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Genesis 19:1-38

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God Rescues Lot 19 1 The q 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 bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, r please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night s and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, t “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 u And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? v Bring them out to us, that we w may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 x Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow y came to sojourn, and z he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with a blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door. 12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, b bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, c because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord , and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, d “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. 15 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.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, e the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. f Do not look back or stop anywhere in the g valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called h Zoar. 1 God Destroys Sodom 23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then i the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became j a pillar of salt. 27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had k stood before the Lord . 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. 29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God l remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived. Lot and His Daughters 30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and m lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So 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. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. 1 n He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. 1 o He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Genesis 19:1-38

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19 1 וַ֠יָּבֹאוּ שְׁנֵ֨י הַמַּלְאָכִ֤ים סְדֹ֙מָה֙ בָּעֶ֔רֶב וְל֖וֹט יֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּשַֽׁעַר ־ סְדֹ֑ם וַיַּרְא ־ לוֹט֙ וַיָּ֣קָם לִקְרָאתָ֔ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה ׃ 2 וַיֹּ֜אמֶר הִנֶּ֣ה נָּא ־ אֲדֹנַ֗י ס֣וּרוּ נָ֠א אֶל ־ בֵּ֨ית עַבְדְּכֶ֤ם וְלִ֙ינוּ֙ וְרַחֲצ֣וּ רַגְלֵיכֶ֔ם וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּ֖ם וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֣ם 1 לְדַרְכְּכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֹּ֔א כִּ֥י בָרְח֖וֹב נָלִֽין ׃ 3 וַיִּפְצַר ־ בָּ֣ם מְאֹ֔ד וַיָּסֻ֣רוּ אֵלָ֔יו וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל ־ בֵּית֑וֹ וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לָהֶם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וּמַצּ֥וֹת אָפָ֖ה וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ ׃ 4 טֶרֶם֮ יִשְׁכָּבוּ֒ וְאַנְשֵׁ֨י הָעִ֜יר אַנְשֵׁ֤י סְדֹם֙ נָסַ֣בּוּ עַל ־ הַבַּ֔יִת מִנַּ֖עַר וְעַד ־ זָקֵ֑ן כָּל ־ הָעָ֖ם מִקָּצֶֽה ׃ 5 וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ אֶל ־ לוֹט֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֔וֹ אַיֵּ֧ה הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים 1 אֲשֶׁר ־ בָּ֥אוּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ הַלָּ֑יְלָה הוֹצִיאֵ֣ם אֵלֵ֔ינוּ וְנֵדְעָ֖ה אֹתָֽם ׃ 6 וַיֵּצֵ֧א אֲלֵהֶ֛ם ל֖וֹט הַפֶּ֑תְחָה וְהַדֶּ֖לֶת סָגַ֥ר אַחֲרָֽיו ׃ 7 וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אַל ־ נָ֥א אַחַ֖י תָּרֵֽעוּ ׃ 8 הִנֵּה ־ נָ֨א לִ֜י שְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא ־ יָדְעוּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ אוֹצִֽיאָה ־ נָּ֤א אֶתְהֶן֙ אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וַעֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ן כַּטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם רַ֠ק לָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵל֙ אַל ־ תַּעֲשׂ֣וּ דָבָ֔ר כִּֽי ־ עַל ־ כֵּ֥ן בָּ֖אוּ בְּצֵ֥ל קֹרָתִֽי ׃ 9 וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ ׀ גֶּשׁ ־ הָ֗לְאָה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ הָאֶחָ֤ד בָּֽא ־ לָגוּר֙ וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֣ט שָׁפ֔וֹט עַתָּ֕ה נָרַ֥ע לְךָ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם וַיִּפְצְר֨וּ בָאִ֤ישׁ בְּלוֹט֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּגְּשׁ֖וּ לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר הַדָּֽלֶת ׃ 10 וַיִּשְׁלְח֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֶת ־ יָדָ֔ם וַיָּבִ֧יאוּ אֶת ־ ל֛וֹט אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הַבָּ֑יְתָה וְאֶת ־ הַדֶּ֖לֶת סָגָֽרוּ ׃ 11 וְֽאֶת ־ הָאֲנָשִׁ֞ים אֲשֶׁר ־ פֶּ֣תַח הַבַּ֗יִת הִכּוּ֙ בַּסַּנְוֵרִ֔ים מִקָּטֹ֖ן וְעַד ־ גָּד֑וֹל וַיִּלְא֖וּ לִמְצֹ֥א הַפָּֽתַח ׃ 12 וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ 1 הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים אֶל ־ ל֗וֹט עֹ֚ד מִֽי ־ לְךָ֣ פֹ֔ה חָתָן֙ וּבָנֶ֣יךָ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יךָ וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר ־ לְךָ֖ בָּעִ֑יר הוֹצֵ֖א מִן ־ הַמָּקֽוֹם ׃ 13 כִּֽי ־ מַשְׁחִתִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ אֶת ־ הַמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי ־ גָֽדְלָ֤ה צַעֲקָתָם֙ אֶת ־ פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֥נוּ יְהוָ֖ה לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ ׃ 14 וַיֵּצֵ֨א ל֜וֹט וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר ׀ אֶל ־ חֲתָנָ֣יו ׀ לֹקְחֵ֣י בְנֹתָ֗יו וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ ק֤וּמוּ צְּאוּ֙ מִן ־ הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה כִּֽי ־ מַשְׁחִ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֶת ־ הָעִ֑יר וַיְהִ֥י כִמְצַחֵ֖ק בְּעֵינֵ֥י חֲתָנָֽיו ׃ 15 וּכְמוֹ֙ הַשַּׁ֣חַר עָלָ֔ה וַיָּאִ֥יצוּ הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים בְּל֣וֹט לֵאמֹ֑ר קוּם֩ קַ֨ח אֶֽת ־ אִשְׁתְּךָ֜ וְאֶת ־ שְׁתֵּ֤י בְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ הַנִּמְצָאֹ֔ת פֶּן ־ תִּסָּפֶ֖ה בַּעֲוֺ֥ן הָעִֽיר ׃ 16 וַֽיִּתְמַהְמָ֓הּ ׀ וַיַּחֲזִ֨קוּ 1 הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים בְּיָד֣וֹ וּבְיַד ־ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וּבְיַד֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה עָלָ֑יו וַיֹּצִאֻ֥הוּ וַיַּנִּחֻ֖הוּ מִח֥וּץ לָעִֽיר ׃ 17 וַיְהִי֩ כְהוֹצִיאָ֨ם אֹתָ֜ם הַח֗וּצָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִמָּלֵ֣ט עַל ־ נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ אַל ־ תַּבִּ֣יט אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְאַֽל ־ תַּעֲמֹ֖ד בְּכָל ־ הַכִּכָּ֑ר הָהָ֥רָה הִמָּלֵ֖ט פֶּן ־ תִּסָּפֶֽה ׃ 18 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹט אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אַל ־ נָ֖א אֲדֹנָֽי ׃ 19 הִנֵּה ־ נָ֠א מָצָ֨א עַבְדְּךָ֣ חֵן֮ בְּעֵינֶיךָ֒ וַתַּגְדֵּ֣ל חַסְדְּךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ עִמָּדִ֔י לְהַחֲי֖וֹת אֶת ־ נַפְשִׁ֑י וְאָנֹכִ֗י לֹ֤א אוּכַל֙ לְהִמָּלֵ֣ט הָהָ֔רָה פֶּן ־ תִּדְבָּקַ֥נִי הָרָעָ֖ה וָמַֽתִּי ׃ 20 הִנֵּה ־ נָ֠א הָעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֧את קְרֹבָ֛ה לָנ֥וּס שָׁ֖מָּה וְהִ֣יא מִצְעָ֑ר אִמָּלְטָ֨ה נָּ֜א שָׁ֗מָּה הֲלֹ֥א מִצְעָ֛ר הִ֖וא וּתְחִ֥י נַפְשִֽׁי ׃ 21 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ נָשָׂ֣אתִי פָנֶ֔יךָ גַּ֖ם לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י הָפְכִּ֥י אֶת ־ הָעִ֖יר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ ׃ 22 מַהֵר֙ הִמָּלֵ֣ט שָׁ֔מָּה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אוּכַל֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת דָּבָ֔ר עַד ־ בֹּאֲךָ֖ שָׁ֑מָּה עַל ־ כֵּ֛ן קָרָ֥א שֵׁם ־ הָעִ֖יר צֽוֹעַר ׃ 23 הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ יָצָ֣א עַל ־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וְל֖וֹט בָּ֥א צֹֽעֲרָה ׃ 24 וַֽיהוָ֗ה הִמְטִ֧יר עַל ־ סְדֹ֛ם וְעַל ־ עֲמֹרָ֖ה גָּפְרִ֣ית וָאֵ֑שׁ מֵאֵ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה מִן ־ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם ׃ 25 וַֽיַּהֲפֹךְ֙ אֶת ־ הֶעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔ל וְאֵ֖ת כָּל ־ הַכִּכָּ֑ר וְאֵת֙ כָּל ־ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הֶעָרִ֔ים וְצֶ֖מַח הָאֲדָמָֽה ׃ 26 וַתַּבֵּ֥ט אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מֵאַחֲרָ֑יו וַתְּהִ֖י נְצִ֥יב מֶֽלַח ׃ 27 וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּבֹּ֑קֶר אֶל ־ הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר ־ עָ֥מַד שָׁ֖ם אֶת ־ פְּנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה ׃ 28 וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף עַל ־ פְּנֵ֤י סְדֹם֙ וַעֲמֹרָ֔ה וְעַֽל ־ כָּל ־ פְּנֵ֖י אֶ֣רֶץ הַכִּכָּ֑ר וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤ה עָלָה֙ קִיטֹ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ כְּקִיטֹ֖ר הַכִּבְשָֽׁן ׃ 29 וַיְהִ֗י בְּשַׁחֵ֤ת אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת ־ עָרֵ֣י הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַיִּזְכֹּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת ־ אַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיְשַׁלַּ֤ח אֶת ־ לוֹט֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָ֔ה בַּהֲפֹךְ֙ אֶת ־ הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר ־ יָשַׁ֥ב בָּהֵ֖ן לֽוֹט ׃ 30 וַיַּעַל֩ ל֨וֹט מִצּ֜וֹעַר וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב בָּהָ֗ר וּשְׁתֵּ֤י בְנֹתָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י יָרֵ֖א לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בְּצ֑וֹעַר וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה ה֖וּא וּשְׁתֵּ֥י בְנֹתָֽיו ׃ 31 וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הַבְּכִירָ֛ה אֶל ־ הַצְּעִירָ֖ה אָבִ֣ינוּ זָקֵ֑ן וְאִ֨ישׁ אֵ֤ין בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ לָב֣וֹא עָלֵ֔ינוּ כְּדֶ֖רֶךְ כָּל ־ הָאָֽרֶץ ׃ 32 לְכָ֨ה נַשְׁקֶ֧ה אֶת ־ אָבִ֛ינוּ יַ֖יִן וְנִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה עִמּ֑וֹ וּנְחַיֶּ֥ה מֵאָבִ֖ינוּ זָֽרַע ׃ 33 וַתַּשְׁקֶ֧יןָ אֶת ־ אֲבִיהֶ֛ן יַ֖יִן בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֑וּא וַתָּבֹ֤א הַבְּכִירָה֙ וַתִּשְׁכַּ֣ב אֶת ־ אָבִ֔יהָ וְלֹֽא ־ יָדַ֥ע בְּשִׁכְבָ֖הּ וּבְקׄוּמָֽהּ 1 ׃ 34 וַֽיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַתֹּ֤אמֶר הַבְּכִירָה֙ אֶל ־ הַצְּעִירָ֔ה הֵן ־ שָׁכַ֥בְתִּי אֶ֖מֶשׁ אֶת ־ אָבִ֑י נַשְׁקֶ֨נּוּ יַ֜יִן גַּם ־ הַלַּ֗יְלָה וּבֹ֙אִי֙ שִׁכְבִ֣י עִמּ֔וֹ וּנְחַיֶּ֥ה מֵאָבִ֖ינוּ זָֽרַע ׃ 35 וַתַּשְׁקֶ֜יןָ גַּ֣ם בַּלַּ֧יְלָה הַה֛וּא אֶת ־ אֲבִיהֶ֖ן יָ֑יִן וַתָּ֤קָם הַצְּעִירָה֙ וַתִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עִמּ֔וֹ וְלֹֽא ־ יָדַ֥ע בְּשִׁכְבָ֖הּ וּבְקֻמָֽהּ ׃ 36 וַֽתַּהֲרֶ֛יןָ שְׁתֵּ֥י בְנֽוֹת ־ ל֖וֹט מֵאֲבִיהֶֽן ׃ 37 וַתֵּ֤לֶד הַבְּכִירָה֙ בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ מוֹאָ֑ב ה֥וּא אֲבִֽי ־ מוֹאָ֖ב עַד ־ הַיּֽוֹם ׃ 38 וְהַצְּעִירָ֤ה גַם ־ הִוא֙ יָ֣לְדָה בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן ־ עַמִּ֑י ה֛וּא אֲבִ֥י בְנֵֽי ־ עַמּ֖וֹן עַד ־ הַיּֽוֹם ׃ ס

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sermon outline

Lot is rescued on the terrible day of the LORD Intro The problem of evil. The Bible's answer: the day of the LORD. Be assured, it is coming. By now we've had the flood, the tower of Babel, the destruction of Sodom and the cross of Jesus. Picks up from chapter 18 two weeks ago. Central theme of hospitality and our treatment of our fellow humans. Above all this passage teaches us of the 'day of the LORD'; terrible and final in judgement; glorious and unstoppable in rescue. 1. Sodom's men want to abuse their guests, v1-11 Hospitality theme again (cf chapter 18): His 'unleavened bread' in contrast to the feast from Abraham. Things are upside down in Sodom. Usually a friendly bed in a home would be preferred to the square. We don't want to be preoccupied by sin, but these kinds of tragic episodes help us be wiser about it. How could this happen? Pride, throwing off restrain, social programming of evil. Recap the roots of Sodom; pride. Natural blessing. Throwing off restrain. Gangland? cf Iliad? cf Ezekiel 16.49-50; Ezekiel reference to the sin of Sodom, pride. Based on its natural resources [cf parallels today]. And cf the point in Ezekiel in judgement on Egypt, because Pharoah got to thinking and taking credit himself for the nile. 'Both young and son'; ie everybody. Generational. 'To the last man'. It has become normalised. And they collectively insist on perpetuating and protecting this false moral compass. cf examples of this. They hate him for appealing to right and wrong; that makes him self-righteous in their eyes. Whether they ever accepted him or not before, they revert to their dislike of him as a foreigner. Lot trying to save face (fear of man) before the gang of men, by offering his daughters? His own moral compass gone askew. Hospitality and saving face placed above care for his own daughters. He opts for a way out that can never be any good. cf situational ethics. Sodom has, at least for a moment, taken residence in Lot's soul. Lot has an identity issue. Abraham had appealed to their kinship earlier, yet Lot has chosen these guys. NB sitting 'in the gate' of the city shows he is integrated, perhaps even a civic leader, there. The Sodom community had little regard for Lot, whether or not he was an elder. cf his sons in law. Lot opposes them, which is good. But he calls them brothers, perhaps trying to calm things down. They do not treat him in any way like a brother. These are the people he left Abraham for. In what sense is Lot 'righteous'? Righteous in respect/relative to Sodom? In his care for the stranger/alien? Righteous because he was linked to Abraham. And cowardly though he seems, he was 'grieved' by Sodom and trying to live differently there in the midst, however clumsily. We must remember this: Lot too was saved. He was declared righteous, by being part of Abraham's blessing. We will meet him in the Kingdom. Cowards, naieve, foolish, people like he and us will be saved by calling on Jesus' name. 'Door', shutting the door etc. Symbolic of the line between the wicked and the righteous. Blindness wasn't punitive, but defensive, to enable escape. Application directions Characters in Proverbs. Simple! Lacks sense! So vulnerable! A danger for those growing up in Christian homes; a naievete. Courage must be learned. By being in situations which require courage. cf Lot's situational ethics. 2 Peter 2.4-10 - righteous Lot, greatly distressed by their conduct cf Pilate going in and out before the hostile crowd. Similar dramatic/literary effect of Lot going in and out of his house. Jesus' teaching and claims have further enraged the crowds. Except those inside Lot's house would pass judgement on the crowd. But Jesus would be given over to die in their hands. And the 'he wants to play judge' offense is like the 'we have no king but caesar'. 2. Lot and his daughters are rescued, but Sodom is destroyed v12-29 v13 'outcry' again. The angels are agents of God's destruction and hence his sparing. The attractive power of Sodom! Battle of wills in leaving Sodom, lots of verbs of will /desire. cf Getting a reluctant child to leave the house, you end up having to do everything for them. The sons in law think he's joking; it's a joke. cf the laughter theme again; God's coming plans are received with laughter. Sons in law are as blind to what's happening as the other men in the city. They physically take hold of Lot and family and lead them out. Not just that God makes it possible for us to be saved, but that he saves us. The Spirit takes a hold of us and leads us to Jesus, who brings us to the Father. cf promise in Gen 12; it all must be interpreted from there; Lot is blessed because of Abraham. His enemies cursed. Therefore be confident that all the families will be blessed. And that those who curse the son of man will be utterly destroyed. Abraham's intercession is honoured, even for reluctant Lot, since Zoar is spared. There are allusions in the conversation between Lot and the angel, to Abraham and YHWH. Smoke and fire, sulfur etc God's divine presence to judge and destroy. De-create. The fertile resources now become tools of destruction. v24 rained down ...from the heavens. cf the flood deluge. Coated in salt? A terrible reminder and lesson. Her heart, affections, were for Sodom. Why we believe in preaching to the heart. Abraham simply awakes to find this. v27 full circle. Abraham stood and looked. As he did in chapter 18 , start and 18.16-33. Did he think of Lot? The LORD 'remembered' Abraham, and so saved Lot. That's the connection. 'Remembered' v29, covenant loyalty of YHWH. cf 'God remembered Noah'. Not that he had forgotten, but that now He activates the next step in his prior covenant commitment. And because Abraham is 'remembered', Lot is delivered. 19.29 conclusion of destruction of Sodom repeats 'where Lot had lived'; alluding to Gen 13 when they separated. Application directions NB here at least there is a clear and definitive judgement. In Judges 19 , there isn't. Sometimes, cf Psalm 88 , there doesn't appear to be any answer from heaven. Jesus on the cross. Our ultimate comfort lies in the definitive judgement to come. cf luke 17.26-30 Jesus wants us to learn from Noah and Lot. People will be utterly indifferent to the idea of coming judgement; 'blindness'. And then the Son of Man will appear. The reality of eternal torment in hell; and God praised for his justice. 2 Peter 2.4-10 again; the LORD knows how to rescue his people from trials. The day of the LORD will come and we will be utterly secure. 4. Lot's legacy is shameful, v30-38 He goes and lives in a cave with his daughters; a response to trauma and abuse? "Let me just keep me and my children safe. People are dangerous." Actually, it's what's within us that is dangerous. He fears a second Sodom. Fear of man again. Irony, it is actually the daughters who will end up exploiting their father. Lot's humiliation cf Noah. But Lot seems hapless. He is sexually exploited. Sets up Ammon/Moab. Future heirs contrast - to end of chapter 19 . I.e., Isaac on the one hand; Moab/Ammon on the other. Glory of God: He indeed judges, terribly, quickly. He indeed shows mercy, sovereignly, according to the power of his promise. FCF: Inhospitality/shameful treatment of fellow man; pride in casting off restrain and laughing at the word of God. Cowardice. The use and abuse of our fellow man. Note classic 'male' and 'female' ways to mistreat; one overt, physical, intimidatory; the other manipulative, scheming. Person of Jesus: He is the merciful rescuer. He comes to rescue us as we actually are, not after we've solved ourselves. He is the final messenger, the true Son, of coming rescue and judgement. 'Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!' Work of Jesus: He becomes the abused, exploited one. Abused by his brothers to death. He bears the dark and terrible day of the LORD, and he is destroyed. He is raised as a new man and thus God's righteous new creation Kingdom is established. Union with Jesus. God 'remembers' his new covenant and declares us righteous, loves us as dear children. We, like all saints before us, and as 2 Peter 2 says, await a new heavens and a new earth, the home of righteousness. Wrap-up: The problem of evil? The day of the LORD. It has already come, and be assured, it is coming.

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