Sodom Had No Bible

"Sodom Had No Bible"

Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Introduction: Several years ago I heard someone say that "our lives are the only Bible that some people read." Sodom had no Bible and unfortunately thanks to Lot it had no witness for Jehovah. When you look at the history of the nation of Israel there is one thing that is unmistakable. Jehovah had called them and commanded them to be a witness to the world around them that there was one true God, that He was the Creator of all things and that all men should honor Him as God, worship Him exclusively and serve Him as God in their lives. Lot could have been a witness for he had every opportunity to influence Sodom for Jehovah but he failed to do so. He had the privilege of being with his uncle Abraham for most of his adult life but it seems he failed to absorb very much of the qualities of this godly man's character and conduct. To understand what happened let's examine the narrative about Lot's life found in Genesis.

I. The Appeal of Sodom

Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere..."

The only consideration for Lot seems to have been an economic consideration. He saw an opportunity to accumulate more wealth and step out of the shadow of his uncle but like many who go this route they miscalculate the true cost of their decisions. They fail to appreciate the full implications of their decisions, often until the damage is done.

II. The Accommodation to Sodom

One of the most telling aspects of Lot's move to Sodom can be found in the changes he made in his lifestyle. Abraham and Lot were nomadic, that is they lived in tents and they moved their herds about from place to place finding pasture and grazing for their flocks and when they separated notice that verse 12 states that Lot "...pitched his tent toward Sodom..." He continued this nomadic lifestyle on the "...plain of Jordan..." for some time, but the day came when Lot made the decision to "...dwell..." in the city of Sodom. This represents a radical change for Lot and his family from being outside Sodom to being inside Sodom.

III. The Acclimation to Sodom

This word is a verb that means "to adjust in response to a change in environment or status." Lot got used to the dark! Remember that verse 13 says that the men of Sodom "...were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly..."

Old Vance Havner said he walked into a restaurant that was dimly lit, ordered from a menu that he could barely see, and ate his meal by faith and not by sight! You may have had that kind of experience were you entered a room or building and it took a while for your eyes to become acclimated to the darkness but eventually you did and you were able to make your way around. This is a perfect description of what Lot did, he got used to the darkness of Sodom, gradually, progressively and comfortably making his way in the darkness of sin and depravity.

2 Peter 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 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 word "vexed" means sorely distressed or troubled and indicates that as Lot was exposed to the wicked lifestyles of the people of Sodom his soul was troubled but that is not all I read into this Scripture.

THE POND OF THE SOUL

ILL - Thomas Fuller (English preacher of 1600's) wrote: "Almost 20 years ago I heard a profane jest and still I remember it. How many pious passages of a far later date have I utterly forgotten? It seems my soul is like a filthy pond where fish die soon and frogs live long."

(From a sermon by Steve Shepherd, The Pursuit of Holiness, 9/16/2011)