Thursday: Lot in Sodom
Read Genesis 18:16-19, Genesis 18:29. How does Abraham’s prophetic ministry affect his responsibility toward Lot?
Abraham has just been reconfirmed in God’s promise of a son. Yet, instead of enjoying the good news, he engages God in a passionate discussion about the fate of Lot in Sodom. Abraham is not only a prophet to whom God reveals His will; he is also a prophet who intercedes on behalf of the wicked. The Hebrew phrase “stood before the LORD” (Genesis 18:22, NKJV) is an idiom for praying.
Image © Steve Creitz at Goodsalt.com
In fact, Abraham challenges God and bargains with Him to save Sodom, where his nephew resides. Moving from 50 down to 10, God would have saved the people of Sodom if only 10 Sodomites had been righteous.
Of course, when one reads the story of what happened when the two angels came to Lot to warn him of what was coming (Genesis 19:1-10), we can see just how sick and evil the people had become. It truly was a wicked place, as were many of the nations around them; one reason why, eventually, they were driven from the land (see Genesis 15:16).
“And now the last night of Sodom was approaching. Already the clouds of vengeance cast their shadows over the devoted city. But men perceived it not. While angels drew near on their mission of destruction, men were dreaming of prosperity and pleasure. The last day was like every other that had come and gone. Evening fell upon a scene of loveliness and security. A landscape of unrivaled beauty was bathed in the rays of the declining sun. The coolness of eventide had called forth the inhabitants of the city, and the pleasure-seeking throngs were passing to and fro, intent upon the enjoyment of the hour.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 157, 158.
In the end, God saved only Lot, his wife, and his two daughters (Genesis 19:15), almost half the minimum of 10. The sons-in-law, who did not take Lot’s warning seriously, remained in the city (Genesis 19:14).
That beautiful country was, then, destroyed. The Hebrew verb hafakh, “overthrew,” occurs several times in this passage (Genesis 19:21, Genesis 19:25, Genesis 19:29) and characterizes the destruction of Sodom (Deuteronomy 29:23, Amos 4:11). The idea is that the country has been “reversed.” Just as the Flood “reversed” the original creation (Genesis 6:7), the destruction of Sodom is a “reversal” of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 13:10). In the destruction of Sodom, we are given a precursor of end-time destruction, as well (see Jude 7).
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How much am I cut off into my own dealings? How much does this planet and the activities in it make me just to look around, instead of looking UP? Is God the first and last in my life? These are questions I must answer to myself, and perhaps I can measure how ready I am to leave this all behind! Am I being held down here because of possessions? Or social position? Or because of an academic degree? Thank God for Christ, Who calls me to take His yoke, instead He takes mine, which is much heavier! Thank God for Jesus, Who has to be the first and the last in all!
And the LORD said, “…I will go down now and see…”
It amazes me how many times God “comes down to see”. He came down to see why Adam and Eve were hiding. He came down to see why Cain harboured anger in his heart. Each time we go astray, it is he who comes down, for even the will to do his good pleasure comes from him. And each time he comes down it is to redeem us back to himself.
Even in speaking to Abraham and allowing him to bargain with him about the lives of the inhabitants of Sodom, God was coming down. He understood Abraham’s kind nature would be disturbed to think that maybe the innocent had perished along with the wicked in the destruction of so large a city. God understood that sometimes we do not understand. So, God tells his friend Abraham what he plans to do, and enables his friend to bargain for the lives of the people of this wicked place so that Abraham would be satisfied that mercy had been fulfilled even as justice was meted.
When God comes down, sometimes we are willing to allow him to cover our nakedness. Other times, we allow sin to knock at our door and we open the door to our own destruction. Always, God is constant in his love, his grace, his mercy, and his justice. How wonderful!
Have we judged Lot's character from his choices?
He followed Abraham from Ur to Haran to Canaan to Egypt and back to Canaan.
When he had to leave his uncle's side, he chose the plains which were like the Garden of Eden.
He lived in the wicked city of Sodom.
He offered hospitality to the two strangers like Abraham did, he was even willing to sacrifice his daughters to save his guests.
Lot and his family had to be literally dragged out of Sodom to be saved.
Which of these choices were good and which were bad?
However Peter gives us a better insight into Lot's character: 2Pe 2:7-8 MKJV And God delivered righteous Lot, oppressed with the lustful behavior of the lawless. For that righteous one living among them, in seeing and hearing, his righteous soul was tormented from day to day with their unlawful deeds.
How often do we come to the wrong conclusions about other people's characters? Jesus said: Luke 6:37 MKJV Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.
Thank you Shirley for sharing the text in 2 Peter. We underestimate the struggle that Lot went through when he had to leave his other children in Sodom, while he fled, knowing they would be destroyed. His wife was taken by the hand and led away, but her heart was still back in Sodom. It could have been because of their children, we don’t know, but Lot, who was also taken by the hand and led out, did not turn back around. That would have taken a great trust in God.
What is going on in the interaction between Abraham and God that is mentioned in today's lesson? Is Abraham, like Moses later on, needing to 'talk God down' from the destruction that God is seeking to bring in "vengeance" (as we typically conceive of vengeance)? Is Abraham therefore more compassionate than God? Or is God facilitating a growth opportunity for Abraham in Abraham's relationship with the God that Abraham is progressively getting to know and understand?
Good point on progressive knowlegle of God's divine nature, of love, mercy, long suffering and Justice.
Besides Abraham growing to know the Divine Nature, scripture shows ALL mankind, that take time to know God, that God's ways are always based on his divine nature !
It gives us confidence that all his ways are perfect.
James 1:17-18
Shalom
🙏
Ellen White’s quote speaks to me: “Already the clouds of vengeance cast their shadows over the devoted city” points out the mighty forces of spiritual warfare to decide the fate of this city.
Who were these people devoted to – the spirits of this world, the spirit of the prince of darkness, but Abraham pleaded with the angel nevertheless to spare the souls who had not already been lost to the deceptions and lies of the enemy of God and man.
Even Lot’s wife appears to have been effected by this virus of self-endulgence, indulging the flesh with all its wants and desires and forgetting that man has a better way, a higher way - God's spirit's way - to conduct himself; she turned around bemoaning the loss of all the possessions and the ease related to them and was lost as well.
Our lives are engaged in this spiritual warfare from birth to death, and only our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus holds the spiritual power to overcome death and dying. May we, the followers of His teachings, never take our eyes of the prize which is set before us and run the race to the finish, obtaining the pearl of great prize – 1Cor.924-27; Isa.40:31.
Once again we see the Divine Nature of Love, mercy, long suffering and Justice acting on the *complete corruption* in Sodom that had no redeeming qualities.
Same occurred in the wilderness from Egypt, the flood, and the bad Angels that left their dwelling, and Israel in 70AD.
Jude 1, Mathew 23:23-36.
It seems based on 2 Peter 3:9-14 that the final Judgent with be the eternal fire.
Shalom 🙏
Brother Larry Flynn, being that things are 'burned up', my understanding of scripture is that the results of the fire is eternal, not the fire itself. Revelation 20:9 KJV reveals the fire consuming the wicked as they attach the New Jerusalem. Malachi 4:3 KJV declares the wicked(those who reject salvation in Christ Jesus) will be ashes under the feet of the righteous. May the Holy Spirit be our interpreter of God's Holy Word.
Correct ...
See my comment in Friday's study !
Shalom 🙏👍🏻
Good SHADOW (Abraham, Flather of many nations, and priestly office) to the reality/SUBSTANCE of the CHRIST in the eternal plan in the Godhead before creation.
Amen 🙏