lot was recognized as a responsible leader in the city, for it appears only Lot presided at the city gate to welcome, protect, and perhaps warn visitors away from Sodom. These angels came in the evening, so Lot did the best he could to protect them and show them hospitality. Lot bowed before the two angels to show respect, and perhaps saw from their appearance that they were men with pure hearts. Initially, Lot may not have known they were angels; for we read in Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” In 2 Peter 2:6-9, Peter made Lot an example to encourage us: “And if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by their lawless deeds that he saw and heard), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.”

(Genesis 19:2) And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said however, “No, but we shall spend the night in the square.”

To show hospitality, as Abraham had shown them earlier, and to protect them from the evils in Sodom, Lot invited them to stay in his home that evening. He also wanted them to rise early and go on their way rather than have them remain in the city and be subjected to possible abuse. The two angels intended to spend the night in the square, perhaps to see if there were ten righteous people in the city.

(Genesis 19:3) Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Lot convinced them to stay in his home for the night, where they would soon learn that there were not ten righteous men in Sodom. In haste, Lot prepared unleavened bread for them to eat (it would have taken time for leaven to raise the dough into a loaf for baking), as would later be done in Egypt when the Hebrews would leave in haste and the LORD would institute the Passover celebration. Lot showed them the same type of hospitality that Abraham had shown them earlier (see Genesis 18).

(Genesis 19:4) Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;

Before the angels retired for the night, all the men, young and old, surrounded the house. We are reminded of the LORD’s description of all the people in Noah’s day. In Genesis 6:5, we read, “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” All the people in Sodom had been given the opportunity to learn about and worship the LORD. They knew the LORD had been with Abraham when he rescued them along with Lot and his family from King Chedorlaomer. The king of Sodom, at least, had the opportunity to have learned about the LORD from Melchizedek king of Salem, who was priest of God Most High. And certainly, Lot was a witness to them regarding the LORD and righteousness. But just as all the people had turned from Noah, a preacher of righteousness, to remain in unrighteousness, so the people in Sodom preferred sinfulness to godliness. Paul explained this phenomenon in Romans 1:18-32, which I encourage you to read and ponder in the light many peoples’ behavior today.

(Genesis 19:5) 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 have relations with them.”

These men illustrate the truth of John 3:19, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” They came by night to Lot’s home because their deeds were evil, and they intended to do evil. The depths of degeneracy will manifest itself in people who do evil deeds in the light and even parade and promote their evil in the streets of a city. Thus, the men of Sodom were not as evil as they could have become from continuing to live sinful, unrepentant lives. Their evil deeds progressed to the point of violence—all trying to hide their evil deeds from the light of day.

(Genesis 19:15) When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.”

As Lot tried to protect the angels, now the angels do all they wisely can to protect Lot and his family. Since the LORD determined to destroy the city because of its wickedness, wickedness that if left unchecked would spread to other cities and people, the angels urged Lot to leave Sodom. The LORD would not destroy the righteous along with the wicked, as Abraham knew when he interceded for Sodom. Already knowing the LORD well, in Genesis 18:23, Abraham asked the LORD, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” Of course, the LORD would not do that.

(Genesis 19:16) But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.

No matter how much the angels urged Lot to leave Sodom, he must have been drawn to the possessions that he would leave behind so he delayed. The angels had to physically force him and his wife and daughters to leave the city. Lot was considered righteous under the circumstances, but he was not wise; thankfully, the LORD was merciful toward him and his family.

(Genesis 19:17) When they had brought them outside, one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.”

With a true sense of urgency, the angels encouraged Lot to flee (run) to the hills and not stop or look back. The LORD knew how many cities and how much land He would need to destroy to rid the area of so much wickedness, eventually creating the Dead Sea. Lot and his family needed to be outside that area to be saved. Sodom was so wicked that God would not delay His judgment to placate a disobedient believer. Having physically removed Lot and his family from Sodom, it was now up to them to obey the commands of the angels to be saved. They must flee and not look back.

(Genesis 19:18) But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords!
Though considered righteous under the circumstances (righteous enough to be saved from Sodom’s destruction according to Abraham’s prayer), Lot was not known for making the best decisions. Lot was blessed because Abraham had interceded for him. He did not want to do what the angels told him to do, and the angels definitely knew what was best for him and his family.

(Genesis 19:19) “Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die;

After all the angels had done to save Lot and his family the night before when the townspeople had wanted to kill him, Lot still did not trust fully in the LORD to save him. In his prayer, Lot recognized their kindness in saving his life, but he did not have faith that the LORD would save him to the end in this desperate situation. He did not want to flee to the hills for fear the LORD would not be able to save him there and he would die there.

(Genesis 19:20) now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.”

After all Lot had just experienced (as well as in the past) in the evil city of Sodom, he thought he would be safe in another city! Knowing God was going to destroy Sodom, in his deluded thinking Lot wanted to flee to another city nearby. Lot thought life in a small city, with the safety and security a small city must offer, would save him rather than the LORD as our Security being able to save him from destruction in the hills.

(Genesis 19:21) He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken.

The LORD had planned to destroy the five cities in the plain: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar. But the LORD also answers prayer! At Lot’s request and as a favor to Lot, the LORD chose not to destroy Zoar. Because the LORD is merciful, patient, and slow to anger, despite Lot’s foolish request, limited vision, and little faith (and we might not be any better under similar circumstances) the LORD granted Lot’s request. The LORD answered the prayer (request) of Lot and saved the people in that city from destruction. After fleeing to that city and most probably seeing that it was no better than Sodom, Lot fled to the hills with his daughters (see Genesis 19:30). He probably came to realize that Zoar deserved God’s judgment too; so that city might not be a safe place to live in for very long.

(Genesis 19:22) “Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar.

The LORD would not allow the angels to destroy the doomed four cities and the plain until Lot had safely arrived in Zoar. Zoar means “little one.”

(Genesis 19:23) The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar.

The LORD did not destroy the four wicked cities and the plain in the dark. The LORD’s deeds are not evil. He waited until after the sun had risen and it was light enough for all to witness their destruction. No doubt Lot explained to the residents of Zoar why the LORD had destroyed their sister cities. Perhaps after seeing the instantaneous and total destruction of four cities at once, some in Zoar repented and began to trust in the God of Abraham and Lot. The LORD intended the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to serve as a warning to wicked people for centuries to come. For example, in Isaiah 13:19, the prophet promised, “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.” In Matthew 11:23, 24, Jesus warned, “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.” And in Jude 1:7, we read this stern warning, “Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”

(Genesis 19:24) Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven,

The Jordan River had made the plain fertile and the four cities rich; the sulfur and fire turned the area into the Dead Sea.

(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.

To punish the wicked and deter others from evil deeds if possible, as deserved judgment the LORD destroyed everything.

(Genesis 19:26) But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Lot’s wife did not keep up with him. When the angels dropped their hands, perhaps Lot did not take her hand, or perhaps she refused to let him lead her as the angels had forcibly done. We do not know why Lot’s wife looked back, but she disobeyed the angels. Did she want to see if the LORD would really destroy Sodom? Did she want to see the destruction? Was her heart longing for the home she was leaving? We do n0t know how long she looked back. Maybe she looked back for so long that when the instantaneous destruction fell on the cities, she was unable to flee. The angels had said they could not do anything until Lot had arrived at Zoar; so, she had looked back at least long enough for her husband to safely reach Zoar.

(Genesis 19:27) Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD;

Early the next morning, Abraham saw that the LORD had done what He had promised. He learned that there were not ten righteous people living in Sodom. He knew that Lot was safe, because he knew that the LORD would not destroy the righteous with the wicked.

(Genesis 19:28) and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace.

Abraham looked and saw the example that Sodom and Gomorrah had become. Their devastation was total.

(Genesis 19:29) Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.

The Bible emphasizes that God does not and will not forget to keep His word, His promises. God saved Lot “out of the midst of the overthrow,” and in the fullness of time God sent His Son to save all who would believe in Him from the judgment that those who persist in wickedness will suffer.

 

 

Righteous but Unwise

September 1, 2019

Genesis 19:1-5 & 15-29

 

“But Lot 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 left him outside the city” (Genesis 19:16). The Bible calls Lot a righteous man. Prior to the destruction of Sodom, God told Abraham that He would not destroy the city if He found ten righteous men there (Genesis 18:32). After God’s angels arrived, they found only one righteous man in Sodom, so they took only Lot, his wife and his two daughters by the hand and brought them outside Sodom before the Lord rained fire and brimstone upon it. In 2 Peter 2:7, we read, “Lot, a righteous man [was] greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the lawless.” But what does it mean to be righteous? In Habakkuk 2:4, the Lord said through the prophet Habakkuk, “The righteous live by their faith,” which the New Testament reaffirms in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38. In Genesis 6:9, we read that Noah was righteous and blameless in his generation; therefore, he obeyed God and built the ark. In Romans 4:9, Paul wrote, “Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.” By faith Abraham obeyed God and by faith Abraham offered up Isaac (Hebrews 11:8, Hebrews 11:17). Believers in the Lord Jesus show forth their faith and righteousness by doing what God tells them to do. By the grace and mercy of God, the Lord saved Lot and his family even though Lot was slow to obey and had to be dragged out of the city. Lot had faith in God, but Lot lacked discernment and wisdom, for he left his tent and moved into a wicked city that was licentious, lawless, and godless.

 

Thinking Further

Righteous but Unwise

September 1, 2019

Genesis 19:1-5 & 15-29

Name _____________________________________

1. Why do you think Lot invited these two strangers into his home for the night?

 

 

2. How many men in the city surrounded Lot’s house and what were their ages? How many righteous men stayed behind?

 

 

3. Read John 3:19. Why do you think the men came to Lot’s house after dark? Why do you think some people parade their evil deeds in the light of day?

 

 

4. What did Lot need to do to be saved?

 

 

5. Why did the angels seize Lot and his family and take them outside of the city?

 

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

1. Why do you think Lot invited these two strangers into his home for the night? To show them hospitality and to protect them from the men in the city.
2. How many men in the city surrounded Lot’s house and what were their ages? How many righteous men stayed behind? All the men, young and old. There was not one righteous man who stayed behind.
3. Read John 3:19. Why do you think the men came to Lot’s house after dark? Why do you think some people parade their evil deeds in the light of day? Because they intended to do evil, they loved darkness rather than light. They wanted to hide their evil behavior from others—even from those around them who wanted to do the same evil deeds. Some people parade their evil deeds in the light because God has given them up to degrading passions (Romans 1:26-27). Claiming to be wise, they have become fools (Romans 1:22). In Romans 1:28, we read, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done.”
4. What did Lot need to do to be saved? Obey the angels and flee the city. He could not be saved by remaining in Sodom.
5. Why did the angels seize Lot and his family and take them outside of the city? Because Abraham had prayed, and the LORD kept His promise to Abraham. Because Lot lingered, and the LORD was merciful to Lot and his family.

 

Word Search

Righteous but Unwise

September 1, 2019

Genesis 19:1-5 & 15-29

Name ___________________________________

 

G V D E N E V A E L N U D H R

S O L J Z C M H A R R O M O G

X Q T S O N X W D J S Q I Q P

N H U Y A D Z Y C E N W K R N

L B V A R X M E O S Y R H D T

S U Y M R D A T N U A B C O P

P W F A L E U R S S J F L K E

S G V I W Y S O U A B V G Z L

E Q O A C E Z L M H S P L I A

R F L E E R T B E Z Q Y N H L

V G D R Z K E A D X R G D S V

A E Y F S P N M G C E N A J L

N I N A N G E L S R W P F P V

T D E S O D O M E P H O U S E

C B T J W X P D I D Y W I Q N

 

Angels

Sodom

Gateway

Lot

Servant

House

Square

Unleavened

Consumed

Punishment

Lingered

Merciful

Flee

Zoar

Gomorrah

 

 

 

True and False Test

Righteous but Unwise

September 1, 2019

Genesis 19:1-5 & 15-29

Name ___________________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

1. Lot showed true hospitality to the two angels who went to Sodom. He washed their feet, made a feast for them, and they spent the night. True or False
2. Lot wanted the angels to stay in Sodom throughout the next morning so they could meet some of his closest friends in the city. True or False
3. Many of Lot’s friends came to meet and greet the angels after they got off work in the evening, but Lot was rude to them. True or False
4. Early in the morning, the angels urged Lot to take his wife and two daughters out of the city or they would be consumed in the punishment of the city. True or False
5. Lot lingered in the city rather than obey the angels, so the angels had to seize Lot, his wife, and his two daughters and take them outside the city. True or False
6. Lot was not righteous, but he was Abraham’s nephew, so the LORD showed him mercy and saved him from the city’s destruction. True or False
7. The angels told Lot to flee to the hills and not remain on the Plain. True or False
8. Lot was afraid that disaster would overtake him as he fled and he would die, so he asked the angels if he could go to Zoar and be saved. True or False
9. The LORD rained sulfur and fire out of heaven and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the Plain. True or False
10. Lot and his wife and daughters lived happily ever after in Zoar. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. True

10.False

 

Prayer

Father, both Your judgment and Your mercy are revealed, not only in this account but throughout Your Word. May we give thanks that in the cross of Jesus “mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2:13). We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.