The Arrival of the Two Angels to Sodom to Announce the Coming Judgment to Lot and to Rescue Lot and His Family Out of Sodom
Genesis 19:1-14

Lesson 40

background notes

doctrinal points

1. God says that homosexuality is a sin.

2. Believers can become desensitized to sin.

practical application
1. Is your Christian life a joke?

 

questions
1. Where did the angels find Lot when they arrived in Sodom? What does this mean?

2. What was the bottom line here?

3. Why did the two angels who appeared as men come to Sodom?

4. Does God approve of homosexuality?

5. What incident in this account showed Lot’s desensitization to sin?

answers
1. They found Lot sitting in the gate. The gate of the city in Bible days was like the town hall. The elders of the city would sit there and determine city policies and judge community affairs. It appears that Lot had not only moved into Sodom, but that he was also active in its government.

2. The bottom line? Lot had not come to serve God and be a missionary to Sodom, but to selfishly get all that he could out of this worldly city.

3. For two reasons:
1) to confirm that the sins of Sodom were great and the judgment of God was just
2) to rescue Lot and his family in answer to Abraham’s prayers and concern.

4. No. This record shows God’s disapproval of homosexuality. See also Jude 7, Leviticus 20:13 and
Romans 1:26-27.

5. Lot’s desensitization to sin is demonstrated by the fact that he would give his daughters to the wicked men surrounding his house.

 

discuss / consider
1. Are you taking the biblical stand on homosexuality? How do you handle the arguments for it (e.g., it’s genetic, or it’s God’s fault, or it’s OK today)?
Review the references in answer #4 and also 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

2. In what ways have you become desensitized to sin? Consider what you are willing to tolerate now compared to a decade ago.

 

challenge
Is your Christian life a joke? Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, but his life and testimony were a joke to them. His message was ignored. Are you living a materialistic and pleasure-seeking lifestyle that would negate your testimony?

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memorize

• “...two angels came to Sodom...and Lot was sitting in the gate.” Genesis 19:1

• “The angels said, ‘We will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.’“ Genesis 19:13

• “Lot warned them, but to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.” Genesis 19:14