Day 25 – Lot & Sodom

There are many tough passages in the bible. Genesis 19 is one of them. It’s tough for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s sexually explicit, including in ways that you may find quite uncomfortable or difficult to think about. Secondly, it shows God’s judgement on sin in a powerful and possibly distressing way. We do not shy away from God’s word, but it is important to handle it carefully – and prayerfully. You might want to consider doing today’s study with a friend, or someone at home. You’ll discuss it with me or Mel next time we meet, too.

• You remember Lot, Abraham’s nephew? A week ago, we read that he and his uncle Abraham had decided to split up and go their separate ways. Lot went one way, and Abraham the other, with Lot choosing to head towards Sodom, where he settled. As our passage in Genesis 19 opens today, we see the two angels we met yesterday heading on their way towards Sodom. Do you remember the promise God made to Abraham about this city? He had agreed not to destroy Sodom if there were at least 10 righteous people living there. Let’s find out what happened.
• How did Lot greet the angels? It seems pretty good, doesn’t it! By inviting them in, Lot seems to be demonstrating the sort of righteousness that Abraham referred to in his conversation with God. Lot and his family seem welcoming and righteous. Are there any more?
• Before the angels went to sleep in Lot’s house, “all the men” of the town came to the door. What awful thing did they demand? If you use an ESV bible, you may find these verses more clear in the NIV today. Can you imagine how the people in the house might have felt?
• Lot admirably tries to protect the angels from the sexually motivated attack in Genesis 19:7, but in verse 8 he astonishingly offers his daughters to be raped by the mob outside instead of his guests. Lot can be commended for trying to protect the visitors, but offering his daughters to be attacked is something that should shock you, and rightly so. It’s a seemingly indefensible act.
• How do the angels rescue Lot? As he and his immediate family leave, does Lot’s other family listen to him? Do you think Lot was aware of how dangerous it was to be in the city?
• What happened to Lot’s wife as they ran from the destruction?
• Not enough righteous people were found for God to relent from his destruction of the city. What does the destruction tell us about God’s judgement on sin? How does this make you feel? How does trusting in Jesus’ death comfort you?
• The passage in Luke shows that God’s judgement can come at any time. Does the passage say that everyone will be saved?
• Lot was saved, but he still went through tough times. The 2 Peter passage shows us that we will go through hard times too, but we can trust in the Lord for strength and courage.
• We’ll finish our notes by turning back to Genesis 19 to read the other murky story recorded in verses 30 to 38. Lot and his daughters have been rescued from Sodom and are living in a cave. What happens in the story? Why did the daughters decide to do this? Was Lot innocent in the matter?
• The children that come from this incestuous tale are called Moab and Ben-ammi. Their descendants become the Moabite and Ammonite people, who would become bitter enemies of Israel, Abraham’s descendants. They often fought against each other, such as in 1 Samuel 14:47.

Phew.. tough stuff, huh. Today’s passage had discussions of rape and incest. At no point does the bible ever suggest that these things are right. The stories are written down because they happened and are important to understanding the history, but the bible never condones this behaviour, or excuses it.

End your studies today thinking about the seriousness in which God treats unrepentant sin. In Jesus we have a mediator and rescuer who has taken our punishment for us, but passages like this, which shows Gods righteous wrath against sin, shows us how much we really do need Him.