Avoiding/Ignoring Sin’s Consequences

(Gen. 19:12-17, 23-29)

Sodom’s wickedness

What was Sodom’s wickedness?

“Unnatural lust” (Rom. 1:26-27, “Gay pride” (Isa. 3:8-9), Violence, Injustice (see
Ezek. 16:49)

About Homosexuality: Gen. 19 shows that God abhors homosexual rape

and God brought his wrath on the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for
committing this sin; in Lev. 18-20 the 'holy' or 'purity' laws of ancient Israel
are written and they condemn idolatrous homosexual acts along with
consensual homosexual acts; 1 Cor. 6:9-10 and 1 Tim. 1:9-10 separate
idolatry from sodomy, which further suggests that there is a distinction
between the two types of homosexual activity; Rom.1:18-32 addresses all
types of homosexual activity and suggests that homosexuality is a result of
idolatry and that God did not intend for homosexuality in his creation, rather
it came about as a result of human sin; and finally, Gen. 1-2, Mark 10:6-8,
and Eph 5:21-33 show that God instituted heterosexual marriage and that
this marriage is a blessing from God but none of these passages, nor any
found in the Bible promote homosexual unions or marriage, and because
these unions are not allowed, no homosexual activity is justified by the Bible.

Sodom’s wickedness and subsequent destruction was so renowned it was

commonplace for Sodom to be used as a comparison for the sinfulness of Israel
and other nations (cf. Ezek. 16:49-50; Deut. 32:32; Is. 1:10; Jer. 23:14). The
memory of their destruction provide a picture of God’s judgment (Is. 13:10; Jer.
49:18; Matt. 10:14-15; 11:23-24) and made them an example to be avoided (Deut.
29:23-25; 2 Pet 2:6).

But thankfully, where sin abounds, God’s grace is multiplied (Rom. 5:20)

God’s compassion led to a forceful intervention to overcome Lot’s

hesitation (Gen. 19:16)

Perhaps Abraham’s prayers had a bearing on God’s compassion? (Gen.

19:27- 29)

God considered Lot a “righteous man” (2 Pe. 2:6-8)

Godly friends/family/mentors are important

When Lot was with Abraham he was strong but when he was left to make his own
decisions, he was not wise and did not make godly decisions.

God does not ignore the cries of those suffering or distressed by injustice. God will
respond.
But living in an unrighteous culture (as in Egypt or Sodom) dulls our own sense of
righteousness

1. Lot looked toward Sodom (Gen. 13:10).

2. He journeyed toward Sodom (Gen. 13:11).
3. He pitched his tent toward Sodom (Gen. 13:12).
4. He dwelt in Sodom (Gen. 14:12).
5. He sat in the gate of Sodom, holding a position of authority (Gen. 19:1).
6. He called the wicked men of Sodom “brethren” (Gen. 19:7).
“Lot followed the path of friendship with the world (James 4:4), then love of the
world (1 John 2:15-16), then conformity to the world (Rom. 12:2), and finally,
judgment with the world (1 Cor. 11:32)” (Wiersbe).

And a divided heart, can be our ruin (consider Lot’s wife, Gen. 19:26, Luke
17:32)

Are you ready to leave the things of this world to respond to God’s call to
come out of it?

Why stay attached to that which is marked for destruction?

Lot erred by following the lust of his eyes (Gen. 13:10). Lot should have judged
on the basis of spiritual judgment and looked at things through God’s eyes and
fled from Sodom because of its wickedness (Gen. 13:13), but instead he judged
on the basis of his carnal nature. (See Gal. 5:16-17).

Those Lot tried to warn laughed

May people do not believe in the idea of absolute right and wrongs, and therefore
they do not acknowledge the existence of sin. For such relativists, what we call
sin is nothing more than just another lifestyle choice. (Isa. 3:9; 1 Tim. 6:5)

“What is now called the new morality is nothing more than the old immorality.”

Being part of an unrighteous culture diminishes our reputation and impedes our
Christian witness (Gen. 19:14)

We are called to separate ourselves from evil. (Ps 1:1 & 2; 26: 4 & 5; 94:
20 & 21; Prov. 4: 14 & 15; 9:6; Jer. 15:17; Eph. 5:7, 11-12; 1 Cor. 5:9-11;
10:21; 2 Cor. 6: 14-18; 2 Thess. 3:6 & 14; 2 Tim. 3:5; 2 John 1:10-11; Rev.
18:4)