Lingering in Sodom
Genesis 19:1-16
How in the world did Lot, a righteous man, wind up in such a situation – lingering in Sodom having to be dragged out of the city by God? Lot did not get to where he was overnight. He traveled down a gradual slope over a number of years making a number of wrong choices and very costly terrible decisions. Lot was not initially guilty of deliberate disobedience. But the choices he made let to the ruination of his home. Choices have consequences. How you choose determines the course of your life and your character. As we consider Lot’s decisions, ask yourself, “Am I guilty of making similar mistakes?”
I. He made what the world would call a wise business decision
A. Genesis 13:1-10 “Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
B. The Bible tells us that the valley of Siddim was “well watered” – Heb. Kallah Masqeh – or completely irrigated. Excavations of the area give evidence that barley, wheat, grapes, figs, lentils, flax, chickpeas, broadbeans, dates and olives were grown in the valley.
C. Genesis 13:11-12 “Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.”
D. Lot wanted the best in life. From a natural point of view, if we are honest we cannot blame Lot. Don’t we want the best? Isn’t that what we are looking for? The best working conditions for the best salary, the best car for the money we have to spend, the best home we can afford, in a community with good schools and services. In itself wanting good things in life is not wrong.
E. There were three major mistakes that Lot made in this decision:
1. He based his decision on appearances – on the material
a. Appearances can be deceiving.
b. Jesus Christ warned in John 7:24” Do not judge according to appearance.”
c. 1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
d. Don't trust appearances. Remember Satan is a great deceiver. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us “...Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
e. Satan is a pro in putting window dressing on evil to make it look good. A crystal clear glass of spring water with a few drops of cyanide looks innocent but is deadly.
f. Sadly Lot is going to find out the reality of James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.”
g. Someone has said Lot looked for a city built by human hands while Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God.
2. He failed to realize that material things only temporarily satisfy.
a. Contrast Lot’s choice with Moses as recorded in Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing (fleeting) pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”
b. “James Boice says it well, You may think that you are different from Lot. But if you have put your job ahead of your family's spiritual life, if you have put your social advancement ahead of a proper association with God's people, if you have let your choice of a home keep you from a church in which you can grow in faith and worship-- you have moved from the highlands to the plain of the Jordan. We could add other indicators to this list, if you are focusing your life on externals and not on your spiritual life... you are focusing on the wrong issues. If your focus is on attaining status rather than on cultivating character... you are focusing on the wrong issues. If you are more concerned with what something costs monetarily instead of what it costs spiritually... you are focusing on the wrong issues. If you are focusing on what will be the most enjoyable instead of what is the most beneficial... you are focusing on the wrong issues.” - Rev. Bruce Goettsch
3. The third and biggest mistake was that Lot failed to ask God what He wanted.
a. There is no mention that Lot ever sought the face of God in making his decision.
b. Seeking God’s advice is a matter of asking.
c. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
d. Lot failed to seek God’s advice and in chapter 19 we see him reluctant to follow God’s advice when it is given to him.
e. Most often we fail to seek God’s advice because we do not want to hear the answer.
II. He surrounded himself with worldly influences.
A. Genesis 13:11-12 “So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.”
B. Lot started off heading in that general direction of the cities of the plain. He didn’t immediately move in to the city. He wanted the conveniences of the world but he was going to remain on the outside.
C. It was a kind of pseudo-separation. Bob Deffinbaugh says “Once our direction is set, our destination is also determined, for it is now only a matter of time… Some decisions may not seem very significant, but they set a particular course for our lives. The decision may not seem very important, but its final outcome can be terrifying and tragic.”
D. 2 Corinthians 6:17 ““Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”
E. Christians who like to live on the outskirts of the world soon find themselves drawn by its allurements. As time passes, Christians become comfortable with worldliness and its temporary rewards. The longer worldliness has had control of their hearts, the less likely Christians are to pursue godliness.
F. If you place a frog into boiling water, it will immediately jump out, but if you place it in cold water and slowly increase the heat, the frog will acclimate itself to the increasing temperature and is lulled to his death.”
G. 1 Corinthians 5:6 “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”
III. He trusted the world for his safety net
A. Genesis 19:1-3 “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; 2 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. 3 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.”
B. Lot has gradually moved from the fields into the city of Sodom.
C. Somewhere between 14 to 24 years before we find Lot sitting in the gate of Sodom, Genesis 14 tells us that the king of Elam and his allies fought against the kings of the cities in the valley of Siddim and took Lot and his family captive along with the townspeople.
D. Archaeologists tell us that Bab-edh Dhra had two major disasters. The first was an invasion in which the western gate which overlooked the fertile irrigated fields was burned and the city sacked. The city fortified itself by blocking up the western gate and built a new gate in the 23 foot wide wall surrounding the city on the northeast side. This new gate was 10-13 feet wide and was framed by two 13’ft wide towers that formed a 33 foot long entrance and afforded the city’s inhabitants a degree of safety.
E. Lot sat as the gatekeeper. Many suppose that this was an indication that Lot was the equivalent of a city councilman. Whether he was there in an official capacity or was just part of the affairs and commerce that were discussed and transacted there we don’t know. The point is that he is fully integrated into the city. Though out of place he felt safe and secure there.
F. Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!
G. Psalm 106:12 “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.”
H. Proverbs 21:31 “…safety is of the LORD.”
IV. He instilled the wrong values into his family
A. Genesis 19:4-8 “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. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 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.”
B. Lot sought to appease the men of Sodom so that the hospitality of his house would not be damaged, but he makes the wrong choice in offering his own daughters, and God’s messengers overruled him.
C. In living a compromised life Lot sent mixed messages to his family, He lost all his influence on his sons-in-law. His wife in rebellion and pride disobeys God and is destroyed. His daughters get Lot drunk and have an incestual relationship with him.
D. Lot totally by his choices failed to lead his family or to instill in them any moral values.
E. Proverbs 11:29 “Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind.”
F. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
G. Of All Born-Again Parents…33% Practice Biblical Principles in Parenting. The majority of Christian Parents surveyed in a recent Barna Research Group project say that church and the Bible do not influence how they parent their children. Only 33 percent of born-again parents surveyed said their church or faith has been a dominant influence in the way they parent, and only half of born-again parents mentioned anything related to faith (including the Bible, church or religion) as a significant influence on how they raise their children. - “Ministry Matters’” from Ministry Today, April, 1998, p. 13.
V. He ignored the Lord’s working in his heart.
A. 2 Peter 2:6-8 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”
B. According to Peter even after years of exposure to the wickedness of the people of Sodom, Lot’s conscience sin pained him by what he witnessed.
C. Vexed his righteous soul - felt his righteous soul tormented.
D. "Does the bold faced sin which is ravaging and destroying the very fabric of the character and integrity of America still shock you or do you no longer even blush when you see and hear the sensual conduct of unprincipled men on the television and the movies, even "PG" rated movies? We as the "Bride" of Christ are in a dire state when we reach this "nadir" (the lowest point) and we need to recall the truth of our Blessed Hope Are we making ourselves ready for the return of our Bridegroom?" - copied
E. Ignoring this burning within his soul for righteousness God had to force Him to come out of Sodom.
F. Genesis 19:16 “But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.”
Someone has said, “He who chooses the beginning of a road chooses the place it leads to.” The choices we make will determine the path we travel and our destiny. The choices we make determine the enjoyment we experience in living. The choices we make will determine the influence we have on others. The choices we make will determine what kind of walk we will have with the Lord. How will you choose?
