Lesson 16: Genesis 19

“and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);” (2 Peter 2:7–8, ESV). Peter’s statement regarding the righteousness of Lot is difficult to reconcile with what we read in Genesis 19. As we will see, Lot has settled among the godless, is reluctant to leave and sees his family destroyed, both literally and figuratively. So, why would Peter describe Lot as “righteous”? There is some thought that Peter was referencing Jewish tradition in this passage. The Wisdom of Solomon (an apocryphal writing) referred to Lot as righteous. However, the likelier explanation is that “righteousness” in 2Peter 2.7-8 refers only to the fact that Lot’s soul was “distressed” and “tormented” by the wickedness around him. Peter’s point was that the Lord could and would deliver His people from the godlessness of their time, just as He had rescued Lot. Peter offers no other comment on Lot’s character, thus we will rely on the Genesis account to provide a fuller account of Lot’s character.

Notes From The Text:

Vss. 1-11, Two Angels Visit Sodom

• First, a note about the location of Sodom and Gomorrah: “There are five sites of Early Bronze Age cities on the southeast plain of the Dead Sea; these demonstrate that fairly large populations existed here in the third millennium. From north to south they are Bab edh-Dhraʿ (Sodom?), Numeira (Gomorrah?), Safi (Zoar), Feifa, and Khanazir, with the last being about twenty miles from the first. At the north end of the east side of the Dead Sea, the hills of Moab come right up to the shore. But along the southern half of the east coast there is a stretch of plains before the hills rise up. These cities were located one each along five perennial freshwater streams that traveled through this stretch of plains and fed into the Dead Sea.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary).
• Vss. 1-3, recall that when Lot separated from Abram, he still dwelt in tents (Genesis 13.12-13). But Lot had given up the nomadic life and was firmly established as a resident and even leader of wicked Sodom (he was sitting in the gate where town elders typically stayed, see Genesis 34.20). That Lot was aware of the depravity of the city is evident by his urging the visitors to stay in his house and not in the town square (which would have been a common practice for travelers).
• Vs. 5, the practice of sodomy is condemned in both old and new testaments (see Leviticus 18.22; 20.13; Romans 1.26-27; 1Cor. 6.9; 1Timothy 1.10). This was certainly a large part of Sodom’s sins that “cried out” for judgment (Genesis 18.20-21).
• Vs. 8, various attempts have been made to justify the actions of Lot. Perhaps he viewed hospitality of strangers as more important than the welfare of his own family; perhaps he did not believe the men of the city would harm women engaged to some of their own number (see vs. 14). The fact remains that Lot settling his family in Sodom had put them in peril! Note the account in Judges 19.22-25 to see the likely outcome had Lot given his daughters to the mob.
• Vs. 10, “ Doing his best, Lot has jeopardized his daughters, enraged his townsmen, and finally required rescue by those he was trying to protect. The angels’ visit has shattered the uneasy peace in which he has lived too long.” (Derek Kidner)

Vss. 12-22, Lot Rescued

• Vs. 13, the Lord’s investigation had concluded with a guilty verdict (see Genesis 18.21).
• Vss. 14-20, even though Lot believed the message of the angels and tried to convince his sons-in-law of the impending judgment, he was himself reluctant to leave the doomed city himself. He lingered (vs. 16), was forcibly dragged from the city (vs. 16) and then Lot bargaining to be able to dwell in a different city (vss. 18-20). Against all of this stand the Lord’s mercy (vs. 16).

Vss. 23-29, Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

• Vs. 24, note Genesis 14.10. The Lord, while executing a miraculous judgment, likely used the very elements that were on hand.
• Vs. 25, contrast with Genesis 13.10. An area that was once fertile is now a barren waste (note the photo from Todd Bolen, http://www.bibleplaces.com).
• Vs. 26, see Luke 17.32. While it could be that Lot’s wife instantaneously and miraculously became a pillar of salt, a probably explanation is that her “looking back” was in fact a move toward the doomed city. She experienced the fire and sulfur from heaven; she and many others became pillars of salt.
• Vss. 27-29, this passage hearkens back to Abraham’s intercession in Genesis 18.22-33. Lot’s deliverance was due to the Lord “remembering” Abraham (vs. 29), thus while there were not enough righteous souls to spare the city, the Lord was still just in saving the righteous (see Genesis 18.23,25).

Vss. 30-38, Offspring of Lot

• Vs. 30, recall that Lot’s herds and servants were once a great number (see Genesis 13.5ff). He had left the side of his faithful uncle and established a house in wicked Sodom. Now, he has nothing other than his two daughters. He doesn’t even have a house, but dwells in a cave.
• Vs. 32, the second mention of wine in Scripture (see Genesis 9.20-22). The dangers of intoxication are evident from the beginning of Scripture.
• Vs. 33, “The girls had been removed from Sodom, but apparently Sodom had not been removed from the girls—or their father.” (James E. Smith)
• Vss. 37-38, the descendants of Lot would prove to be a thorn in Israel’s side (see Numbers 25; Deuteronomy 23.3-4; Judges 3.12-31; 1Kings 11.7; etc.)