Topic: Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were first mentioned in Genesis 10:19. Abram, and his nephew Lot, had been traveling together, but their group had gotten too big, “…so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together…” (Genesis 13:6). They decided to separate into two different groups. Lot chose to settle near the town of Sodom.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and several of the surrounding cities, were so sinful that God decided to destroy them (Genesis 18:20-21). Abraham interceded for the people of the two cities, motivated additionally because his nephew, Lot, lived there. The Bible tells us that, even with all his failings, Lot was a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7-8). Abraham pleaded with the Lord, knowing His mercy and goodness (Genesis 18:25). The Lord finally said that the cities would be spared if ten righteous people could be found there (Genesis 18:33). However, there were not even ten righteous in that evil city.

Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah:

(1) God will judge those who reject Him.

(2) Jesus told His disciples that the Day of Judgment would be worse for the people who rejected His message than it was for Sodom and Gomorrah (Matthew 10:15, 11:23-24)

(3) Lot allowed himself to be influenced by the inhabitants of Sodom more than he influenced them.

(4) Lot had been slow to speak up for God, if he spoke up for Him at all, so when he finally spoke up, no one took him seriously (Genesis 19:9, 14).

(5) Lot knew early on that Sodom was a sinful city.

- Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12),

- Lot “dwelt in Sodom” (Genesis 14:12),

- Lot lived in the city and “sat in the gate of Sodom” (Genesis 19:1).

If we dabble with sin, we are often pulled into it a little at a time, without noticing until we are fully involved. The safest way to avoid sin is to stay far from its tempting influence.

Learn the lessons from Sodom!

See you Sunday,

Dr. Scott Kallem