The Destruction Of Sodom

Genesis 19:12-29

“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: 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.” (Genesis 19:12-13)

After pulling Lot to safety and making the mob unable to break into the house, the angels informed Lot of God’s plan to destroy the city because of the wickedness. Lot had no questions as to the truth of the warning.

“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.” (Genesis 19:14)

Though Lot knew the Lord, and was troubled by the wickedness of the people around him, he had chosen to stay because of the advantages of the city and area. Because he had been willing to put up with the evil, his son in laws did not believe he really considered the sin serious, and assumed he was just making fun of the culture around them by copying the attitudes of neighboring cities. Lot had sacrificed his testimony for some creature comforts, and it would cost the lives of his daughters and grandchildren.

“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. 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.” (Genesis 19:15-16)

Reluctant to leave his property and his daughters and their families behind, Lot dithered as long as possible, probably hoping they would change their minds and come along, even though he was warned that he would die if they didn’t leave in time. Finally, because of God’s mercy, not allowing him to suffer the consequences of his sin, the angels forcibly dragged them from the city to save them.

“And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” (Genesis 19:17-20)

Even after being forcibly removed from his home and warned to leave the valley completely, lot still hoped to benefit from his time in Sodom. He begged to be allowed to keep a little part of what he wanted. It would be just too hard to go out into the mountains and start over. Something bad might happen to him. Couldn’t he just hold on to a little of the old belongings? After all, Zoar was just a minor city and didn’t have much influence.

“And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.” (Genesis 19:21-22)

God allows us to have what we demand even though it is not what he wants for us. Psalm 106:15 describes him doing that for Israel in the wilderness. “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Answered prayer is not always the blessing we might think. God agreed to allow lot to go to Zoar, reminding him that God was waiting for him to get there.

“The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.” (Genesis 19:23-25)

It was shortly after sunrise when Lot entered Zoar. Almost immediately judgment rained down. The fire and brimstone must have been like a volcanic eruption, destroying everything in the immediate area. When it was over all that remained is what we now know as the Dead Sea. The concentration of minerals that resulted is so strong that almost nothing grows in the entire valley, even four thousand years later.

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26)

The angels had warned Lot not to look back or stop anywhere in the plain, but Lots wife
looked back, probably thinking of the children she was leaving behind. It cost her life, leaving only a little column of chemical compounds or salts. Just stopping to look left her exposed and cost her life. Those inside the city were protected by the walls. Had she kept running, she would have been okay.

Luke 14:26 states, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Lot’s wife was still so concerned over the family and things she was leaving behind she disobeyed God and stopped to look back one time. Holding on to her family and past cost her life. As Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “… No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

“And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” (Genesis 19:27-29)

Had he not known what God planned, the sight of the smoke would have caused Abraham immense concern that the flames might move in their direction as well as concern for Lot and his family. Because he knew what was happening his apprehension was alleviated. Because of Abraham’s concern for Lot, God saved him from the consequences of ignoring sin even though he had become so corrupted by wickedness as to have almost forgotten what was right.