The Destruction of the Cities of the Plain
When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord told him He was going to destroy Sodom. Abraham pleaded for the lives of the people in the city by asking Him if He will save them if 50 righteous people are found in the city. God answered that they would be spared if 50 are found. Abraham asked him several times more each time lowering the amount until he gets to 10. Each time God replies He will spare the city.
Two angels are sent to retrieve Lot and his family before the destruction is started. Lot meets them at the gate and, thinking they are men, brings them into his home where he feeds them and their feet are washed. The men of the city have seen them and want to have sex with them. Genesis 19:4-8 - (4) But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: (5) And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. (6) And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him. (7) And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. (8) Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. This passage can be confusing because we think of "know" as "familiar with" (ex. I know her name). By using this meaning it is difficult to understand why Lot did not want the men of the city to talk to his visitors and why he thought it was evil to do so. However, "know" here means "to have sex with". This is explained in verse 8 when Lot offers his daughters who "have not known man". In other words, they were virgins.
After Lot is pulled back inside he is told to go into the city and tell his sons-in-law and his daughters that the city was going to be destroyed and they need to leave immediately. Unfortunately they did not believe him and they perished in the fire.
The next morning the angels take him, his wife, and daughters out of the city. They are told to go to the mountains but Lot is afraid and begs to stay in the little city of Zoar that sits in the middle of the 5 cities of the plain. The angels agreed and the little city is spared from the fire and brimstone that God rained down upon the other four cities because their wickedness had become so great. They are also told not to look back. Upon entering the city Lot's wife looks back and turns into a pillar of salt. When God tells us to do something we need to follow His instructions exactly otherwise there can be serious consequences. Also, when He is leading us out of a bad situation we do not need to look back. We need to keep our eyes straight ahead.
We are not told how long Lot and his daughters stayed in Zoar or why they became fearful and fled to the mountains. While they are in the mountains the daughters assume they are the only people on the earth so instead of asking God for guidance, they decide to repopulate their world with their father. Moab, father of the Moabites, was born to the oldest daughter and Benammi, father of the Ammonites, was born to the younger daughter. The Moabites and Ammonites worshipped many gods and caused the Israelites distress which we will see later on.
No matter how bleak our situation seems we should always pray and ask our Heavenly Father how He wants us to handle the issue. We can never go wrong when we follow Him. Keep your eyes on the glorious kingdom of Heaven as you journey through this life.
Leigh
Two angels are sent to retrieve Lot and his family before the destruction is started. Lot meets them at the gate and, thinking they are men, brings them into his home where he feeds them and their feet are washed. The men of the city have seen them and want to have sex with them. Genesis 19:4-8 - (4) But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: (5) And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. (6) And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him. (7) And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. (8) Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. This passage can be confusing because we think of "know" as "familiar with" (ex. I know her name). By using this meaning it is difficult to understand why Lot did not want the men of the city to talk to his visitors and why he thought it was evil to do so. However, "know" here means "to have sex with". This is explained in verse 8 when Lot offers his daughters who "have not known man". In other words, they were virgins.
After Lot is pulled back inside he is told to go into the city and tell his sons-in-law and his daughters that the city was going to be destroyed and they need to leave immediately. Unfortunately they did not believe him and they perished in the fire.
The next morning the angels take him, his wife, and daughters out of the city. They are told to go to the mountains but Lot is afraid and begs to stay in the little city of Zoar that sits in the middle of the 5 cities of the plain. The angels agreed and the little city is spared from the fire and brimstone that God rained down upon the other four cities because their wickedness had become so great. They are also told not to look back. Upon entering the city Lot's wife looks back and turns into a pillar of salt. When God tells us to do something we need to follow His instructions exactly otherwise there can be serious consequences. Also, when He is leading us out of a bad situation we do not need to look back. We need to keep our eyes straight ahead.
We are not told how long Lot and his daughters stayed in Zoar or why they became fearful and fled to the mountains. While they are in the mountains the daughters assume they are the only people on the earth so instead of asking God for guidance, they decide to repopulate their world with their father. Moab, father of the Moabites, was born to the oldest daughter and Benammi, father of the Ammonites, was born to the younger daughter. The Moabites and Ammonites worshipped many gods and caused the Israelites distress which we will see later on.
No matter how bleak our situation seems we should always pray and ask our Heavenly Father how He wants us to handle the issue. We can never go wrong when we follow Him. Keep your eyes on the glorious kingdom of Heaven as you journey through this life.
Leigh