19. THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM
Genesis 19
First: This chapter contains the Bible's first reference to homosexual behavior. After this, the Bible refers to it as the «sin of Sodom». Lot had apparently taken a wife after leaving Ur, and about 25 years had passed since then (see 12:4; 21:5). He had two engaged daughters, who were therefore under twenty. Lot had lived in Sodom for at least 15 years (13:11; 16:3). Sitting at the city gate indicated his membership in the city council. We remember that Abraham had saved the people of Sodom from captivity over a decade earlier. (Other Bible passages about homosexual behavior: Leviticus 18:22-30; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10.)
Preliminary questions
• What does it show about Lot that he didn't set up an altar for himself at his dwelling place?
• What does it show about Lot that he engaged his daughters to the men of Sodom?
Verses 1-3.
• Compare the treatment the visitors received at Abraham's place (in chapter 18) with the treatment they received at Lot's place. What does this treatment reveal about Lot?
• Where were Lot's wife and daughters when Lot was serving his guests? Consider different possibilities.
• Why did the visitors initially plan to spend the night in the open?
Verse 2.
• 2 Peter 2:7: Peter says about Lot: And if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked. What else should Lot have done instead of just enduring?
• Why didn't Lot leave Sodom?
• How should we respond to the godlessness that the world (especially social media and the media) offers in our time?
Verses 4-5. Here we speak about ALL the men of the city.
• By all indications, how was sex regarded in Sodom?
• What is surprising and horrifying in these verses? (What caused the men of the city to become consumed with lust for Lot's visitors?)
• Imagine the situation of children and young people in a city where sex was approached in this manner.
• What would Sodom's future have been like if it hadn't been destroyed?
Verses 6-8. The fact that the guests had got shelter under Lot’s roof obliged the host, according to the mindset of the time, to protect them, even with his own life.
• Consider what would need to happen for a father to make the proposal in verses 7-8. (Did Lot know that his guests were heavenly beings? Justify your opinion.)
Verses 9-11.
• What did the inhabitants of Sodom have against Lot? (Why were they angry with him? Compare to accusations made against believers today.)
• The angels had come to investigate Sodom's situation in person. What had they found out?
Verses 12-17, also verse 29.
• Is Lot's sons-in-law's reaction understandable? Why or why not? (How much do you think they knew about their father-in-law's religion?)
• Why didn't Lot's family flee for their lives immediately but rather procrastinated?
• Consider what was most challenging for Lot's female family members in this situation.
• Why didn't the Lord give up and leave Lot's family in the doomed city? (What do these verses teach us about the influence of believing relatives on the destinies of their households? See verses 16 and 29.)
Read verses 18-22 without commenting on them. These verses explain the existence of the city of Zoar on the shore of the Dead Sea.
Verses 23-26. Lot's wife apparently dropped behind her husband and daughters (verses 23, 26). It's been thought that toxic gases were emitted from the ground crack, which she inhaled. Gradually, she became covered with salt crystals.
• What message do verses 24-25 have for our time? (What does the destruction of Sodom reveal about God's love?)
• Why did Lot's wife look back?
• Jesus said: Remember Lot's wife. (Luke 17:32) What is he warning you and me about today? Read verses 27-29 without commenting on them. Abraham stood in the same place when Lot separated from him and moved to Sodom.
Verses 30-38. Note that Lot's daughters' mother and fiancés had just died, as had all their friends. Lot himself had lost his wife and all his property. Look up the meanings of the names Moab and Ammon in the footnotes.
• What did Lot fear when leaving Zoar?
• Why didn't Lot return to Abraham's camp?
• Do you think Lot's daughters would have acted this way if they had been raised in Abraham's camp instead of growing up in Sodom? Justify your answer.
• Why did Lot's life go so wrong; what was his worst mistake?
• Why do you think this case of incest is written in the Bible?
Concluding Questions
• There are many Christian homosexuals in the world who want to obey God's word and live in celibacy. Think about how we in our churches could support them in their struggle.
Finally: Jesus was not a homophobe, as we can see from his words: And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you. (Matthew 11:23-24). If only Lot had proclaimed God's word in his city, so that its inhabitants could have had the opportunity to see their sins, believe in the Lord's mercy, and be saved!
***
Version for printing
Downloads
Contact us
Webmaster