“The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.”
Let’s pause here for a moment and observe an interesting parallel between how Genesis 19 begins in comparison to how Genesis 18 begins. In chapter 18, the LORD appears to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre while he was at the door of his tent in the heat of day. But, in 19, the angels appear to Lot at the gate of Sodom in the cool of the day in the evening.
If you go back to Genesis 13, you see that after Lot and Abraham’s conflict, Abraham settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Sodom was described as a people who were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. And now we see that Lot is sitting at the gates of Sodom.
That’s a big deal!
To sit at the gate of a city wasn’t just a casual place to hang out. It was the center of public life, authority, and influence. It’s a place where the leaders of the city would gather to make decisions and a place where business transactions took place.
The progression of Lot’s involvement with Sodom is alarming. The lure of Sodom caught his eyes, which later captured his heart leading to him moving into the city, and now he sits in a position of prominence at the gate of this wicked city.
Abraham is at the door of his tent in his land with his heart oriented toward God, while Lot is at the gate of a city that is rooted in wickedness with a heart that is compromised. Abraham’s world is marked by light, while Lot’s is sliding into darkness.
Now, once Lot saw these men, he (like Abraham) met them with humility, bowing before them. And, like Abraham, he seeks to meet their needs— “Please turn aside to your servants house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.”
They reject the offer at first, saying that they will spend the night in the town square. But Lot doesn’t accept no for an answer. He presses them strongly, and they accept his offer, entering into his home. And it’s here that, like Abraham, he makes them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
Lot is caring for the needs of those traveling through. He’s displaying loving hospitality. And as he’s caring for them in the comforts of his own home, they’re met with a large group of unwelcomed visitors.
Let’s read what transpires next.
“4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.”
Before we unpack what the crowd is demanding, I want us to first notice the size of the crowd present. The text tells us it was “the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man,” surrounding the house. That detail matters, especially in light of Abraham’s plea that the LORD would spare Sodom for the sake of ten righteous men. What we see here is not a city with a few wicked individuals; it’s a city full of wicked individuals. From the youngest to the oldest, every man is gathered at Lot’s door, united in their corrupt intent toward these visitors.
WICKED INTENTIONS
Their intentions and demands here are disgustingly wicked. They are undeniably vile. And God is going to deal justly with them.
And can I just say this? Not all sin is acted upon. In this passage, the men of Sodom had evil intentions. But, they never acted on those intentions.
Sometimes we might intend to do wrong and hit a road block. That road block may have spared you from carrying out a particular sin, but it doesn’t rid you of the guilt of sin.
If you went into a store with the intentions of stealing and decided not to steal because you saw a security guard, you’re still guilty of sinful intentions. If you pulled out your phone with the intentions of watching an inappropriate website and decided not to because your wife walked into the room, you’re still guilty of sinful intentions.
Sin starts first in the heart. Your actions matter to God, but so do your intentions.
THE SIN OF NO HOSPITALITY
Now, depending on who you read, you will find a different explanations over what these men are guilty of in this situation. So, I think it would be helpful to ask the question, “What, specifically, makes Sodom’s actions or intentions sinful?”
There are three things that I think are worth highlighting for a moment.
First, I believe they’re guilty of a lack of hospitality.
Leading up to this point in the story, we have seen Abraham go to great lengths to care for the needs of the LORD and the angels. He offers water and rest, prepares bread, brings cakes, a calf, and milk. He takes care of his visitors. He gives them his very best, and in humility, he stands aside rather than joining the meal. He puts their needs above his needs.
We see something similar with Lot whenever he opens his home and provides for these same visitors— “He made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.“
But here in Sodom, we see the complete opposite. Instead of denying themselves for the sake of others, the men of the city sought to exploit their guests. They sought to trample the wants, needs, and desires of their visitors for their own gain.
Passages like Ezekiel 16:49 reiterates this by saying, “As I live, declares the Lord God, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. 49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.”
So, practically speaking, the LORD cares about how we steward our resources to care for the needs of those around us. People are not steps on a ladder that we step over for our own advancement; they are neighbors to be loved, served, and cared for.
The chief goal of life is not comfort, abundance, or self-indulgence; it is the glory of God! It’s not to ensure we have a pantry full of food and a bank account full of money. They chief goal in life is to glorify God in how we live our lives, and a tangible way in which we can glorify God is through the way we aid the poor and needy.
Hospitality is a trait of the righteous. The righteous use their homes and resources to care for others, while the wicked use others to care for themselves. Those in Sodom were a wicked people. They showed no concern for the wellbeing of those coming through their city.
THE SIN OF RAPE
In addition to a lack of hospitality, these men were seeking to do serious harm to their visitors. They didn’t just turn a blind eye to these travelers; they sought to abuse their travelers.
Now, the Bible is very clear about what’s happening here. But, I want to be careful to describe it in a way that is appropriate for everyone in the room.
The declaration, “Bring them out to us, that we may know them,” isn’t expressing a desire to shake their hands and learn their names. The phrase “know them” is a phrase used in the bible to describe sexual intimacy. So, together, this crowd of men were seeking to partake in an activity that God only reserves for a husband and a wife to partake in together.
Many believe the men here are guilty of pursuing rape. Rape is whenever someone forces, pressures, or demands another person into physical closeness or touch that they do not want.
God has designed sex to be a beautiful gift that a husband and wife get to privately and selflessly enjoy together for the glory of the LORD within the confines of their marriage bed. Yet, we see these men here seeking to obtain sexual pleasure through violence and domination outside of the confines of marriage. This was a violent and powerful demand for pleasure that has absolutely no place within the hearts and lives of God’s people. Where God designed sex to be selfless, they sought to make it selfish. Where God designed sex to be gentle, they sought to make it violent. Where God designed it to be private, they sought to make it public in the streets. Where God designed sex to be an expression of worship to him, they sought to worship themselves.
1 Corinthians 7:1-5 says, “[1] Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” [2] But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. [3] The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. [4] For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. [5] Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
At first glance, someone might be tempted to read this and think it gives them a kind of right over their spouse’s body, as if this passage permits demanding or taking whenever they please. But that is not what Paul is saying at all. This passage is not a call to take; it is a call to give. Paul is describing a relationship marked by mutual care, humility, and selflessness. Neither the husband or wife are called to use one another; they are called to serve one another. The heart behind this command is not, “What can I get?” but, “How can I lovingly give myself for your good?” It is a picture of both the husband and wife seeking to honor, serve, and care for each other.
And that’s part of what makes the sin we see in Sodom so grievous. What’s taking place here is the complete opposite of God’s design. It is not giving, but taking. Not serving, but using. Not honoring, but violating. At its core, these men are seeking to force these men to do what they do not want to do, for their own selfish gain. And that stands in direct contradiction to God’s good design for love, marriage, and sex.
THE SIN OF HOMOSEXUALITY
Now, some in our society seek to end the wickedness train here. They affirm the lack of hospitality and rape as sin. But they will often argue that this passage has nothing to say about same-sex relationships. For example, one commentator writes, “This attempted gang rape has nothing to do with the loving and romantic feelings that occur in consenting and faithful relationships among those of the same sex. The text does not describe a loving, consenting, and committed same-sex relationship as we understand homosexual relations today. Rather, this biblical passage depicts an attempted gang rape.”
Now, to be fair, there are parts of that statement I would agree with. This passage does describe an attempted act of violent harm. And it is also true that this is not a picture of a loving, committed relationship as people might describe today. However, I don’t think we can therefore conclude that this passage has nothing to say about same-sex relationships. To come to that conclusion, I think we would be flattening the text and missing part of what it is revealing.
In addition to a lack of hospitality and rape, I think this passage also highlights the unnatural and even sinful nature of same sex relationships.
Look at how Lot responds in verses 7-8 here. Here Lot pleads with the men, calling their actions “wicked,” and then he shockingly offers his daughters instead.
Now, Lot’s actions here are described; they are not prescribed. This is not presented to us as a good or righteous solution. It is a disturbing reality. No faithful father should ever respond in this way. But I think Lot’s actions teach us something about the situation at hand. Lot recognizes that what the men are pursuing is profoundly disordered and dishonoring. And Lot is willing to allow rape to still occur (with his virgin daughters) as long as it’s not against these men.
The entire scene is one of chaos and disorder. It’s a moment where God’s good design for sex has been completely abandoned. So while this passage certainly highlights violence and injustice, it also reflects a broader rejection of God’s good design for sex. God does not permit a man to know another man in the same way that a husband knows his wife.
As we live in a culture that seeks to redefine what is sin and what is not, we must be careful not to redefine God’s design for sex and marriage. If God permits something, we must permit it. If God does not permit something, we must not permit it. If God commands something, we must obey it. It is wicked and sinful to seek pleasure outside of the confines God has given us in his word. Instead, we ought to trust God and live within the confines he has given us for our good and his glory.
THE CROWD REJECTS LOT’S PLEAD
When Lot pleads for the men to stop, they double down, saying, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against Lot and drew near to break the door down. But, the men (the angels) reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck the men with blindness, which led to them exhausting themselves as the groped for the door all night long.
Have you ever pleaded with someone to walk away from their sin, and instead of taking heed to the plead, they became angry with you? If so, please know that you’re not alone.
We must be gentle and loving whenever we address sin. But, no matter how gentle and loving you are, don’t be surprised if sinners act sinfully when their sin is exposed.
SPARED BY GOD’S MERCY
Then in verse 13, these men (the angels) said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.”
They’re telling Lot to get all of his family and loved ones out of the city because judgment is coming on those within the city. So, Lot goes and warns his sons-in-laws, and they don’t take heed to the warning because they thought he was kidding.
****What a tragic reality when we seek to warn our friends of the coming danger of God’s judgement and we’re met with a light hearted response. A love for this world can lead to us laughing at God’s coming judgment for this world.
Well, when the sun came up and the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept way in the punishment of the city.”
But he lingered.
What a terrifying three words.
When urgency called, he delayed. When he should have left, he stayed. When he should have fled, he remained. When he should have run, he settled. He lingered longer than he should have. As if judgement could be outrun with hesitation, he sat closer than what was safe. Which led to the angels seizing him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand (because the LORD was merciful to him) and they brought him out and set him outside the city.
Friends, please do not overlook the mercy of God here. Lot did not deserve to be led out of the city by hand. He deserved to take part in the judgment Sodom faced. Yet, God led him out because he is merciful!
Friends, none of us escape God’s judgment because we have deserved it. We have escaped God’s wrath because of God’s mercy. As we lingered in sin apart from Christ, we were drug out of sin and judgment and we were led to safety… all because of the great mercy of God!
DON’T LOOK BACK
Once Lot and his family make it outside of the city, the angels tell Lot and his family, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.“
And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my Lords. Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!”
Oh the boldness and foolishness of Lot. As Lot was afraid of what was happening and of where he was told to go, he requested what he thought was a safer option. He drifted toward what was most familiar. And the angels granted the request. They said, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Zoar means little. This was a little town that offered Lot safety from a big God’s judgment. And once Lot and his family made it to Zoar, God rained on Sodom and Gomorroh sulfur and fire. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Notice that she’s behind Lot, not beside Lot. The phrase behind seems to indicate that she’s lagging. She’s dragging her feet. She’s reluctant. She’s lingering.
On one hand, the act of looking back was an act of disobedience to the specific command not to look back in verse 17– “Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”
But, I think it also signified a divided heart, a longing for what God was judging. It revealed a reluctance to fully let go of her old life. So, she looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Her love for Sodom led to her own demise.
THE TRAJIC ENDING OF LOT’S STORY
“27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.
29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.”
So, Abraham has seen what the LORD has done. He has been faithful to do what he said he would do!
Now, fast forward some time.
“30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.“
So, Lot escaped Sodom, the city of great sinners, yet the shadow of sin has followed him home. Ironically, the very place he was seeking to avoid in the mountain is the very place he ended up staying.
We don’t know what he was afraid of. It could be a fear of coming judgment on the city… it could be a shaken trust in his own request… It could be a growing awareness of God’s holiness. But we do know that he ended up there due to fear, not faith.
But, it’s here in the mountains that we Lot’s daughters act shamefully against their father. They were taken out of Sodom, but Sodom was not taken out of them.
And this is where Lot’s story ends for us. After Genesis 19, Lot disappears from the storyline. We don’t hear of his death, his life in the mountains, nothing. The camera simply moves on from him.
At end of this story, we’re introduced to the Moabites and the Ammonites. Both of these people were enemies of Israel throughout history. They were both associated with idolatry and immorality.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Lot’s journey moves from looking toward Sodom to living in Sodom to leading in Sodom. Where do you see similar patterns of slow spiritual compromise in your own life or in our culture? What are some early warning signs that someone’s heart is beginning to drift?
The men of Sodom never actually carried out their evil intentions, yet they were still guilty of sin. How does this challenge the way we typically think about sin? In what areas are we most tempted to excuse sinful thoughts or intentions because we didn’t act on them?
Abraham and Lot model hospitality, while Sodom models exploitation. What does true, biblical hospitality look like in our everyday lives (not just in our homes, but with our time, money, and attention)? What keeps us from living this way consistently?
In what ways does Genesis 19 expose a sinful approach towards God’s good design for sex?