GENESIS 19 – TRAGIC FREEDOM
The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were free to do as they pleased. When people choose to be free from God’s rule, the results are always tragic. Such is the case of Sodom and Gomorrah.
In Genesis 18:16-33, God informed Abraham of his intent to destroy Sodom, and, for Lot’s (his nephew) sake, he interceded. Based on this intercession we know that there were less than ten righteous people in Sodom. It is possible that the only righteous person in Sodom was Lot himself. 2 Peter 2:5-8
The freedom that the people practiced in Sodom was really bondage to sin. God judged them. We must be careful as individuals and as a Nation that the “freedom” we practice not end in bondage that leads to judgment. Let’s see how tragic this “freedom” really was. (I have given you two sets of words for your outline. I suggest you use one, beginning with the letter “D”, or the other in parenthesis.)
TRAGIC DESTINATION (MISSION) – Genesis 19:1-3
- Two angels came to Sodom to destroy it and to deliver Lot.
- Lot received them into his home.
TRAGIC DEBAUCHERY (PERVERSION) – Genesis 19:4-11
- The men of the city were demanding the men, who were angels, be brought out so they could sexually abuse them. Genesis 19:4-5
- Lot tried to appease them, even offering his virgin daughters as a substitute. Genesis 19:6-8
- Lot was rescued by the angels and the men were made blind so they could not see to carry out their plan. Genesis 19:9-11
TRAGIC DEMAND (WARNING) – Genesis 19:12-13
- The “freedom” of Sodom was leading to their destruction. The angels demanded that Lot and his family leave immediately. They were being warned.
TRAGIC DECISION (INTERPRETATION) – Genesis 19:14
- Lot’s son in-laws thought he was not serious.
- Many times, God’s prophets and preachers were not taken seriously when they issued a warning from God.
TRAGIC DELAY (RESISTANCE) – Genesis 19:15-22
- Lot resisted leaving. The angels forced him and his family to leave. Genesis 19:15-16
- Lot was still not completely cooperative and argued over where he would flee. Genesis 19:17-22
TRAGIC DESTRUCTION (JUDGMENT) – Genesis 19:23-29
- There was total destruction. Genesis 19:23-25
- Lot’s wife looked back was turned into a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26
- Abraham witnessed the destruction from a distance, and God delivered lot for Abraham’s sake. Genesis 19:27-29
TRAGIC DELUSION (PLAN) – Genesis 19:29
- The daughters of Lot devised a plan that would continue the family line. Tragically, that plan involved incest. Genesis 19:19-25
- They were deluded into thinking that this was a good solution to their problem. Isaiah 55:6-9
- They “did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25)
- The result was two families that became traditionally opposed to Israel, the Moabites and the Children of Ammon.
True freedom is never freedom to do as I please. True freedom is to do as God pleases. God is pleased when we find our freedom through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. John 8:31-36
