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PAGE 14
Sodom & Gomorrah
The Wrath of God
So the two angelic men had reached out to grab Lot, and pulled him back into the house. After the two angels had retrieved Lot, they then struck the men of Sodom who were trying to break down Lot's house door with blindness.
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 19:1-25)
Short Recap
In the last article, we'd discovered just how personal Abraham's relationship was with the Lord. For we'd learned just how much God thought of Abraham and their relationship:
"Shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him." -- (Genesis 18:17-20)
And because of this very personal relationship, we'd also seen how Abraham was able to use this special connection with the Lord when it came to trying to bargain for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Now, keep in mind that Abraham had tried his best to give the Lord a reason when it came to sparing the two cities.
And know that Abraham's efforts weren't in vain, for the Sacred Record revealed many times during their exchange that the Lord had agreed to spare the two cities if they had met Abraham's criteria for saving them.
However, that may have been, the Sacred Record has now turned our attention towards the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, for we find that two of the three angelic men who had visited Abraham had finally arrived at the city known as Sodom.
Also, note that it was in the evening when they approached the city gate. Note that Abraham's nephew Lot was also present. When he saw the two men approaching, he immediately got up and went over to greet them: "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning," Lot would say as he bowed before them.
But one of the angelic men responded by saying, "No, we will spend the night in the square." But the Sacred Record reveals that Lot would be persistent in his request, so much so that the angelic men would finally agree to go back to his house.
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Bring Out those Men!
Now it would be at this time that Lot would prepare a meal for the two, once they made it back to where he'd lived. After Lot's angelic guest had eaten their meal, a short while later, we learn that the Sacred Record would inform us that the men of Sodom, both young and old, had come from every part of the city and surrounded Lot's house: "Where are the men who came and went with you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them," The men of Sodom demanded, as they shouted out to Lot.
Now, after hearing the men of Sodom's demands, Lot gets very worried, and decides to go outside and have a talk with them: "No my friends, don't do this wicked thing. Look I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." -- Genesis 19:7,8
Now, before we go further, understand that Lot was seen by the men of Sodom as a foreigner when he came to their land. Now I'm simply pointing this out, because there are a couple of different viewpoints that are taught when it comes to this account, in regards to Lot's position, from within the city?
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Did Lot Have A Position of Authority?
And although some would assume that Lot didn't hold or possess any type of position or power within the city. I mean, after all, if one were to humble themselves, and be honest and open-minded, could you rule out the possibility that Lot could have held some ranking position from within the city of Sodom? Could it be that too far-fetched, for Lot to have been some city official, or judge?
Have we so soon forgotten that when Lot had settled within the land, he was a very wealthy man? And on top of that, have we also forgotten that sometime before this event, Abraham had once saved the king of Sodom and his allies from the Chedorlaomer rebellion? A rebellion that had almost destroyed the Sodom kingdom. Could it also be possible, that the Sodom king would have rewarded Lot in some way, because of his Abraham's (who was his uncle) significant contribution to their kingdom?
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This Information Won't Matter to Most...?
And if this is the case, could this also be the reason why he'd sat at the gate of the city? Now I'm presenting this question in such a way because during those days of Sodom, city officials, or judges, were known to have their posts positioned at the city gate entrance. I mean, after all, it's something to think about and seriously consider.
And obviously, to most, this little bit of information won't matter to them. But to those of you who are willing to go the extra mile, who are eager to go beyond Lot's position from within the city of Sodom, it is something to think seriously about, for it would also shed some insight into why Lot and his wife, heck his family overall, were so reluctant to leave.
But I digressed...
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Men of Sodom Struck with Blindness?
However, that may have been, but know that the men of Sodom were offended by Lot's proposition. For they responded by angrily saying, as they pressed forth to break down Lot's house door: "Get out of our way, this fellow came here as a foreigner and now he wants to play the judge! We'll treat you worse than them."
So, after hearing this, the two angelic men, whom the men of Sodom were after, reached out to grab Lot back into the house. And after the two angels had retrieved Lot, they then turned their attention to the men of Sodom, and upon doing so, they struck the men of Sodom with blindness, as they were trying to break down Lot's house door:
"Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door." -- Genesis 19:11
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Lot Take Your Family and Leave!
And after the two angels had struck the men of Sodom with blindness, they then turned to Lot. They asked him a question, and then told him: "Do you have anyone else here, sons-in-law, sons, or daughters, or anyone else in the city that belongs to you? Get out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy this city." The two angels warned Lot.
So Lot took heed to what the angels had said to him, and he headed out from the house to go and find his future son-in-laws who'd pledged to marry his daughters. And when Lot had seen them, he warned them: "Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is going to destroy the city!" But know that his future son-in-laws did not take Lot seriously, for they thought that he was joking.
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Why Didn't They Take Lot Seriously?
And you know, I often think about the reactions from Lot's sons-in-law whenever I go through this account, for one could easily presume that it's very well possible that Lot wasn't living a holy life. Therefore, when it came to his future sons-in-law, considering how Lot claimed to have heard from God, they simply didn't believe him. But this time around, they should have believed Lot, but unfortunately for them, they didn't.
However, when Lot had finally returned to his house, the two angels insisted that Lot and his two daughters, along with his wife, would have to leave at once or they would be destroyed, along with the cities. But Lot would hesitate, and after he had shown that he was reluctant to go, the two angels would grab Lot's hand and the hands of his wife and their two daughters. They began to lead them safely out of the city. And one can't help but wonder if it hadn't been for Abraham and his relationship with the Lord, the God that Abraham served, wouldn't have been so merciful towards Lot and his family.
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Lot's Proposition - For the Angels
However, that may have been, know that it would be at this particular time that the angels would begin yelling out to Lot and his family: "Flee for your lives! Don't look back and don't stop anywhere in the plane! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"
But surprisingly, once again, Lot would hesitate as he'd tried to bargain and plead -- for some new instructions from the angels: "No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. Look, here is a town nearby that's small enough to run to. Let me flee to it; it's tiny, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."
And after hearing what Lot had to say, the two angels would surprisingly grant Lot's request: "Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it." Know that the small town that Lot had spoken of, and had requested to seek refuge at, was called Zoar, and the name meant "a little one."
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
We know that Lot and his family were spared (thanks to his uncle Abraham) from the wrath of God, as He judged Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. In the following article, we'll see if Lot and his family would take full advantage of the mercy that had been shown to them by the Almighty.
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
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