The Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide Office of the Bishop Bible Study Program – GENESIS OVERVIEW (Chap 19, Part I)

Three Angels have visited Abraham: 1) The Lord Himself was represented among these. 2) The Lord promised 99 year old Sarah that she would have a baby (Sarah laughs but denies it). 3) The Lord has determined to destroy the five cities of the plain including Sodom whose sins are so egregious that the abominable sin of ‘sodomy’ derives from its name. 4) Since Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lives in Sodom, the Lord agrees not to destroy Sodom if as few as ten righteous people are found in the city. The Lord already knows that there are not ten such people.

We learn from this account that when the Lord comes down, He does not always come to bless and comfort, but often to exercise hard judgment against the wicked. True, God is love; but God is also a God who is willing to destroy and bring judgment on those who reject His rule. The Lord Jesus Christ did not always show patience and understanding to those who rejected Him. He was kind to humble sinners, but harsh and unyielding to those who were proud and vain in their hearts: “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matt 3:7 (KJV) “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. John 8:44 (KJV)

And the men (ANGELS) turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: Gen 18:22 (KJV )

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 Gen 19:1 (KJV) The sins of Sodom – how do these differ from modern-day America?

“And he (LOT) said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.” Gen 19:2 (KJV) The polite refusal of the Angels to spend the night in Lot’s house was perhaps a test of Lot’s hospitality and character. They knew what was occurring in the streets of Sodom at night. They tested Lot’s conscience in this issue, as well, since he had chosen to live there. Where we choose to live and those with whom we associate matters to God.

And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. Gen 19:3 (KJV) The Angels of Heaven also eat.

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even 1) the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, 2) both old and young, 3) all the people from every quarter: Gen 19:4 (KJV) Examining the three factors above we make the following observations: 1)These were depraved and perverse men (homosexuals) 2)Sin is not limited by age 3)Sin can become the general and socialized nature of a city or of a nation

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. Gen 19:5 (KJV) The term ‘know’ (Heb: used here is Yada or yaw-dah’) meaning to know carnally. It is used much as the term is applied in Genesis 4:1 - And Adam knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. The sin of homosexuality is no light sin, but one which the LORD considers an abominable (worst kind) of sin because it flies in the face of God’s Creation model. [dy Yada` (yaw-dah' [dy Yada` (yaw-dah'[dy Yada` (yaw-dah'

It is obvious from the context that follows that these men were anxious to perform some shameful act of sin. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Gen 19:6-7 (KJV) We shall see how desperate Lot is to spare even the Angels of Heaven from such sinful acts. He knows these are Angels and he knows there are great consequences at hand: “Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.” Gen 19:8 (KJV)

It must be considered that the daughters, as revealed later, were not of the highest moral character. Lot had these thoughts to consider in making this proposal: 1)That it would most likely be rejected in view of the fact that these degenerates had no interest in the opposite sex. 2)That his daughters were not all that virtuous and would suffer no loss of a good conscience

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. Gen 19:9 (KJV) When we place ourselves in the very dwelling place of sin and wickedness, we, too, will become victims of the same unless reprieved by God alone. Lot pitched his tent “toward Sodom”; he later found himself living in the wicked city; at last he was sitting as a judge in the gate of Sodom. Sin is a sad DIRECTION! Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful Psalms 1:1 (KJV)

For the sake of His Elect, God will often spare us of the terror of our sins: But the men (Angels) put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. Gen 19:10-11 (KJV) Blindness is a symbol of dark and sinful lives. Amazingly, the men of this reprobate sin do not give up in seeking carnal gratification even if struck blind!

Salvation is forced upon none – it must be a surrender of man’s ‘free and sinful will’ to follow the perfect Will of God. When we retain our free wills, we are yet following a sinful will of the flesh. And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place Gen 19:12 (KJV) If we follow God’s Will (not our free wills), He will offer salvation to our families as well. If that Guide is rejected, there is only left a painful and horrible justice.

A very sad choice made by Lot’s sons-in law: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 1 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Gen 19:13-14 (KJV) It is not uncommon for the world to mock the Noah’s, the Jeremiah’s, the Isaiah’s, and the Reformers who teach and obey the Gospels. I pray that none seeing this presentation have made such a rejection of God’s Holy Will.

While it is true that joy comes in the morning for those who love the LORD, the morning can also bring shameful judgment to those who have rejected the LORD of Grace. 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. Gen 19:15 (KJV) As few as ten righteous persons were not found in all of that great city. Even the wife and daughters of Lot were not righteous, but were offered to be spared for the sake of the one righteous man of the city – LOT.

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. Gen 19:16 (KJV) Even Lot, who presumably knew better, resisted leaving his little position of social and economic advantage among the most evil society of the then world. It was the mercy of God, and not His righteousness, that spared LOT. It seems that God had to literally drag LOT and his family from Sodom. Such is the allure of the tantalizing nature of abject sin.

This will end the first part of our study on Genesis 19. Next presentation will reveal the manner in which God deals with all men, cities and nations that reject His rule.