Sodom & Gomorrah - Genesis 19:1-38

1. An expositional study taught by Harry Morgan

2. For those of you online post your comments or questions in the “comment section” on your screen. As time affords they may be read to the class.

3. ➢ Sodom’s Society (19:1–12) ➢ Sodom’s Sin (19:13–26) ➢ Sodom’s Significance (19:27–38) Briscoe, D. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1987). Genesis (Vol. 1, pp. 160–161). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

4. 1Now 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. 2And 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.” 3But 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.

5. 1. Describe the history of Lot prior to Genesis 19. • Lot born & raised in Ur of Chaldees (11:28,31) • Lot’s father was Haran, his uncle was Abram (11:28) • Lot departed Ur & traveled with Abram as the LORD directed (12:4)

6. 1b. Describe the history of Lot prior to Genesis 19. • Lot separated from Abram over their herds (Gen. 13:8-9) land rights for • Lot chose “all the plain of Jordan” (Gen. 13:10-11)

7. 1c. Describe the history of Lot prior to Genesis 19. • Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Gen. 13:12) Wouldn’t you like to wake up to this view each morning? • Lot “taken” hostage by 5 kings (Gen. 13:12) • Lot rescued by God through Abram (Gen. 14:13-16) • Lot “sat in the gate of Sodom” (Gen. 19:1)

8. 2. What time of day did the two angels visit with Lot? 1Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, • Angels spare Lot “with the coming of dawn” (15) • The Lord destroys the cities “the sun had risen” (23) • Abraham witnesses the aftermath “early the next morning” (27) Sunshine Skyway Bridge Sunrise Matthew Paulson Photography

9. 3. What were the two angels doing prior to their visit? 18:2 So he (Abraham) lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 18:8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. 18:16 Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 18:22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.

11. 4. Why did the angels visit Lot? What was their mission? 18:21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Two or three witnesses are required to confirm a matter. (Deut. 19:15; Mt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1) The Lord sent two angels!

12. 5. How did Lot respond to his angelic visitors? 19:1–3 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.

13. 5b. How did Lot respond to his angelic visitors? 19:1–32And 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.” 3But 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.

14. 6. Compare Lot’s response to Abraham’s response. 18:2–8 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.”

15. 7. Compare Lot’s response to Abraham’s response. 6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” 7And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

16. 8. Where was Lot when they first met? 1Now 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. The place where the elders of the city meet to do business (cf. Ruth 4:1,2; Deut. 22:15; 25:7; Josh. 20:4; Lam. 5:14).

17. 9. Explain the significance of “the gate of Sodom”? Psalm 24:7–9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Philadelphia City Hall

18. 10. What does this phrase tell us about Lot? 1. Lot had become completed accepted and integrated into Sodom’s society. 2. Lot held a position of authority and judgment. 3. Though other elders were most likely with Lot at the moment of his encounter with the two angels, but no one else offers them hospitality.

19. 11. Describe the city of Sodom. • A beautiful place “well watered everywhere … like the garden of the LORD” (Gen. 13:10) • A luxurious, hedonistic place of enjoyment and pleasure. “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.” (Ezek. 16:49– 50)

20. 12. How is this city referred to in the rest of Scripture? • Jude 7 highlights Sodom’s “unnatural lust”. • Matt. 10:14–15 our Lord concentrates on Sodom’s inhospitality: “And if anyone will not receive you...truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” • Matt. 11:24 Jesus used Sodom as an example of the righteous judgment of God, stating to the inhabitants of Capernaum, “it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you”

21. 13. How are some Churches in North America similar to Lot? “The ‘seeker sensitivity’ of evangelicals—their practice of suiting the gospel to the felt needs of people, primarily the bourgeoisie—contributes to their numerical success but can easily sow the seeds of worldliness (broadly conceived). How so? Well, in a society such as ours where people do not feel particularly guilty before God (though in fact they are), seeker-sensitivity—if consistently carried through—will soft-pedal the preaching of salvation from sin, for such preaching would not meet a felt need of people. As a result, the gospel message of saving, sanctifying grace reduces to a gospel massage of physical, psychological, and social well-being that allows worldliness to flourish.” Robert H. Gundry, “A Paleofundamentalist Manifesto for Contemporary Evangelicalism,” Books & Culture, Vol. 7, No. 5, pp. 27, 28. (2001)

22. 14. Why did Lot call the angels “my lords”? 2And 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.” ןוֹדָא (ʾā·ḏôn): master, lord, i.e., one who exercises control or authority over another, or others (1Sa 20:38); lord, master, sir, i.e., the naming of a superior to an inferior as a title of respect (1Sa 1:26); husband (Jdg. 19:26, 27); owner, i.e., one who is a possessor of goods, persons, or lands

23. 15. Why did the angels reject Lot’s hospitable invitation (24:23, 54; Judges 18:2; 19:4-20) to spend the night with him? 2bAnd they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” • Were the angels uncomfortable with the condition of Lot’s accommodations? • Were the angels afraid of spending the night with Lot? Should they be afraid? • Were they fearful of the repercussions of staying with Lot? • Were they intending on an overnight inspection of the city?

24. 16. What is an “open square”? 2bAnd they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” Bonny in Krakow's main market square, 2005

25. 17. Why did Lot “strongly” insist on his visitors staying with him? 3aBut he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. רַצָפ(pā·ṣǎr) = insist, persuade, urge דֹא ְ מ(meʾōḏ) = very, so, greatly, utterly, i.e., pertaining to a high point on a scale of extent

26. 18. Why did Lot “strongly” insist on his visitors staying with him? 3aBut he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Leviticus 19:33–34 And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Job 31:32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler);

27. 19. Why is “unleavened bread” specifically mentioned in the “feast” Lot prepared for his angelic visitors? 3bThen he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. הֶּת ְ ש ִ מ (miš·těh) – describes banquets given on special occasions: • the weaning of Isaac (21:8) • weddings (29:22; Judg. 14:10) • royal entertaining (40:20; 1 Kgs. 3:15)

28. 20. Why is “unleavened bread” specifically mentioned in the “feast” Lot prepared for his angelic visitors? 3bThen he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. הָצַמ(mǎṣ·ṣāh) = flat bread, unleavened cakes or wafers • • Abraham served םֶּחֶּל (lě·ḥěm) loaf of grain bread (18:5) Mǎṣ·ṣāh used during Passover (Ex. 12:8, 15-20, 39)

29. 4Now 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. 5And 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.” 6So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, 7and 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;

30. 21. How quickly were the angels discovered by the citizens of Sodom? 4aNow before they lay down, the men of the city . . . surrounded the house. 19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening… Sunset over the Dead Sea

31. 22. Who was included among the crowd that “surrounded the house”? 4Now 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. Mayhem in Paris 01 Dec. 2018

32. 23. What did the crowd demand of Lot? 5And 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.” עַדָי (yā·ḏǎʿ) = know, perceive, sexual intimacy

33. 24. What does the word “know” (עדי yada) mean? (5; 4:1, 17, 25; 24:16) 5b“Where are the men…that we may know them carnally.” Researchers discovered two male skeletons which are believed to be 5,000-year old in the southern Jordan river valley. https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-science/sodom-gomorrah-scientific-evidence-00358

34. 25. How is the practice of homosexuality viewed in the Bible? (18:20; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; cf. Judges 19:22-26; 2 Peter 2:6-8; Jude 7)

35. Genesis 18:20 And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,” Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

36. Romans 1:26–27 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

37. 1 Timothy 1:8–10 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,

38. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

39. 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

40. 26. Some argue that the citizens of Sodom simply wanted to “know” Lot’s visitors by checking their credentials. How would you answer this argument?

41. 27. Why did Lot shut the door behind him? 6So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him,

42. 28. How did Lot respond to their demand? 7and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! 8See 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.”

43. 29. Why did Lot offer his daughters to them, saying they “have not known a man”? 8See 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… (עדי yada) • Whatever his thought process was, it was wrong and indefensible. • 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

44. 8bonly do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” 9And 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. 10But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11And 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.

45. 30. Abraham had interceded for Lot and prayed that God would spare Sodom if there were ten “righteous” in the city. (18:32-33) Given what you know of Lot would you say he was a “righteous” man? “If you equate God’s judgment with your judgment, you have a wrong religion.” Reinhold Niebuhr

46. 31. What was Peter’s estimation of Lot? 2 Peter 2:6–9 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; 7and 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)—9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

47. 32. What contrasts does Peter make of the men of Sodom to the character of Lot? 2 Peter 2:6–9 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; 7and 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)—9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

48. 33. How do the men of Sodom respond to Lot’s offer of his daughters? 9And 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. Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

49. 34. Who saved Lot from his dangerous situation? What was done? 10But 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.

50. 35. When were the Sodomites no longer a threat to Lot? 11And 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.