Two Angels In Sodom (Genesis 19)

Were some in Lot’s family completely immersed in the life of Sodom and not wanting to leave? Were Lot, his wife, and his daughters also affected by the perverse environment of that city? What can happen to our thinking, living and working in this world? Are we truly in the world but not of the world? Let’s examine Genesis 19.

Did the two angels that had been with the Lord talking to Abraham continue on to Sodom?

The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. (Genesis 19:1-3 WEB)

Was homosexual gang rape attempted by just a few in Sodom or everyone? Did Lot’s stupid decision to offer his two daughters show that he had been affected by that perverse society? How much are we influenced by the world around us?

Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom—everyone from the youngest to the oldest—surrounded the house and called to Lot, “Where are the men who arrived tonight? Bring them out to us so that we may have sex with them.” Lot went out toward the entrance, closed the door behind him, and said, “My brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. I’ve got two daughters who are virgins. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them whatever you wish. But don’t do anything to these men because they are now under the protection of my roof.” (Genesis 19:4-8 CEB)

Did the crowd threaten Lot? What did the angels do?

“Don't get in our way,” the crowd answered. “You're a foreigner. What right do you have to order us around? We'll do worse things to you than we're going to do to them.” The crowd kept arguing with Lot. Finally, they rushed toward the door to break it down. But the two angels in the house reached out and pulled Lot safely inside. Then they struck blind everyone in the crowd, and none of them could even find the door. (Genesis 19:9-11 CEV)

How did the rest of Lot’s relatives respond to his warning?

The men said to Lot, “Do you have any people here besides yourself? Whomever you have in the city — son-in-law, your sons, your daughters — bring them out of this place; because we are going to destroy it. Adonai has become aware of the great outcry against them, and Adonai has sent us to destroy it.” Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up and leave this place, because Adonai is going to destroy the city.” But his sons-in-law didn’t take him seriously. (Genesis 19:12-14 CJB)

Did Lot procrastinate? Do we linger or have a sense of urgency about leaving the Sodom of this world’s ways?

As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 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. And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Genesis 19:15-17 ESV)

Did Lot have simple trust like Abraham or want to quibble about where he went? Did God have mercy on his weak faith? Does God have mercy on our sometimes weak faith?

But Lot said to them, “No, my lords—please. Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by saving my life. But I can’t run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. Look, this town is close enough for me to run to. It is a small place. Please let me go there—it’s only a small place, isn’t it?—so that I can survive.” And he said to him, “All right, I’ll grant your request about this matter too and will not demolish the town you mentioned. Hurry up! Run there, for I cannot do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city is Zoar. (Genesis 19:18-22 HCSB)