Continuing from Chapter 18, we read that the two angels accompanying the Lord to Abraham’s dwelling have begun their journey to Sodom and Gomorrah to investigate the accusations made against those inhabitants and the cries for justice.
Abraham immediately begins pleading for his loved ones to be spared from the coming destruction and the final decision is agreed upon that if the Lord can determine there are ten righteous individuals found within the walls of Sodom and Gomorrah, God will spare those cities from obliteration.
As you read this account you will realize the depravity of the inhabitants as the men encircle Lot’s home and demand the two visitors be “given” to them for their sexual pleasure. “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Genesis 19:5 So much for Lot thinking the visitors would be safer within his home than in the town square where the visitors had originally commented they would lodge for the night! (Ancient hospitality notes that a host was obligated to protect guests lodging with him in every way possible as suggested by Lot’s reply in verse 8.)
Lot begs the townsmen to leave and stoops to appease their sexual appetites by suggesting they “take” his two virgin daughters instead! Imagine! How could a father offer his virgin daughters to these angry, demanding and most likely violent men? Review verse 9 as the men appear to be ready to storm Lot’s home and extract anyone they desire by any means.
Somewhere within his soul I believe Lot realized this behavior and conduct was sinful. Did he realize the visitors were angels…messengers of God? Is that the reason he thought his daughters would be appropriate sacrificial material? Remember the perfect lambs that were sacrificed for sins? Lambs without blemish? I really don’t know Lot’s thinking at this point, but it is evident that Lot’s permissiveness towards sinful ways is totally out of control.
Lot IS the frog that slowly heated in the pot of water to its boiling point of death. If not for the intercessory prayers of Abraham, Lot would have died with the other family members of Sodom and Gomorrah. This point alone gives new meaning for me when I hear the phrase intercessory prayer. Never quit praying for your loved ones, my friends, and never quit praying for the salvation of those that seem so hard to bring to Christ.
In addition to intercessory prayers another subject has arisen in this chapter I would like to address. That is the sin of sexual practices outside the guidelines given by God in His Holy Word. Now, to be frank, if there is someone reading this commentary that does not believe in the Bible, what I am about to write will not be accepted by them. The Bible is my reference for how I live my life. I love God’s Word and I accept every word written within its hallowed pages. I believe there was a fish big enough to swallow Jonah. I believe there was a bush that burned, but wasn’t burning. I believe the Red Sea parted and the Israelites walked through on dry ground. I believe there was a flood and Noah built an ark that housed two of every kind of animal. I believe Daniel was thrown into a den of lions and they didn’t use him as an appetizer. And on I could go…in fact, I feel like shouting, HALLELUJAH! I serve a mighty, awesome God!!
So, if I believe everything written in God’s Word, I also believe what is written within this chapter. There are guidelines when it comes to our sexual appetites. Let’s see if we can find more common ground. We usually are disgusted when we hear about the following situations:
1. A priest who has been exposed as a sexual predator of young altar boys
2. An adult who has sexually abused young children
3. A rapist
4. An individual found to be having intercourse with animals
5. Individuals involved in sodomy
6. An adult, married, who is exposed as having numerous lovers
7. Men lusting for men
8. Women lusting for women
All the above are issues of sexual preference. All must be addressed as sinful behavior. On what do I base my conclusion? The guidelines given in the Word of God are the basis of my conclusions. Besides the chapter we are reading this week, please review Leviticus, Chapter 18, the entire chapter is entitled, “Unlawful Sexual Relations”. Also, Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:9 and I Timothy 1:10 address this behavior.
I would like to quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald, pages 56 and 57 to give you another view of what is happening in this chapter. It enlightened my thinking as I read through these notes and the situation happening in Chapter 19 between Lot and the townsmen.
“God condemns the sin of homosexuality. He showed His wrath against it by destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Under the Law of Moses, sodomy was punishable by death. No practicing homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God.
There is a difference between being a practicing homosexual and having a homosexual tendency. It is the practice that the Bible condemns, not the orientation. There are many who have an attraction to their own sex but refuse to give in to it. By the power of the Spirit, they have disciplined themselves to resist the temptation and to live in purity. Many Christian persons of homosexual orientation…
Have regarded their condition with sorrow and contrition, but, unable to change, have drawn on the Spirit for the power of forbearance and chastity, which is sanctification indeed…In commitment to Christ, (they) have offered an enduring inner blemish for God’s use that divine power may be perfected in human weakness.
Some blame God that they were born with this tendency, but the fault does not lie with God but with human sinfulness. Every fallen child of Adam has evil tendencies. Some have a weakness in one area, some in another. The sin is not in being tempted, but in yielding to the temptation.
There is a deliverance from homosexuality or lesbianism, as there is from any form of lust. Christians should accept gays and lesbians as persons without approving their lifestyle.”
Remember, this is only one form of lust. But to accept some of these forms of lust (listed previously in this commentary) under the blanket of tolerance while being disgusted by the actions of others on the list is being selective in our acceptance of sin. Sin is sin, my friends. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All of us. But to remain in a sinful lifestyle, a sexual practice clearly spoken against in scripture, and condemn others for not walking along side of that belief while labeling the same as homophobic or some other form of name calling is also wrong.
No one wants to be accused of wrong doing or committing sinful practices. Being from the South, I still feel like I carry a burden for the slavery issue and I had nothing to do with it! When I see a Confederate flag I remember good things about the south, not the bad behavior and beliefs written in history. Same goes for the Jews. Although Jesus came to his own and his own received him not, the Jews today get very upset when they are referred to as the ones who crucified Jesus on the cross! But, bottom line is, the South did believe in slavery and the Confederate flag brings memories to the forefront of minds that causes distress. Bottom line, the Jews did put to death Jesus believing him to be a blasphemer. We commit sin, we ask forgiveness and Jesus washes us white as snow through the blood he shed on Calvary. We need to own the sin, ask for forgiveness and move on. Having no remorse, continuing on in sin will reap its own consequences. That you can count on. Look at what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. Think it won’t happen today?
Now for my final comments concerning Chapter 19. The angels have told Lot (after grabbing him by the neck and protecting him from the angry mob outside his door) to get his family together and get out of the city before it is destroyed. The townsmen are blinded and the way is made clear for Lot’s escape. But note what happened:
1. Lot is urged to get out of town.
2. Lot goes to his future sons-in-law and tells them about the coming destruction. They laugh.
3. Lot is urged again to leave town.
4. Lot hesitates…are you kidding??
5. The angels take Lot’s hands and the hands of his wife and daughters and lead them out of the city.
6. They are told to not look back.
7. Lot bargains with the next location he is to run. Zoar is the destination.
8. When Lot reaches Zoar the Lord rains down fire from heaven to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
9. Lot’s wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt.
10. God remembers the prayers of Abraham and Lot is brought out of the catastrophe that brought an end to Sodom and Gomorrah.
What does this summarization tell you about the person of Lot? When a person lives among sin for a long period of time, that person becomes desensitized to sin. Lot evidently has reached this point since he did not immediately respond to God’s instructions and leave Sodom and Gomorrah without delay.
Not only did the sin become embedded into Lot’s life and thought process, but the latter part of the chapter gives us a glimpse of how this upbringing affected his virgin daughters. When Lot and his daughters settled in Zoar, they became fearful that they would not have husbands and continue the family line with children. So they got their father drunk and slept with him. Each daughter took a turn. Can you believe it? Shall we go back to the list of sexual sins listed previously? As a result, the older daughter’s child became the father of Moabites and the younger daughter’s child became the father of the Ammonites. These two groups will develop into nations that will become bitter enemies of Abraham’s descendents. And the story continues….
Lord, thank you for walking us through this lesson. It is difficult to hear about sinful practices that might be harbored in our own lives, but through the blood of Christ, we can be washed white as snow when we ask for forgiveness. Forgive our disobedience to your commands and the guidelines you have given us for abundant living. Help us to experience the blessings that unfold as we give our hearts and lives to you. Help us to love everyone as you have first loved us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
NEXT WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:
Please read Chapter 20
1. After reading the story of the encounter between Abraham and Abimelech please write what you think about Abraham’s actions. Did Abraham actually lie?
2. State Abraham’s offense.
3. What was Abimelech told by God?
4. State Abimelech’s response.
5. There was a judgment passed on Abimelech’s household. What do you think about this judgment?
Abraham immediately begins pleading for his loved ones to be spared from the coming destruction and the final decision is agreed upon that if the Lord can determine there are ten righteous individuals found within the walls of Sodom and Gomorrah, God will spare those cities from obliteration.
As you read this account you will realize the depravity of the inhabitants as the men encircle Lot’s home and demand the two visitors be “given” to them for their sexual pleasure. “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Genesis 19:5 So much for Lot thinking the visitors would be safer within his home than in the town square where the visitors had originally commented they would lodge for the night! (Ancient hospitality notes that a host was obligated to protect guests lodging with him in every way possible as suggested by Lot’s reply in verse 8.)
Lot begs the townsmen to leave and stoops to appease their sexual appetites by suggesting they “take” his two virgin daughters instead! Imagine! How could a father offer his virgin daughters to these angry, demanding and most likely violent men? Review verse 9 as the men appear to be ready to storm Lot’s home and extract anyone they desire by any means.
Somewhere within his soul I believe Lot realized this behavior and conduct was sinful. Did he realize the visitors were angels…messengers of God? Is that the reason he thought his daughters would be appropriate sacrificial material? Remember the perfect lambs that were sacrificed for sins? Lambs without blemish? I really don’t know Lot’s thinking at this point, but it is evident that Lot’s permissiveness towards sinful ways is totally out of control.
Lot IS the frog that slowly heated in the pot of water to its boiling point of death. If not for the intercessory prayers of Abraham, Lot would have died with the other family members of Sodom and Gomorrah. This point alone gives new meaning for me when I hear the phrase intercessory prayer. Never quit praying for your loved ones, my friends, and never quit praying for the salvation of those that seem so hard to bring to Christ.
In addition to intercessory prayers another subject has arisen in this chapter I would like to address. That is the sin of sexual practices outside the guidelines given by God in His Holy Word. Now, to be frank, if there is someone reading this commentary that does not believe in the Bible, what I am about to write will not be accepted by them. The Bible is my reference for how I live my life. I love God’s Word and I accept every word written within its hallowed pages. I believe there was a fish big enough to swallow Jonah. I believe there was a bush that burned, but wasn’t burning. I believe the Red Sea parted and the Israelites walked through on dry ground. I believe there was a flood and Noah built an ark that housed two of every kind of animal. I believe Daniel was thrown into a den of lions and they didn’t use him as an appetizer. And on I could go…in fact, I feel like shouting, HALLELUJAH! I serve a mighty, awesome God!!
So, if I believe everything written in God’s Word, I also believe what is written within this chapter. There are guidelines when it comes to our sexual appetites. Let’s see if we can find more common ground. We usually are disgusted when we hear about the following situations:
1. A priest who has been exposed as a sexual predator of young altar boys
2. An adult who has sexually abused young children
3. A rapist
4. An individual found to be having intercourse with animals
5. Individuals involved in sodomy
6. An adult, married, who is exposed as having numerous lovers
7. Men lusting for men
8. Women lusting for women
All the above are issues of sexual preference. All must be addressed as sinful behavior. On what do I base my conclusion? The guidelines given in the Word of God are the basis of my conclusions. Besides the chapter we are reading this week, please review Leviticus, Chapter 18, the entire chapter is entitled, “Unlawful Sexual Relations”. Also, Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:9 and I Timothy 1:10 address this behavior.
I would like to quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald, pages 56 and 57 to give you another view of what is happening in this chapter. It enlightened my thinking as I read through these notes and the situation happening in Chapter 19 between Lot and the townsmen.
“God condemns the sin of homosexuality. He showed His wrath against it by destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Under the Law of Moses, sodomy was punishable by death. No practicing homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God.
There is a difference between being a practicing homosexual and having a homosexual tendency. It is the practice that the Bible condemns, not the orientation. There are many who have an attraction to their own sex but refuse to give in to it. By the power of the Spirit, they have disciplined themselves to resist the temptation and to live in purity. Many Christian persons of homosexual orientation…
Have regarded their condition with sorrow and contrition, but, unable to change, have drawn on the Spirit for the power of forbearance and chastity, which is sanctification indeed…In commitment to Christ, (they) have offered an enduring inner blemish for God’s use that divine power may be perfected in human weakness.
Some blame God that they were born with this tendency, but the fault does not lie with God but with human sinfulness. Every fallen child of Adam has evil tendencies. Some have a weakness in one area, some in another. The sin is not in being tempted, but in yielding to the temptation.
There is a deliverance from homosexuality or lesbianism, as there is from any form of lust. Christians should accept gays and lesbians as persons without approving their lifestyle.”
Remember, this is only one form of lust. But to accept some of these forms of lust (listed previously in this commentary) under the blanket of tolerance while being disgusted by the actions of others on the list is being selective in our acceptance of sin. Sin is sin, my friends. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All of us. But to remain in a sinful lifestyle, a sexual practice clearly spoken against in scripture, and condemn others for not walking along side of that belief while labeling the same as homophobic or some other form of name calling is also wrong.
No one wants to be accused of wrong doing or committing sinful practices. Being from the South, I still feel like I carry a burden for the slavery issue and I had nothing to do with it! When I see a Confederate flag I remember good things about the south, not the bad behavior and beliefs written in history. Same goes for the Jews. Although Jesus came to his own and his own received him not, the Jews today get very upset when they are referred to as the ones who crucified Jesus on the cross! But, bottom line is, the South did believe in slavery and the Confederate flag brings memories to the forefront of minds that causes distress. Bottom line, the Jews did put to death Jesus believing him to be a blasphemer. We commit sin, we ask forgiveness and Jesus washes us white as snow through the blood he shed on Calvary. We need to own the sin, ask for forgiveness and move on. Having no remorse, continuing on in sin will reap its own consequences. That you can count on. Look at what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. Think it won’t happen today?
Now for my final comments concerning Chapter 19. The angels have told Lot (after grabbing him by the neck and protecting him from the angry mob outside his door) to get his family together and get out of the city before it is destroyed. The townsmen are blinded and the way is made clear for Lot’s escape. But note what happened:
1. Lot is urged to get out of town.
2. Lot goes to his future sons-in-law and tells them about the coming destruction. They laugh.
3. Lot is urged again to leave town.
4. Lot hesitates…are you kidding??
5. The angels take Lot’s hands and the hands of his wife and daughters and lead them out of the city.
6. They are told to not look back.
7. Lot bargains with the next location he is to run. Zoar is the destination.
8. When Lot reaches Zoar the Lord rains down fire from heaven to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
9. Lot’s wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt.
10. God remembers the prayers of Abraham and Lot is brought out of the catastrophe that brought an end to Sodom and Gomorrah.
What does this summarization tell you about the person of Lot? When a person lives among sin for a long period of time, that person becomes desensitized to sin. Lot evidently has reached this point since he did not immediately respond to God’s instructions and leave Sodom and Gomorrah without delay.
Not only did the sin become embedded into Lot’s life and thought process, but the latter part of the chapter gives us a glimpse of how this upbringing affected his virgin daughters. When Lot and his daughters settled in Zoar, they became fearful that they would not have husbands and continue the family line with children. So they got their father drunk and slept with him. Each daughter took a turn. Can you believe it? Shall we go back to the list of sexual sins listed previously? As a result, the older daughter’s child became the father of Moabites and the younger daughter’s child became the father of the Ammonites. These two groups will develop into nations that will become bitter enemies of Abraham’s descendents. And the story continues….
Lord, thank you for walking us through this lesson. It is difficult to hear about sinful practices that might be harbored in our own lives, but through the blood of Christ, we can be washed white as snow when we ask for forgiveness. Forgive our disobedience to your commands and the guidelines you have given us for abundant living. Help us to experience the blessings that unfold as we give our hearts and lives to you. Help us to love everyone as you have first loved us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
NEXT WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:
Please read Chapter 20
1. After reading the story of the encounter between Abraham and Abimelech please write what you think about Abraham’s actions. Did Abraham actually lie?
2. State Abraham’s offense.
3. What was Abimelech told by God?
4. State Abimelech’s response.
5. There was a judgment passed on Abimelech’s household. What do you think about this judgment?
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