A Treaty With The Philistines

When Abraham went to Canaan, it was occupied by a number of other groups.  Eventually, competition for grazing rights for their cattle forced he and Lot to separate.  The Philistines had given him permission to live ing their land, but as Abraham’s herds grew, there began to be competition for pasturage.  Knowing how thoroughly Abraham had defeated the Sumero-Akkadian army, the Philistines became concerned that the competition might result in conflict.   In Genesis 21:22-23, they came to Abraham asking to make a treaty with him.  

“And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:  Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.”  They recognized that God was blessing him, and they did not want to try to fight him or his son at some time in the future. 

Abraham was well aware of the potential for conflict and readily agreed to make such a treaty.  He brought up an incident that had already occurred, in Genesis 21:24-25.  “And Abraham said, I will swear.  And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.”  Though Abraham had permission to use the land, some of the Philistines had gotten angry that he was making improvements on the land and had violently seized a well he had dug to water the cattle. 

The guilty parties had no official standing, and Abimelech had been unaware of such conflicts, according to Genesis 21:26.  “And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.”    Clearly a formal agreement was needed to limit further conflict.  They signed the agreement, and Abraham gave Abimelech a herd of cattle and sheep in payment for the use of the land, in Genesis 21:27.  “And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.”

Part of the agreement was that Abraham had full rights to the well he had dug as a home site.  Genesis 21:28-32 describes the terms.  “And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.  Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.   Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.”

With official permission to be there, Abraham made additional improvements at Beersheba.  Genesis 21:33-34 tells us, “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.  And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.”  He planted an orchard, and built permanent structures because although they would sometimes camp in other areas while feeding their herds, Beersheba would be their home base.  After Abraham’s death, Both Isaac and Jacob would make it their home base as well, for about two hundred years. 

The Philistines had wanted a treaty because they saw God’s power in Abraham’s life.  Proverbs 16:7 tells us, “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  This story demonstrates that very clearly.  Though there were minor conflicts, the treaty with the Philistines would last for hundreds of years, until Israel stopped serving God during the period of the Judges.  

Ishmael Cast Out

Twenty five years after Abraham had moved to Canaan, God gave them a son, in Genesis 21:1-5.  “And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.  And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.”  Abraham immediately circumcised his son, fulfilling the terms of his covenant with God. 

Sarah was ninety years old when Isaac was born and had given up hope of ever having a baby.  As a result, fourteen or fifteen years before they had used her maid, Hagar as a surrogate mother to have a child.  Genesis 21:6-7 tells us She was thrilled to have a baby of her own.  “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.  And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.”  When Isaac was old enough to be weaned, they made a great feast of celebration in Genesis 21:8.  “And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.” 

There had been a great deal of jealousy between Hagar and Sarah after Hagar got pregnant.  Ishmael was fourteen, and like most big brothers, he began to tease the smaller boy.  When Sarah saw him teasing Isaac, it just added to the conflict between her and Hagar, according to Genesis 21:9-10.  “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.  Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”  Every time she saw Ishmael, Sarah was reminded of Abraham’s affair with Hagar, and the teasing made it unbearable.  She demanded that Abraham send Ishmael away because she didn’t want an illegitimate son to share with her son, even though the affair had been her idea. 

Abraham loved both his sons, and being forced to choose between them was very painful, as Genesis 21:11-13 tells us.  “And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.  And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. After fourteen years of conflict it was obvious the problem wasn’t going to go away.  Sarah was legally Abraham’s wife and his first responsibility was to her and her children.  God commanded him to accede to her demands and send Ishmael and Hagar away.   While polygamy was not forbidden, Exodus 12:10 makes it clear the primary responsibility is to the first wife.  “If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.” 

While it may seem unimportant, this story teaches a very important point as Paul describes in Galatians 4:21-5:4.  “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Ga 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

Ishmael’s birth was completely natural, but unfortunately Abraham and Sarah had tried to use the natural process for something it was not designed for.  In the same way, the Old Testament Law was something god had designed to make man aware of their sinfuol nature.  Unfortunately people try to use it as a way to get to heaven.  By doing so, they make themselves slaves to the Law, rather than receiving God’s gift of forgiveness.  Unfortunately that will never get them right with God, because Romans 3:20 tells us, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  The law only points out what is wrong, but does nothing to fix the problems.  Romans 9:31-32 tells us, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.   Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law…”

Abraham Lies Again

In order to keep livestock healthy it is necessary to regularly move them to different areas so that the grass and plants can recover.   While many modern herdsmen can use fencing to exclude the animals from an area which has been grazed, the traditional way was to move the entire herd to a more distant area, forcing the herdsmen to live a nomadic lifestyle.   After the destruction of Sodom, Abraham move further south, into what was then Philistine land, seeking fresh pasturage for his livestock, as described in Genesis 20:1-2.  “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.   And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.”  For a change, they camped near the city of Gerar, where Sarah could visit with the local people.

Twenty three years before when they went into Egypt, Abraham told peoplee Sarah was his sister rather than telling them she was his wife because he was afraid somebody would be jealous and kill him, as described in Genesis 12.  When the lie was discovered, they were expelled from Egypt and forced to return to Canaan.    Einstein is often credited with having said doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results is insanity.  Unfortunately, unless the consequences are very severe, people tend to repeat the same mistakes.  In Gerar, he told the lie again, and once again the king decided to take Sarah as his wife.

God had revealed the lie to Pharaoh in Egypt, and he revealed it to The Philistine leader, in Genesis 20:3-8.  “But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?  Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.  Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.  Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.” 

Abraham had assumed the Philistines had no fear of God and would not hesitate to kill him.   In reality, they had a very strong respect for God, and worshipped him at the time.  God knew Abimelech had no intention of committing adultery and had protected him from doing so.  He told him to give Sarah back to her husband, warning that if he did not, he and his people would die.  The people were horrified at how close they had come to offending God. 

Abimelech was quite concerned as to why Abraham had put them in such danger of God’s judgment, as Genesis 20:9-10 tells us.  “Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.  And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?”  Everyone knew that adultery was wrong, and was to be judged harshly.  Knowing that, why had Abraham lied and set them up to bring God’s judgment on them?  Had they done something that made him angry at them? The lie almost resulted in someone unintentionally committing adultery with Sarah, and bringing God’s judgment on the Philistine nation.     

Abraham explained that he had made a false assumption, that they had no respect for and would kill him for his wife, in Genesis 20:11-13.   “And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.  And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.  And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.”   

Concerned about his own safety, he had not even considered the effects of his actions on anyone else.  He was only thinking about himself.  When confronted, he tried to justify the lie by pointing out that was also his half-sister.  That in no way changed the implication that she was not his wife and was free to marry someone else.   Abraham had believed and obeyed God when he began his journey to Canaan, but had never trusted God to protect him completely.  As a result, he and Sarah had agreed to tell that same lie every time they thought there might be such danger.      

Unlike Pharaoh, Abimelech did not kick them out of his country, as we see in Genesis 20:14-15. “And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.  And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. “  Instead, he gave Abraham a large amount of property to make up ofr the mental and emotional stress he might have experienced, giving them permission to live wherever they wanted to.

Abimelech realized it was not all Abraham’s fault.  Sarah had willingly gone along with Abraham’s idea, even if it meant committing adultery.  Contrary to what some have taught, she was responsible for her own actions, even though Abraham had wanted her to do it.  She had been wrong to even consider the sin as he made clear in Genesis 20:16.  “And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.”   Submission to her husband did not free Sarah from her responsibility to be faithful.  She should not even consider looking at other men in that way.  We cannot blame our sin on someone else. 

The consequences of sin often go much further than we expect, as Genesis 20:17-18 make very clear.  “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.  For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.”  Abraham’s lie endangered the lives of the entire population of Gerar.  It also led to complications in the women’s ability to conceive and bear children.  More than forty years later, Isaac would follow his father’s example, in Genesis 26.

If we are willing to take responsibility for our own sin and forgive others, God can work out the problems resulting from our sin.  Isaac prayed for the Philistines, and God restored their health and peace.   I John 1:8-10 tells us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  If we refuse to accept responsibility, we are only fooling ourselves, and God’s promises of forgiveness do not apply to us.   

The Destruction Of Sodom

Lot’s arguing and holding back had delayed God’s plans because he would not do anything until they were safe.  As soon as Lot entered the city, God cause fire and brimstone to rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah, much like the flaming gases, molten rock, and ash from a volcanic eruption, according to Genesis 19:24-25.   “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.”  Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding area was completely wiped out, except for Zoar, at the southern edge of the Dead Sea. 

Even Zoar experienced a deadly blast of heat, although those inside were protected by the walls.  Lot’s wife was upset about losing their home and stopped to look back, as Genesis 19:26 tells us. “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”  Because she was not protected by the walls, she was killed, and the heat and molten minerals in the air left only lump of mineral salts of her body.   

The eruption took place shortly after sunrise.  Abraham was camped about thirty miles west of the Dead Sea.  Genesis 19:27-28 tells us, “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.”  The cloud of smoke and ash caught Abraham’s attention.   It is quite possible that the eruption ultimately resulted in the valley subsiding below sea level and leading to the formation of what is known as the Dead Sea today. 

Though Lot knew the Lord and still had a moral standard, he had deliberately chosen to Go to Sodom and go along with the wickedness of the people there.  Abraham’s prayers and intercession were the main reason he was not destroyed along with the rest of the people in the area, according to Genesis 19:29.  “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.”   Sometimes we feel that there is no point in praying for some people because they have gone too far.  James 5:16 commands, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  Even though lot had gotten that far from God, God still answered Abraham’s prayer for him and still answers our prayers for others.  Ephesians 6:18 instructs us to be “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

After seeing the effects of the eruption that destroyed Sodom, Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar, for fear there might be another eruption.  He decided to Go to where God had originally told him to go, as Genesis 19:30 tells us.  “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.” 

Unfortunately, his daughters moral attitudes and standards had been shaped by the standards and sexual attitudes of the Sodomites.   Since there were no other guys around, they decided to have incestuous sex with their father with the deliberate intention of getting pregnant, According to Genesis 19:31-38.   “And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.  And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.  And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.  Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.  And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.” 

Lot’s willingness to overlook the wickedness of the people of Sodom to further his own goals had destroyed his own testimony and corrupted his morals, resulting in the deaths of his wife and some of his daughters and their families.   Even the ones who were not killed had little concern for what was right or wrong, and their children would reject God for centuries.  The Moabites and Ammonites would become some of Israel’s most implacable enemies.

Even Lot and his family had not taken God’s warning seriously, and the Sodomites ignored it completely.  Nevertheless, God did exactly what he had said.  He is able to do it again if people will not listen.  II Peter 2:9-10 warns, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”  II Peter 3:10 warns that what happened I Sodom is just a small sample of God’s final Judgment.  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  Unfortunately, Like Lot’s family, many of those who consider themselves Christians don’t take the warnings seriously. 

Losing His Testimony

Having seen the level of wickedness in Sodom, that the people not only were rejecting God’s plan but were trying to get others involved as well, even to the point of destroying their lives if they didn’t go along, it was obvious to the two angels that Sodom would have to be destroyed.  Genesis 19:12-13 tells us, “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.”

The warned that if Lot had any family members or friends that lived elsewhere in the city, he should get them to leave Sodom, and Lot acted on the warning, in Genesis 19:14.  “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.”   Unfortunately, after twenty years of living in Sodom without taking a stand against homosexuality and other sin, he had completely lost his testimony.  His sons in law thought he was just kidding around and didn’t take his warning seriously, and why should they?  After all, he lived the same way as the other people, laughing at their jokes and participating in their activities, and even adopting some of their moral standards, as shown by his offering his daughters to be gang raped.    

Even Lot and his family did not take the angel’s warning very seriously, as we see in Genesis 19:15-16.  “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.”  They just kept dithering around stalling  and doing one more thing until finally the angels forcibly drug them out of the city. 

Even after being forcibly drug from the city, Lot and his family had no sense of urgency, as is clear from Genesis 19:17-20.  “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.” 

Lot had lived in the city, with all its conveniences so long he dreaded  having to fend for himself without all the others around to come to his aid if something went wrong.  He thanked God for saving him and begged him to allow him to stop in the little town of Zoar, rather than going into the mountains where God had said for him to go.  The angels had more important things to do than to drag Lotinto the mountains, so they allowed him to go to Zoar, as Genesis 19:21-23 tells us.  “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.  The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.” 

Many refer to this as being in the permissive will of God.  Lot was refusing to obey God, and rather than waste time arguing over it, God allowed him to go to Zoar, but it was not his will.   God gives us a great deal of freedom as Christians, often allowing us to choose which job or car or home we want.  When he has not told us specifically what he wants, we have his permission to make those choices.  When he has told us what he wants, and we insist on doing something else instead, we are in deliberate disobedience, even though he may allow us to get by with what we are doing because it simply isn’t important enough for him to deal with at the moment.  It is like a teenager insisting on wearing an inappropriate tee shirt to an important meeting at the last moment.  Sometimes it is more important to get to the meeting on time than to waste the time making them change.  It does not mean they have their parent’s approval. 

Lot is typical of many Christians.  He had been raised by Abraham’s father, almost like Abraham’s brother.  He had been closely associated with Abraham, accompanying him on his journey to Canaan, but when the opportunity arose he focused on his own desires rather than what was good for everyone.  He chose to take the most productive land for himself and let Abraham have the desert.  Although he knew Sodom was a wicked place, he gradually moved closer, finally getting fully involved in the city to the point of taking a place of prominence.  In order to do so, he had deliberately ignored his own conscience in order to fit in, though he was vexed by the sin around him.  Eventually even his own moral standards were compromised and he lost his testimony as a believer in God so completely even his own family didn’t believe him.    Finally God intervened on his behalf, forcing him out of the city, and still he did not surrender to God, insisting on doing what he wanted rather than what God wanted.  He was no longer a light to the world, or even to his own family, as we see in the rest of this chapter. 

Investigating Sodom’s Wickedness

II Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord … is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Though he knew “…the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly,” as Genesis 13:13 tells us, he would not completely destroy them without making sure they were beyond salvage.  The Lord and two angels had appeared to Abraham, as ordinary men.  While the Lord finished talking to Abraham, the two angels went on to Sodom to investigate.

When the angels came to Sodom, they found Lot sitting in the gate, in a place of authority, as we see in Genesis 19:1-2.  “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; And he 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.” 

Lot had lived in Sodom for about twenty years.  He was very familiar with the wickedness of the city, as we see in II Peter 2:8.  “For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.”  The angels were planning on camping in the street where they wouldn’t bother anyone, but Lot knew the risk they would be taking and invited them into his house where they would be safer.   

Genesis 19:3-5 tells us Lot prevailed on them to come into his house.  “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.  But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 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.”  The men of the city had seen the angels, and before long surrounded Lot’s house, demanding that he bring the men out so they could gangbang them.  

 God allows mankind to choose whether they want to please him or do as they please, and they had chosen to reject him, even perverting his plan for sex and reproduction.  Because that was their choice, Romans 1:24-27 tells us, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.” 

God may allow them to continue in their sin for a while, giving them an opportunity to repent, but they seldom appreciate it, as Romans 2:4 says.  “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”  Lot tried to convince them to change their attitudes in Genesis 19:6-8.  “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.  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.” 

Lot had lived so closely with the people of Sodom that his own ideas of right and wrong had been distorted, as I Corinthians 15:33 warns.  “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”  He thought it would be okay if they gangbanged his daughter instead.  Sadly, many people today who oppose homosexuality and same sex marriage feel that promiscuity and adultery are acceptable.  God’s law specified that those who perverted the sex act were to be executed, whichever form it took. 

Instead of considering Lot’s warning, the men of Sodom turned on him, accusing him of thinking he was better than they were, as Genesis 19:9-11 describes.  “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.  But the men 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.”   Had the angels not had supernatural power, the men would have destroyed Lot’s home in their determination to force the angels into homosexual activity.  Even the loss of their eyesight did not deter them, but they finally gave up because they couldn’t find a way in. 

Unfortunately people who become deeply involved in sin often ignore even the obvious consequences.  It is amazing how many drug addicts, gamblers, or sexual sinners refuse to stop regardless how much it hurts them or their families.   Their sin takes such control of their mind they can no longer make logical decisions, as Romans 1:28 tells us.   “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”   Rather than warning others of the danger, they begin to actively get others involved, as Romans 1:32 says.  “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  At this point, they have become effectively unsalvageable.  Destroying them is the only way to prevent spreading their wickedness, just as it is necessary to destroy an animal with rabies.    

Abraham Intercedes

There is an old story of three blind men trying to find out what an elephant was like.  One felt the tail and said and elephant is like a rope.  The second felt one of his legs and said the elephant is like a tree.  The third felt his trunk and said the elephant was like a hose.  All three had an idea about one part of the elephant, yet none had any real understanding. 

Today, politicians, media experts, and activists often complain that the common people don’t understand the big picture.  Unfortunately, they tend to be much like the blind man who felt the leg, thinking he knows more about elephants because the leg was bigger than the tail or the trunk.   In reality the one who felt the tail had just as much reason for his opinion at the one who felt the leg.  Neither one can see the whole picture.  The elephant is so big that even a person who can see may need to move away in order to see the whole animal. 

Humans are much too close to life in this world to clearly see the entire picture, no matter how intelligent they may be.  Fortunately, God is able to get far enough away to see the entire picture, but like an elephant keeper, he can get close enough to address the problems.    Sometimes he allows us to know what needs to be done so we can prevent the problem in the future.  In Genesis 18:16-21, God informed Abraham of a problem and what he was going to do about it.  “And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.  And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

Abraham was not directly involved in Sodom or Gomorrah, and would not be greatly affected by what happened.  However, he would try to teach his children what was right and knowing what was going on would provide a valuable lesson for his descendants.  Although God sees everything and already knew what was going on, he would not judge until he had double checked because he wanted to be completely fair. 

Although he was not directly involved with Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham’s was concerned about the people there, and especially his nephew, Lot.  He expresses those concerns in Genesis 18:22-33, intervening on their behalf. “And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.  And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?  That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?

And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there.

And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.

And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.  And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.”

God is not unjust.  He loves people and agreed to save entire region if there were just ten people who were doing what was right in the five cities and the surrounding area.  Even Zoar, the smallest of the cities, and the only one to survive appears to have had a couple of thousand inhabitants at the time.  Knowing that Lot had several daughters who might have families, Abraham felt sure there would be at least ten who served God and did not press anymore.   Abraham had been doing exactly what I Timothy 2:1-4 commands Christians to do.  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”