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Genesis Chapter Nineteen
Preface
Here is a chapter with enormous practical application to Christianity, especially today. This is due to the revelation of God’s mind in regards to worldliness in general and homosexuality in specific. In the first place, never before in the history of mankind and especially during the Church Age has there been a greater trend toward worldliness and away from biblical doctrine and morality; and in the second place, homosexuality and all that this activity entails has definitely “come out of the closet” to become a popular and acceptable alternate lifestyle. Whereas morals, biblical values and heterosexuality were the standards during America’s inception and hundreds of years thereafter, just the opposite now appears to “rule the day,” and it is becoming progressively worse exponentially.
In considering these topics, and especially the “hot issue” of homosexuality, it is important for the Christian to understand that he has but two avenues to take when coming to God’s Word regarding it or any other issue. He may either believe what God has to say about it, or he may disbelieve it by means of misinterpretation or out-and-out denial. Unfortunately, religion today is flagrantly guilty of the latter, clinging to a doctrine of “tolerance and understanding”—professing to accept God’s love, but definitely rejecting His hatred of sin and His certainty of justice. Those who remain faithful to Christianity, which is not “religion,” continue to hold true to God’s inerrant Word and hold fast to God’s immutable standards and sure justice, even in light of this world’s ever-increasing pressure to compromise.
HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR—THE GAY AGENDA
Before addressing the gay agenda of homosexual behavior the following statement must be made, which is biblical truth: God loves everyone, those who are straight sexually and those who are not; and He will grant eternal life to anyone who will by faith alone in Christ alone receive His gift of salvation! Let there be no mistake about this. God’s grace-gift of eternal life is available to anyone who has recognized his need of salvation and who in faith, plus nothing else, turns solely to Jesus Christ for his personal salvation. Salvation is available to all sinners regardless of their sexual orientation.
If a person accepts the Bible for what it truly is, the inerrant Word of God, and will take it at face value in its evaluation of homosexuality, he cannot escape the reality that God hates and condemns homosexuality and will harshly judge those who habitually practice it. Although there are those who would like to think otherwise, the Bible is not silent on this subject. And all references in the Bible to the gay agenda and those who believe and engage in it—homosexuals and lesbians—are unified in the assessment that such activity is despicable, contemptible and loathsome to God.
God created and established only one pattern and means for sex within the human race when in Genesis 1:27, 28, He “created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it . . . .’” From that time forward God has never introduced or condoned another approach to or for sexual behavior. God meant then and means today for sex within the human race to be strictly between a man and woman. The die was cast at creation, and it has never changed.
In Genesis 19:1-26 God unmistakably denounces and harshly judges homosexuality. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were assessed by God as totally evil because of their extreme worldliness that eventually deteriorated into flagrant and shameless homosexual behavior, which is not unlike many areas throughout America and the world today. In fact, the word “sodomy,” which represents copulation with a member of the same sex and other deviate sexual behavior, is derived from the Old Testament city of Sodom. Because Sodom and Gomorrah were, as a matter of commonality and proliferation, engulfed with homosexuality, God utterly destroyed them with fire and brimstone.
But the Bible has much more to say regarding this repugnant and hideous sin, as follows:
Leviticus 18:22-24; 20:13, 15, 16
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. . . . If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. . . . If a man mates with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them.
In this passage homosexuality is just as horrific as bestiality, and God required a death sentence for both perversions.
Romans 1:26, 27
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
This description of “vile passions,” being homosexuality, is only one of many atrocious acts against God (sin) that Paul states will receive God’s wrath, as seen in the entire passage from verse 18 to verse 32. See also 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:9, 10, verses which detail God’s judgment upon those who are steeped in (habitually practice) homosexuality and other terrible sins.
The following from the Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald is very instructive in regards to this issue:
No practicing homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God. So-called “gays” pay a high price for their immoral lifestyle. Paul says that they receive in themselves “the penalty of their error which was due” (Rom 1:27b). This includes venereal diseases, pneumocystis, Kaposi’s sarcoma (a form of cancer) and AIDS. It also includes haunting guilt, mental and emotional disturbances, and abnormal personality changes. . . .
There is a difference between being a “practicing” homosexual and having a homosexual “tendency.” It is the practice that the Bible condemns, not the orientation. There are many who have an attraction to their own sex but refuse to give in to it. By the power of the Spirit, they have disciplined themselves to resist the temptation and to live in purity. . . . Some blame God that they were born with this tendency, but the fault does not lie with God but with human sinfulness. Every fallen child of Adam has evil tendencies. Some have a weakness in one area, some in another. The sin is not in being tempted, but in yielding to the temptation.
There is deliverance from homosexuality or lesbianism, as there is from any form of lust. . . Christians should accept gays and lesbians as persons without approving their lifestyle. Because they are people for whom Christ died, believers should seek in every possible way to win them to a life of “holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
The bottom line is that homosexuality is sin and is totally unacceptable to God. As with all sin, the Christian, regardless of sexual orientation, should yield himself to the control of the Holy Spirit, who alone can empower the child of God to increasingly become transformed into the image of Christ. Genesis 19:1-11 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. 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 [have sex with them].” 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.
As the two angels approached Sodom, Lot was sitting “in the gate” of the city. This was indicative, according to some commentators, that he had attained an administrative or governmental position within the city; some even say as a “judge.” In any case, for whatever reason, it appears that Lot recognized that the two “visitors” were of major importance. Whether or not he recognized them as angelic beings, it is uncertain; although, this may have been the case since later the same day he was willing to sacrifice the virginity of his two daughters for the visitors’ safety.
Lot graciously received the visiting angels, who appeared as men. Again, it is worthy to note that angels who are allowed to appear to man in the Bible always take the form of men. This is strictly an observation, not a political or social statement by this commentator. Lot, according to 2 Peter 2:7 & 8 was a “righteous man,” who was vexed (seriously and deeply oppressed in spirit) day and night with the sins of the residents of Sodom. It should be noted that this is the normal state of mind of a person who has been saved, has lived for a time with the “joy of his salvation,” and then slips away from God and the control of the Holy Spirit back into the world (carnality). Granted, this person will not lose his eternal state, but will surely suffer sorrow and guilt in this lifetime and loss of eternal rewards.
Lot invited the visitors to stay at his home where they would be afforded the proper courtesies for visitors, the washing of feet and a proper meal. The angelic visitors initially turned him down, stating that they would spend the night in the city’s open square. Knowing all too well the danger that would face them, Lot insisted that they come into his home and spend the night. The visitors submitted to Lots persistence and entered his home, where indeed they were treated to a feast, which included “unleavened” (interesting to note that “leaven” is symbolic of sin in the Bible) bread, another indication that possibly Lot had at least an inkling as to the virtuous nature of these visitors.
From the use of the language in this passage it may not be certain whether absolutely every male person of the city came to Lot’s house and surrounded it, or that the party simply included males from every section of the city. But to be certain it was a large number and they had only one objective in mind, which was to commit homosexual rape against these heavenly visitors. According to the custom of the day, the visitors’ safety was the responsibility of Lot. He therefore shamefully and misguidedly offered his two virgin daughters in their place to the depraved crowd outside, which interested them not in the least. In fact, it only brought mockery and derision from the crowd, and they then began to overrun the home. But to their surprise and confusion, they were all struck blind by the angels, and, after a futile period of groping, they became weary and were stopped “cold in their tracks.” At this point and due to this miracle, if before Lot had only “suspected” the angelic nature of his visitors, he was probably now convinced of their pedigree. Genesis 19:12-14 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.” 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.
The message of coming destruction proclaimed by the angels to Lot was clear, God would destroy the city and Lot had better gather his family and flee. Lot had only his wife, his two daughters and his sons-in-law to convince of the seriousness of the situation. Now since his daughters were still virgins, the actual “taking of the brides” for the marriage ceremonies may not have yet taken place, yet, they were still considered as good as “married” to them. Nevertheless Lot went to his sons-in-law and told them of the coming doom, but they did not take Lot seriously and brushed him off as if he was joking. Their lack of faith in Lot, much of which may be attributed to his less-than-dedicated spiritual lifestyle, resulted in their demise at the hand of God. Genesis 19:15-22 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." 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.
In the early morning (dawn, before sunrise) the angels urged Lot that he and his family needed to exit Sodom immediately. But still Lot was hesitant and he lingered. And then he was granted even more mercy by God—the angels physically removed him, his wife and his daughters to a position outside the city.
Even though the Bible calls Lot a “righteous man,” it turns out that he was still unwilling to obey God and leave the city. As it turns out, it was primarily due to God’s increased mercy toward Lot that he was forcefully removed from the path of destruction. Often, this is how God must deal with a Christian who has wandered back into the world in order to deliver him from sure obliteration.
Outside the city the angels again gave Lot and his family clear instructions to follow. This time they were not only to flee the city, but they were to depart the plain outside the city by going into the mountains and, additionally, they were not to look back at Sodom. At this Lot implored the angels to permit him to go to the small town of Zoar. This is reminiscence of God’s merciful efforts to turn a Christian from worldliness, all the while the Christian endeavors to hang-on to a little of the world and its pleasures. Nevertheless, the angels allowed Lot to have his way, and he entered Zoar. Genesis 19:23-29 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 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. 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.
As soon as Lot entered Zoar, God utterly destroyed the cities of the plain, excepting Zoar, by raining down fire and brimstone.
Brimstone. The native element sulfur. This may also refer to lava or falling ash from a volcanic eruption which would emit stifling sulfurous gases, especially sulfur dioxide. . . . The word “brimstone” occurs 14 times in the Bible and is used in every instance to indicate punishment and devastation for sin, probably because of its brilliant flame. Evil men and their land would be covered with brimstone (Deut 29:23; Ezk 38:22; Job 18:15; Ps 11:6). In the day of God’s vengeance His breath would become as brimstone (Isa 30:33), as would the dust (Isa 43:9). Sodom (q.v.) and Gomorrah were thus destroyed (Gen 19:24; Lk 17:29). John saw idolaters and those who worshiped the Beast destroyed by fire and brimstone (Rev 9:17-18; 14:10; 19:20). The devil and the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev 21:8; 20:10). (Wycliffe Bible Dictionary)
God destroyed not only the cities, but every living thing that was upon the plain upon which the cities rested. But Lot’s wife, due to her lack of faith in God’s Word, looked back longingly to the worldliness that possessed her life in Sodom. This act of disbelief resulting in blatant disobedience to God’s instructions caused God to turn her into a pillar of salt. Jesus, while warning of His coming Kingdom on earth and reminding His disciples of the tragic consequences of loving things rather than His return, cautioned them to “remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
Abraham also stepped out into the open and looked upon the destruction that God brought upon the cities of the plain, and he knew that he had done everything possible to influence God to deliver Lot and his family. Genesis 19:30- 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. 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.
Leaving Zoar, Lot fled to a mountain cave. There his daughters made him drunk and enticed him to commit incest with them. The older daughter subsequently bore a son named Moab, and the younger . . . bore a son, Ben-Ammi. Thus began the Moabites and Ammonites, who became recurring thorns in Israel’s side. It was Moabite women who later seduced the men of Israel to commit immorality (Num. 25:1-3) and Ammonites who taught Israel the worship of Molech, including the sacrifice of children (1 Kgs. 11:33; Jer. 32:35). We know from 2 Peter 2:7, 8 that Lot was a just man, but because of his worldliness he lost his testimony (v. 14), his wife (v. 26), his sons-in-law, his friends, his communion (there was none in Sodom), his property (he went in rich but came out poor), his character (v. 35), his life’s work, and nearly his life (v. 22). The depraved behavior of his daughters shows that they had been influenced by Sodom’s vile standards. There is no escape (Heb. 2:3). (Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald) |