Read the Passage: Genesis 19

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 19

Sodom’s Depravity (19:1–11)

Earlier, at Gen. 18:2, it was reported that Abraham saw “three men [who] were standing by him.” While they are referred to as men again at Gen. 18:22a, at Gen. 18:22b, 33 we learn that one of these men was God. It is not until Gen. 19:1 that it is revealed the other two men were actually angels. The fact that angels were in God’s presence ought not to be surprising, for this frequently occurs in Scripture (cf. Neh. 9:6; Matt. 25:31). The two angels had departed for Sodom at Gen. 18:22, and upon their arrival at Gen. 19:1, they found Lot sitting in the city gate. This indicates that Lot had become a ruler or a judge in the city of Sodom (cf. Gen. 19:9). Since the angels had taken on human forms, Lot did not recognize their heavenly origin. Yet, Lot still offered to lodge the angels in his home, both on account of near eastern hospitality and to protect the men from the moral depravity of the citizens of Sodom.

Lot’s strong insistence that the angels lodge with him (cf. Gen. 19:3), on account of the moral depravity of the people (cf. Gen. 19:9), was well founded. Indeed, Gen. 19:4 reports, “The men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house.” These inhabitants of Sodom began to call out for Lot to surrender his visitors so “that we may know them carnally” (Gen. 19:5). Lot’s response was to exhort the citizens to morality (cf. Gen. 19:6–7), to offer his daughters as a less deviant option (cf. Gen. 19:8a), and to identify protection as the reason why he was lodging the angels (cf. Gen. 19:8b). The peoples’ response was to verbally and physically assault Lot (cf. Gen. 19:9). Next, the angels rescued Lot and struck the citizens of Sodom with form of supernatural blindness so that the people could not find the door of Lot’s house (cf. Gen. 19:10–11; 2 Kings 6:18).

God’s Judgment (19:12–29)

Gen. 19:12–17 records the angels’ rescue of Lot from the impending judgment of the city. God’s grace is evident as the angels gave Lot an opportunity to warn his loved ones about the imminent danger. Although Lot tried to warn his sons-in-law, they didn’t believe him. Note that since Lot’s daughters were not married (cf. Gen. 19:8), these men were his daughters’ fiancés under the Jewish betrothal system of marriage. Despite the warning from the angels, and the supernatural events of the previous evening, Lot and his family lingered in the city (cf. Gen. 19:16). Indeed, it is recorded that “the angels took hold of Lot’s hand, his wife’s hand, and the hand of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city” (Gen. 19:16). It is not clear if Lot lingered in Sodom because he was sinfully attached to the city, or if he was grieved over the looming destruction.

Although Lot had been told to flee to the mountains (cf. Gen. 19:17), he negotiated with the angels to allow his family to flee to the smaller city of Zoar. Apparently, Lot had become accustomed to an urban lifestyle, or perhaps he viewed city-dwelling to be a safer alternative for his family than living in the mountains. It is unclear why Lot didn’t take refuge with his own family, as Abraham dwelt within traveling distance (cf. Gen. 19:27–28). In any event, while God had originally intended to destroy Zoar, He consented to spare the city and to allow Lot to flee there. Gen. 19:26 reveals the interesting fact that Lot’s wife looked back to Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. This look at Sodom was more than a disobedient, curious glance (cf. Gen. 19:17), as Lot’s wife was apparently sinfully attached to the city, along with its material goods and temptations. In His teaching about materialism, observe that Jesus later exhorted His followers, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).

Lot’s Descendants (19:30–38)

Gen. 19:30–38 contains the sad story of Lot’s involuntary incest with his two daughters. This narrative reports that “Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains . . . for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar” (Gen. 19:30). It is unclear if Lot feared future judgment of the city, or if he feared the citizens of Zoar. Yet, it is evident that Lot should have followed the angels’ original instructions to flee to the mountains. This passage records that Lot’s daughters feared that the entire earth had been or would soon be destroyed, including all of the eligible bachelors. Therefore, they purposed to get their father Lot drunk and to sleep with him in order to become pregnant. Just as Abraham’s sexual sin with Hagar led to the conception of those who would later oppose Israel, so the sexual sin in this passage led to the conception of the Moabites and the Ammonites who would later oppose Israel.

Application Questions:

1. Was it wrong for Lot to remain living in Sodom? If Lot was disturbed by the immorality of Sodom, why did he remain there?
2. Do you believe that the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah had any notion of their impending judgment (cf. Luke 17:28–29)?
3. Why did Lot try to reason with the ravenous crowd? Why did Lot offer his daughters to the citizens of Sodom?
4. Despite the warning of the angels, why did Lot linger in the city? Why did Lot’s sons-in-law not believe his warning?
5. Why did Lot’s wife disobey the angels and look at the city? What did Jesus mean in saying, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32)?