The real reason Sodom and Gomorrah were victims of God's wrath (typically complete destruction, as in the Flood), was that they refused to repent of their sins. Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities mentioned in Genesis, notorious for their flagrant sin. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. No one knows why. Of how few may such a character be given in our days! bring them out unto us, that we may know them. (It was late last night :)). Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. (AC) 17As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, Flee for your lives! 6And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him. The Lord said He would if He could find ten righteous people in the city (18:32). 11And 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. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. 21And 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. Terah, Lot's grandfather, arranged for their large family to set a course for Canaan where they could reestablish a new home. Through a limited, wordly, human perspective, that can seem difficult to accept. Their story parallels the Genesis flood narrative in Men of Sodom: 9Get out of the way, man! The Mass readings for that day are Genesis 19.15-29 the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. 25He destroyed both cities, along with the other villages and towns in the valley and all of the people who lived thereeven the vegetation was wiped out! Yes, the evidence seems to indicate that, like the time leading up to Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah had become completely and utterly reprobate. During the time of Isaiah, Israel openly, proudly, and knowingly defied God, and the prophet specified this behavior was identical to the actions that ultimately condemned Sodom and Gomorrah. . from the Lord (from Jehovah). Their sexual sins are what most people know about, but it can be inferred they indulged in many other carnal sins. WebWorld Is Destroyed By Water Lot Flees As Sodom And Gomorrah Burn Army Of The Amorites Is Destroyed Some Children Are Destroyed By Bears Sennacherib's Army Is Destroyed 32Come onlets get him drunk on wine. Abraham then asks about a lesser and lesser number until down to ten people as God answers, For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it (Genesis 18:32). WebWhy Did God Really Destroy Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis Chapter 18:16-21 NIV@TheWayTruthandLifeIsJesus Vote Up NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. They agreed finally and came with Lot to his house. Does the devil have power to make us sick? Its not too far. Why did God need Lot to leave Sodom and Gomorrah in order to destroy it if He is powerful enough to do whatever He wants? But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. Apparently in Ezekiel's day, more detailed records about the Cities of the Plain and their culture were in circulation than we have available today. Leviticus 3:2223 says, it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Because of this, the little city Lot escaped to was called Zoar, which means, little.. Then well each sleep with him. Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.(M), 6Lot went outside to meet them(N) and shut the door behind him 7and said, No, my friends. What was the Sin of Sodom: Homosexuality, Inhospitality, or Something Else? (Mark 6:20). WebWhy is it some people try to say that the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah (Gen. 19: 4-8) was due to to the people showing a lack of hospitality, when the narrative appears otherwise? Messenger: 21Look, as a favor to you, I wont destroy the little city youre talking about. As Genesis 19:11-13 states, Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door. If not, I will know.. (AF) Flee to the mountains(AG) or you will be swept away!, 18But Lot said to them, No, my lords,[b] please! Who is the best openside flanker in rugby. When God revealed His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to the wickedness of those cities, Abraham asked God to spare the people. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. (AF) Flee to the mountains(AG) or you will be swept away!, 18But Lot said to them, No, my lords,[b] please! WebAnd 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. 17And 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. Not only were they committing offenses against God, but they were hurting the cities and people around them. 5They called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? 36Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. ", According to Bible commentaries like the NIV Zondervan Study Bible, Lots wife was turned into a pillar of salt as she looked back, for disobeying the instruction not to look back. (AP) 25Thus he overthrew those cities(AQ) and the entire plain,(AR) destroying all those living in the citiesand also the vegetation in the land. Theres no one to father our children according to accepted custom. The one who is called Jehovah throughout the chapter continued with Abraham, and would not hide from him the thing he intended to do. son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13For 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. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? As for the title of your question, why were the cities destroyed? WebAnd 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 The prophet will compare them to these cities. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. (BA), 30Lot and his two daughters left Zoar(BB) and settled in the mountains,(BC) for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. WebPillar of salt may refer to: The pillar of salt into which Lot's wife was transformed in the Biblical account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Report, May 11 2017 Abraham travelled many miles in the company of his nephew Lot. Gods destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was a profound act of mercy and love. 10But the men(R) inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. 9And they said, Stand back. 19The two angels(A) arrived at Sodom(B) in the evening, and Lot(C) was sitting in the gateway of the city. He is directed to flee to the mountains, but obtains leave to go into Zoar. Sodom and Gomorrah History and Motif in Biblical Narrative. Surely poor Gomorra didn't get smote just for the misfortune of being nearby Sodomy.. Never made that connection before. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto 20Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Salem Media Group. 35So they made their father drink wine until he was drunk a second time, and the younger daughter slept with him that night. (AV) 28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. 34On the next day, the firstborn told her younger sister what had happened. (BJ) 37The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab[g];(BK) he is the father of the Moabites(BL) of today. Because of the immense outcry the Eternal One has received regarding the depravity of this city, the Eternal has sent us here to destroy it. While their willingness to assault strangers was deeply evil, the hardened hearts of the people of these cities blinded them to the opportunity to repent and change. This falling down upon the houses, and upon the soil charged with combustible matter, caused a conflagration so sudden and widespread that few or none could escape. As I explain in my book, Beyond the Cosmos, from the perspective of eternity it was even a profound act of mercy and love to the reprobates themselves since these reprobates would be judged according to all the evil they had committed on Earth ( Revelation 20:12 ). When there is no righteousness left among a people, the Lord will destroy them, if for no other reason than that it would not be justifiable to allow them to bring any more new children into the world, into a scenario in which they would have zero chance of finding salvation. [f](AL)), 23By the time Lot reached Zoar,(AM) the sun had risen over the land. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com. He said, Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city! Lot: Get up, and get out of this place. Right, I'm just talking about the usage of the word 'doctrine' for this. (BF), 34The next day the older daughter said to the younger, Last night I slept with my father. of get to know the Bible better! 13We are going to destroy this place. Abraham loved his nephew Lot and did not want to see his nephew destroyed. Many ignore the warnings of the Bible, preferring sin and worldly convenience over righteousness and Gods will. The town of Zoar escaped the righteous judgment of God only because God had mercy on it for the sake of Lot. But I cant flee to the mountains;(AJ) this disaster will overtake me, and Ill die. Reach toward Christ and heaven, for that is escaping to the mountain, short of which we must not stop. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.(BI). 38The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-ammi. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace (Genesis 19:24-25, 28b). Blessing holy water: Salt is added to water in silence after a prayer in which God is asked to bless the salt, recalling the blessed salt "scattered over the water by the prophet Elisha" and invoking the protective powers of salt and water, that they may "drive away the power of evil". By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Yes, replies God every time. In the second book of Chronicles, God's covenant with the Davidic kings of Israel is also described as a covenant of salt. 24Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur(AN) on Sodom and Gomorrah(AO)from the Lord out of the heavens. He lived among the wicked, disturbed by their behavior, and tried to spare Gods messengers from assault. The vicious Sodomites are smitten with blindness. Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt. Then you go in and sleep with him too. Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.. Perhaps it is to mourn the past. While Lot started out just wanting to live around the city, he eventually moved in and raised his family there. They bring in a woman, accusing her of committing adultery, claiming she was caught in the very act. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.). Messengers: Lot, you need to get up and take your wife and two daughters out of here. And if not, I will know (Genesis 18:20-21). 14And 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. (Q) Well treat you worse than them. They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. Certain incidents in the Bible seem to contradict this truth, though that is usually because they are taken out of context, and a little prayer and study often illuminates the Lords purposes. What is the significance of a city gate in the Bible. All rights reserved worldwide. Consider, as a very bright part of Abraham's character and example, that he not only prayed with his family, but he was very careful to teach and rule them well. Lot must flee for his life. Then you can rise early and be on your way. Sodom was evidently the chief town in the settlement. All rights reserved worldwide. But I cant flee to the mountains;(AJ) this disaster will overtake me, and Ill die. 16But Lot kept procrastinating, so the two heavenly messengers grabbed him, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand. 34And 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. 4But 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: 5And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? 9Get out of our way, they replied. Pellegrino, Charles. He was so drunk, he had no idea when she entered or when she left. 33So they got Lot drunk that night, and the firstborn daughter went in and slept with her father. The Catholic Church disapproves of fornication (sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other), calling it "gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality". According to Smiths Bible Dictionary, Sodom was one of the most ancient cities of Syria. 26But Lots wife never made it; she lagged behind her husband and looked backdespite the messengers adviceand turned into a pillar of salt. know." A few verses later God concedes to Abraham and says, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it," which leads us to believe that not only were the people so wicked in Sodom, but not even 10 were found to be righteous. Just like the Flood a few generations earlier, but on a smaller scale. 32Lets get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line(BD) through our father.(BE), 33That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. Who were the three men who visited Abraham in Genesis 18? (1) The Sodomites were destroyed for the general wickedness which had prompted the Lord to send angels to the city to investigate in the first place; (2) the city 21And 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. The story of Sodom and Gomorrahs destruction is among the more well-known tales of the Old Testament. Reading Genesis 19 as Torah. Zoar deserved the same destruction that befell Sodom and Gomorrah, but because of the presence of a righteous man, God spared it (see 2 Peter 2:7). Then my life will be spared., 21He said to him, Very well, I will grant this request(AK) too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. They are mentioned frequently in the prophets and the New Testament as symbols of human wickedness and divine retribution, and the Quran also contains a version of the story about the two cities. Christian Truth. The Real Reason God Had to Destroy the Tower of Babel, 4 Sobering Lessons from the Tragic Tale of Lots Daughters. Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away(Z) when the city is punished. (AP) 25Thus he overthrew those cities(AQ) and the entire plain,(AR) destroying all those living in the citiesand also the vegetation in the land. I believe the reason people remember Sodom & Gomorrah for the sexual immorality may be due to: The account in Genesis 19 where the men of the town wanted to have relations with the two angels that were spending the night at Lot's house. Al though his courage is commend able, his solution is deplorableoffering his virgin daughters for the deviant pleasures of his neighbors. The angels warned Lots family not to look back for two reasons. 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