Thursday Night Bible Study

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Genesis 20, 21 

"Again!?" • 3.25.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Chapter 20 begins simultaneously with Sodom's demise. Abraham is watching the smoke rise on a city, that by it's wickedness, has invited the wrath of God.

- Abraham continues to wait on the promise of his child through Sarah. He's about 100 years old and has been waiting over 2 decades.

- This child is not just any child. He is the promise of blessing, the promise of God's continuing plan of victory over the serpent. He is the child through which the Messiah, Jesus, would come.

- One would think that you'd live a life that protected that promise and insulated that promise.

- Instead, Abraham lives dangerously close to the edge. As we go, I think we'll find a lot to relate to in his life.

Text

• Genesis 20:1,2 : "And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, 'She is my sister.' And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah." Abraham's reasons for travel are not given to us. It would be plausible to assume that this was a business trip of some sort, especially given the circumstances of Sodom's destruction.

- For Abraham, every trip south though, is not just a physical deviation, but a spiritual one as well. Every time he goes south, his faith goes south as well!

- This situation sounds so familiar because we heard this before. It's biblical deja vu! In chapter 12, Abraham faced a famine and went down to Egypt.

- In chapter 12, you could at least understand the reasoning. Here, there wasn't a pressing reason. It was seemingly a needless journey.

- Here again, Abraham said to Sarah, "pull the old 'he's my brother'" routine!

- The Abimelech sent and took the 90 year old version of Sarah. What an attractive woman!? It's more likely that Abimelech wanted to attach himself to Abraham.

• Genesis 20:3-7 : "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, 'Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.' But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, 'Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.' And God said to him in a dream, 'Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.'" : This is an interesting exchange. Abraham had provided the occasion, and now God has revealed the offense.

- Notice that God deals first with Abimelech, coming to him in a dream. Abimelech was the king of Gerar, which was an ancient Philistine city.

- The designation "Abimelech" was akin to Egypt's Pharoah designation. The Pharoah was godless, so also was Abimelech. But God comes and appears to him.

- God tells him directly that He was a dead man. Abimelech had unknowingly sinned.

- He had followed the protocol of the ancient world and had not done anything "wrong" by the standards of that ancient world. This is why he says, "Will you slay a righteous nation also!?"

- By righteous, Abimelech is not talking about having a right standing with God, but righteous in terms of correct actions.

- Abimelech knew that God had brought judgement upon Sodom. Here, he knows that compared to them, his nation was blameless.

- God sided with him. He had seen what took place and had also kept him from sinning against him. Now, He gives him the chance to make things right.

• Genesis 20:8-10 : "So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid. And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, 'What have you done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.' Then Abimelech said to Abraham, 'What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?'" : Early the next morning, Abimelech goes straight to business. He has received the warning of God and he is not going to postpone what must take place.

- When God tells you that you're a dead man, it tends to promote quick action!

- He brought in his servants and let them all know what was at stake. After letting them know, he brought in Abraham.

- Imagine the embarassment of this moment! Abraham does not know what took place in the night and how he had been outed by the Lord. These words must have cut deeply.

- "How have I offended you." "What did you have in view?" What were you thinking Abraham?

- Consider this a good warning. Do you ever want to stand before unbelievers and give an account for why you have betrated your faith? Abraham was about to.

• Genesis 20:11-13 : "And Abraham said, 'Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife. But indeed she is truly 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 to her, ‘This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, 'He is my brother.'" : Abimelech gets the answer from Abraham and it's seriously lacking in what we would expect from such a faithful follower of God.

- Here is a 100 year old believer in God. He has experienced the presence of God. He has been the recipient of His promises. Yet, it's the same sin that he gave into years earlier!

- Notice the digression, and we'll start at the beginning. First problem is that he needlessly wandered into a position where he could be compromised.

- Don't put yourself in a position to fail! If you have a problem with alcohol, it's not a good idea to use the restroom in a bar!

- If you cannot control yourself around the opposite sex, don't be alone with them!

- If you can't just eat one donut, don't hang out at Krispy Kreme!

- Now, as Abraham explains himself, you can see that fear still dominates Abraham's life. He figured that he was unsafe because of the lack of other faithful followers of God.

- He believed that he would be killed because of Sarah. This is how he justifies his actions.

- Isn't this just like us? No matter how many miraculous visitations that we have, no matter how many confirmations we receive, we are still given to fear!

- Fear that He won't be true. Fear that it won't work out if we trust Him!

- Abraham has been circumcised. He has seen God barbecue the animals. He has heard the Lord verbally promise a son. He has given His word that He will be a shield and a reward.

- After all of that, Abraham falls prey to his own fear. His fear of men overwhelmed his fear of the Lord, which will trap us each and every time! Your fears will do the same thing!

- The second point you'll note is that Abraham has built his defense on a half truth.

- The truth was that Sarah was a half sister of Abraham!

- The truth regarding their relationship, however, was that in every way, they acted as man and wife. His half lie was a whole deception!

- Sadly, you'll note that this was not an isolated incident. This was a habitual sinful practice that Abraham adopted wherever he and Sarah went.

- What does one say say to this? Abraham sinned in fear and Sarah sinned in her willingness to go along! Here, they admit their rouse to this Philistine King Abimelech.

• Genesis 20:14-18 : "Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, 'See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.' Then to Sarah he said, 'Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.' Thus she was rebuked. So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife." : Abimelech's response was interesting in giving such a great amount to Abraham. It's likely that this was his response to God's vision.

- His parting words to Sarah though, showed that the feelings ran deep.

- The phrase "Behold I have given your BROTHER a thousand pieces of silver" is really painful. She was rebuked by this action. Seems kind of confusing here. The NLT renders it this way:

• Genesis 20:16 (NLT) : "Then he turned to Sarah. 'Look,' he said, 'I am giving your `brother' a thousand pieces of silver to compensate for any embarrassment I may have caused you. This will settle any claim against me in this matter.'"

- After Abraham prayed for them, the Lord brought healing to them, as their wombs had been closed up during Sarah's stay in Abimelech's house. It's likely that at least two months had passed.

- During that time there was no pregnancy. After Abraham prayed, the wombs were opened.

- Our sinful nature can and will always rear it's ugly head, no matter how old, mature and wise we become in the Lord.

• Genesis 21:1-7 : "And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore 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 who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, 'God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.' She also said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.'" : I want us to consider the placement of this text. The Lord visited Sarah, as He had said. He did for her what He had spoken.

- All this after the chapter where they defrauded Abimelech. They had conspired to lie and were now being blessed by God!

- Somecry foul, but the older we get in the Lord, the more we understand that God cannot be anything else but faithful to Himself and His promise!

- Turn with me to II Timothy 2. Paul is encouraging his protege to endure to the end.

• II Timothy 2:11-14 : "This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."

- God made a promise and He kept it to a couple that at times, would not believe that God would bring it to pass. What an example to you and I? What an example to the children of Israel!

- Remember, they were looking at a land that seemed impossible to dwell in, yet God said that they would! They would be faithless and complain against him over and over again, but God would bring them in!

- Abraham named his and Sarah's son, Isaac, just as he had been told. This is truly a great moment in scripture, as God has brought this miracle to pass.

- It's more than a miracle of course, in that the seed of the woman and the line of redemption continues on. God's war against sin and death has again progressed toward His ultimate victory.

• Genesis 21:8-13 : "So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.' And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. But God said to Abraham, 'Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.'" : Isaac began to grow and was weaned, meaning that he was ready for solid food. In ancient times, this is about a three year process.

- That day, perhaps with Isaac eating a little and wearing a lot, Abraham got a feast going.

- Ishmael, now about 15 years old, was mocking Isaac. He was laughing at laughter! This brought offense to Sarah, who immediately came to Abraham.

- The mockery was more than just making fun of him and it was more than just one occasion.

- This was an occasion to celebrate Isaac and Ishmael's response shows great disregard both toward his brother and family, but ultimately to the God who had brought him into existence.

- The sense of the passage then is of a continuing conflict that seems to point to a superiority that Ishmael felt over and against Isaac.

- We understand that from Sarah's comments. "He shall not be an heir with my son."

- She told him to expel Hagar and Ishmael. As the slave owner, there was certain protocol that was followed on these occasions.

- In the code of Hammurabi, there is a command to release slaves if there is no intention to make them heirs or include them in an inheritance. Sending them away would send a clear message.

- Immediately Abraham is hesitant to do this.

- It may be that Abraham still favored Ishmael, or that Ishmael was a bit of a back up plan in case Isaac didn't work out! But it took God telling him to listen to Sarah for him to be satisfied.

- By the way, this moment of pain is brought to you by Abraham's flesh!

• Genesis 21:14-21 : "So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, 'Let me not see the death of the boy.' So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, 'What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.' Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt." : I like that Abraham rose early in the morning. Abraham shows good resolve.

- Abraham loved Ishmael. He had lobbied for Ishmael, but God's Word was final.

- Hagar and Ishmael set out on their journey out into the wilderness of Beersheba. Their supplies did not last long.

- In this desperate moment, God appears to Hagar. Again, in a wilderness setting, destitute and alone, God meets Hagar. Another familiar moment from our past.

- It's instructive negatively in Abraham's case, to remember our past. It's positive here. When God has delievered in the past, we can expect the same result in the future.

- God saw her and He heard Ishmael. Ishmael called out to God in this time of despair.

- God reminds her that she might have been kicked out and not have the future that they thought they would have. They would have a future nonetheless.

- God was still going to make Ishmael a great nation. Today, Ishmael exists through the Arabic people and they are mighty.

- From here, Moses synopsizes what became of Ishmael. He became a skilled hunter and took an Egyptian wife. God kept them.

• Genesis 21:22-27 : "And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, 'God is with you in all that you do. Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.' And Abraham said, 'I will swear.' Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. And Abimelech said, 'I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.' So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant." : A few years have gone by since their first meeting. Abimelech has had the opportunity to see God's hand on Abraham's life.

- It's no doubt that he saw Sarah in her pregnancy and Isaac in his early youth.

- It led him to believe that God was with him. That's the testimony that we all want. We want the world to look at our lives and see the hand of God in all that we do.

- This will become a motif for us to look for across the scriptures, as God's people are often recognized for what He does in them.

- Abimelech is wise in wanting to have a treaty between himself and Abraham. Note his conditions: Don't deal falsely with me or my family! Abraham swore to them, but did not let them off.

- The Philistines had seized a well that Abraham had dug. Abimelech swears that he knew nothing of it until that moment. Time to test this new relationship.

• Genesis 21:28-34 : "And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Then Abimelech asked Abraham, 'What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?' And he said, 'You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.' Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there. Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days." : God brought peace with Himself and peace with all around Abraham. This covenant was ratified and Abraham stayed there many days.

Conclusion

- Take note of the pattern that we find from the beginning to the end. God is faithful to a man that has trusted in his own resources. He is faithful in spite of him.

- And to a woman that was turned out and rejected, God was faithful in spite of that circumstance. Tonight, He still keeps His promises. That will never change!

Thursday Night Bible Study

Genesis 19

"It All Comes Down" • 3.18.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro

- The angels of God have taken a walk down the road to Sodom and Gommorah, words which are synonymous with wickedness.

- The first comment regarding Sodom and Gomorrah that Moses makes regarding their existence, coincides with Lot's decision to make that area his home.

• Genesis 13:13 : "But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord."

- This is the moral benchmark of their society. Wickedness was their specialty, sinfulness their goal! It's baffling that anyone would want to choose to live there, but Lot did.

- Lot ignored the spiritual depravity for the sake of worldly gain. When he first set his eyes on Sodom, he saw a land of opportunity.

• Genesis 13:10 : "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."

- For a herdsman, this was a dream opportunity! As a result, Genesis 13:12 tells us that Lot pitched his tent on the border of, near Sodom.

- One chapter later, in Genesis 14:12, we find that he dwelt in Sodom. Even after Abraham rescued him, he chose to return.

- Lot has made his choice and he is about to find out just how bad that choice was. According to II Peter 2, Lot was a righteous man, but this chapter is a portrait of a compromised Christian.

- It's the picture of a person who is too worldly to be useful to God and too godly to be loved in the world. I want us to note seven statements regarding the compromised Christian. He or she

I. Lacks Awareness Of God's Plan (v.1-3)

II. Lacks Authority In The World (v.4-11)

III. Lacks Authority With Their Family (v.12-14)

IV. Lacks Appropriate Action In Times Of Crisis (v.15-17)

V. Lacks A Confidence In God For Full Deliverance (v.18-23)

VI. Lacks A Proper Leadership In Their Marriage (v.24-26)

VIII. Lacks Assurance Of A Godly Heritage (v.27-38)

Text

I. Lacks Awareness Of God's Plan (v.1-3)

• Genesis 19:1-3 : "Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, 'Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.' And they said, 'No, but we will spend the night in the open square.' But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate." : The angels that had left Abraham, were now coming into town. They came into town in the evening.

- The evening hours represent the true nature of any given city. This is when the Angels chose their time of visitation.

- Lot is the first to see them. Notice where he is when he does: The Gate of Sodom. He is sitting there, quite comfortably.

- The city gate was more than just the entrance. It was more like a long series of cubed areas. Business, such as trades and disputes were handled there. It was akin to our city hall.

- The city gate was home to the pseudo-politician and those with an eye toward taking advantage of business opportunities. There is our friend Lot, the business man.

- He had become a civic leader of Sodom!

- He sees the angels and immediately bows himself before them. This is a normal way of greeting, showing great respect. He uses the word "lords" which is a better way to say "Sirs."

In the ancient world, if you came late in the evening without knowing somebody, you would just spend the night in the square. Lot understands that their options are limited and one is untenable.

- He immediately offers them the hospitality that Abraham would have offered, except that he is more urgent. Lot knows what dangers are just around the corner.

- He offers his house and asks that they come and go quickly.

- The angels were just following protocol. Lot insisted strongly, literally, he was excessively pushy about this.

- It is debatable whether Lot knew that these were angels. If he did not, his actions make sense, in that he did not want harm to come to these "men."

- On the other hand, if he did know, then you can imagine that he did not want them to see the true nature of Sodomite culture.

- "Come in quickly, don't look around, and then leave before you can see anything out of order!" If that's the case, we can relate.

- "God I want you in my life, just don't look here or here...and don't touch that either!"

- I am of the opinion that he was completely unaware of who he was greeting. He has no idea what God is doing. He is in the dark, unlike Abraham, who is given a preview to what He is doing.

- The compromised Christian is usually surprised at God's activities.

- The angels consented and Lot presented them with a great feast, but the trouble that Lot sought to avoid came to find them anyway.

II. Lacks Authority In The World (v.4-11)

• Genesis 19:4,5 : "Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.'" : They had a great meal and it was time to sleep. Meanwhile, a crowd gathered outside the house.

- Lot's hope for secrecy had obviously failed. The men of the city had noticed.

- These are men, old and young, from every quarter of the city. The word for "old" is elder and the word for "young" is what would be used to describe a boy.

- This was a generationally shared experience. Moses lets us know that this was not a behavior that was confined to one quarter of the city. They came from every quarter.

- They surrounded the house and demanded that Lot bring out the men so that they might engage with them sexually. There is no guise. They are straightforward in their desires.

- The scene cannot be more disgusting. Old men and young boys are all here to participate in a homosexual orgy. The debauchery was shared by every generation in every part of the city.

• Genesis 19:6-11 : "So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, 'Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.' And they said, 'Stand back!' Then they said, 'This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.' So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door." : Lot had a chance to stand for God and prophecy to these people. “The Almighty God calls this city to repent or else disaster will befall you!”

- Instead, we see him offer up a worldly solution that might placate their sexual ambition.

- He calls them out and says "Don't do this wickedness!" To injure a guest in that ancient world was a deep offense. This is what is meant by the shadow of his roof.

- But then Lot blows it big time: Take my virgin daughters instead! As a Father with daughters, I cannot fathom this sentence. Lot is saying, "Don't do this wickedness. Do this one instead!"

- The words "do to them as you wish" stand out in a horrible way. What was Lot thinking? He wasn't. He was desperate to stop this from happening.

- This did not make a dent in the mob's thinking. This speech infuriated them even further.

- They did not want a moral compass. They were not attracted to righteousness. They resented that Lot had come to live there and was now seeking to change them.

- His voice lacks any kind of authority, any kind of power to bring about conviction of their sin.

- The Sodomites pressed in. Understand that this is an urgent desire, a frenzied environment.

- They were not going to allow social protocol, moral urging or even physical barriers to stop their quest.

- They were driven by their unholy lusts. There was no word, no substitute, no societal norm that was powerful enough to stop them.

- What was powerful enough were these angels. They pulled Lot in and struck the entire horde with blindness. Angels, as it turns out, are fairly powerful beings!

- Could it have been that they allowed just a little of their light to shine in that dark place? Perhaps it was the same phenomena that occurs when you come out of a dark theatre midday.

- Whatever happened, the surprising thing is that it did not dissuade the masses. In fact, they kept coming until they wore themselves out trying to find the door!

- We are talking about the kind of sickness that accompanies an addict. Even the loss of their sight did not deter them from their mission!

- Before we move on, let's understand that homosexuality was just one of the many sins that Sodom was known for, but it was not the only sin.

- It's tempting to jump on the bandwagon and say that homosexuality was the cause of the fall of Sodom. It's toleration and celebration in any society is a great sign of wickedness that's pervasive.

- However, let's be real careful not to condemn this on a greater level than any other sin.

- Turn over to I Corinthians 6. Look at the list of sins that are found there.

• I Corinthians 6:9-11 : "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

- Paul puts homosexuality and sodomy in the same category as heterosexual activity outside of marriage, drunkenness and adultery!

- The beauty comes in verse 11. "But such WERE some of you! You were washed, sanctified and justified!" Thank you Lord that no sin is to great that you cannot clean and turn the sinner!

III. Lacks Authority With His Family (v.12-14)

• Genesis 19:12,13 : "Then the men said to Lot, 'Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.'" : If Lot did not know about the nature of the angels and their business, he certainly did now! In this moment, all that Lot had built, all that he had valued, was suddenly without value!

- It was on the queue for destruction. His home, his business, his possessions are all literally going to go up in smoke! God has seen the condition of Sodom and the decree is destruction.

- He has located the righteous. There are less than 10 and they are told to get out!

• Genesis 19:14-18 : "So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, 'Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!' But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, 'Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.' And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, 'Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.'" : Lot had two other daughters who were married. Lot told them the message first.

- To them, it seemed like he was joking. His conversation was so bizzare and out of the ordinary for Lot, that they guys just concluded that he was kidding them. "You're joking right!?"

- One commentator mentions that they did not take Lot seriously because what he was speaking about had never been mentioned before! Lot had not spoken about his faith with them!

˚ “His words were not a repetition of his life-long warnings of sin and Judgment—they are something totally new and novel.” Bob Deffinbaugh

- It is strange to hear somebody who never talks about God, suddenly make mention of Him. Lot was not one of "those kind" of Christians. He figured that his life spoke best!

- Such a person lacks authority in his own home when his life and words do not match!

IV. Lacks Appropriate Action In Times Of Crisis (v.15-17)

- As the sun was climbing the sky, the angels that have told Lot of their intentions are actually having to hurry Lot up! This is amazing.

- If I heard this news, I would not even let the angels finish telling me! I'd be out the door!

- Lot just lingered about!

- He does not know what he should do. He is paralyzed, afraid to stay and afraid to move.

- Finally, the angels just grabbed them and forcibly removed them to the outskirts of the city. Consider that for a moment.

- The angels had to physically remove Lot from a city that was about to be destroyed!

- I am grateful that when I have been in this situation, in this type of mindset, that God has sent someone to grab me out as well!

V. Lacks A Confidence In God For Full Deliverance (v.18-23)

• Genesis 19:18-23 : "Then Lot said to them, 'Please, no, my lords! Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.' And he said to him, 'See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.' Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar." : Lot was lazy and out of shape. He cannot fathom making it to the mountains. He knows nothing of the power that Abraham lived in!

- Abraham had chased Lot's captors all night for miles and miles. Here, Lot is unable to even think about it. He has no confidence in the God that is trying to deliver him!

- Instead, he offers what he was used to: A compromise!

- He imagines that he can make it to the city of Zoar. It took just a short time, just a few hours, and Lot had entered Zoar. It seems that this last phrase would denote a few hours had passed.

VI. Lacks A Proper Leadership In Their Marriage (v.24-26)

• Genesis 19:24-26 : "Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." : The Lord is responsible for this judgment upon Sodom. Everything that was once lush and full of life is now lifeless.

- How did this happen? You'll recall from Genesis 14 that there were tar pits all over the Sodomite valley. One Pastor I listened to this week postulated that a lightning strike set off a chain reaction. Whatever the case, this was supernaturally engineered.

- Among the casualties: Lot's wife. The angels had given one message that could be summarized in 5 words: "Get out, don't look back!"

- Lot had to be hurried out and it's obvious that Mrs. Lot was also fond of her home.

- The connotation behind the words “looked back” seem to indicate more than just a quick glance. It was more like a look of longing.

- Why did she look back? What could have been so pressing?

- We might have a clued from the New Testament. Turn with me to Luke 17. Jesus is using Sodom and Gomorrah as an illustration of His own return.

• Luke 17:31-33 : "In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."

- The suddeness of Christ's coming will leave you with no time to turn back. Likewise with Lot, something from what was being destroyed called to her.

- She wanted to preserve it. She wanted to possess it. In the end, the love of it destroyed her!

- Whatever "it" was has come to represent that which we would lose life for. What could it be for you? Jesus spends three words to remind us that nothing is worth losing our real lives for!

VIII. Lacks Assurance Of A Godly Heritage (v.27-38)

• Genesis 19:27-29 : "And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. 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 which Lot had dwelt." : Imagine Abraham's heart as he saw this horrific sight. He knew now that there had not been even 10 righteous people in that place.

- Verse 29 is an interesting verse. God sent Lot out on account of Abraham, not Lot!

- That is an interesting thought. It was Abraham's relationship with God that once again spared Lot from the destruction that a life in Sodom produces.

• Genesis 19:30-36 : "Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave. Now the firstborn said to the younger, 'Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.' So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, 'Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.' Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day." : What a scene. Lot was a man without confidence in the Lord whatsoever! He did not want to dwell in Zoar, perhaps in fear of further judgments from the Lord, or his own safety without a house.

- He began this chapter in the city gate of Sodom, with a wife, 4 daughters and 2 sons-in-law. Now he is living in a cave with his two unmarried daughters. From Councilman to Cave Dweller!

- Apparently they had time to gather some wine! Ironically, I am glad that wine was involved! At least Lot did not know what was happening.

- You wish that by destroying Sodom, you could destroy the Sodom in people, but that is just not the case. Lot’s daughters took Sodom with them.

- The world behind them had been destroyed, but the principles of that world continued to live on, even dominate their hearts.

- This conspiracy of Lot's older and younger daughters to be impregnated, is a tragic story of how far a family can fall.

- Notice that her reasoning is that this is the custom of all the earth. When you allow children to grow up in Sodom, their moral compass will inevitably be at odds with true north.

- Both nights, Lot loses his faculties and is able to impregnate both daughters. Their children will later become national enemies of Israel and godless people.

Conclusion

- Tonight, we are to beware of loving the world, anxious instead for the deliverance of our souls. I pray that these principles will guide our decisions and goals as we walk out of here.