The fall of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the tragic events in the Bible, which occurred during the days of Abraham and Lot. God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, the city where Lots chose to live after parting ways with Abraham.
Though Abraham hinted at this, his prayer and bargain couldn’t stop the judgement due to the people’s sinful reputation.
Sadly, when we decide not to allow God to direct our lives, we often miss out on his blessings. Our God is a good father, and he calls us to trust in him while we wait for him to direct our path.
He does not withhold good things from his children, but his leading and his methods are often strange to us.
One of the most powerful examples of God’s wrath against unrepented and recalcitrant people is found in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
How does the Bible describe the Sodom and Gomorrah?
Sodom and Gomorrah were among the five admirable and fertile Jordan Valley. They were renowned for their increased knowledge, innovation, and sophistication.
But let’s see how the scripture further describes the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.
“And among the prophets of Jerusalem, I have seen something horrible; They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah. ” Jeremiah 23:14 NIV
Now, this was the sin of your Sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them, as you have seen. Ezekiel 16:49-50. NIV
That tells us how corrupt and unrepentant they were.
The Lukewarm Lots goes the wrong way
Lots is Abraham’s nephew. He is a man who chose by sight. He wrongfully chose Sodom and Gomorrah, and later Zoar as his abode. Genesis 13:10; 19:20-21.
Being full of the lust of the eyes, he unwisely separated himself from God’s blessing and pitched his tent with cursed and doomed people.
Even though Abraham rescues him and his household from slavery, he refuses to retrace his step back to God. Genesis 14:12.
Lots and his household were divinely moved out of the doomed city, but the wife chose to look back against divine instruction. And by so doing, she identified with the wickedness of the wicked cities. She paid dearly with her life the moment Lots and his family landed in Zoar, the place he preferred to the place proposed by the angel.
What is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah before God?
When the Lord noted the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah to be great and very grievous.
The Lord indeed confirmed the people’s unwillingness to obey. And that resulted in their destruction.
So, God’s protest against the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was a total waste. The Lord rained upon the city’s brimstone, and fire out of heaven and burnt to ashes.
Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible
Let’s take a closer look at the details of
Sodom and Gomorrah’s fall as we learn some lessons from her fall.
- Remember that God is merciful:
Our God is slow to anger. He never displays his wrath without severe warning. But, while He warns, don’t let us play on his intelligence. We can not avoid bearing the pain if he turns against us. So, we should be careful of what we do on earth, for he sees everything. - God deals with the wicked:
The eyes of the Lord can’t behold iniquity. Wickedness is a detestable thing to the Lord, and he deals severely with anybody who practices it. The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17NIV - Serve as a warning:
Anyone who wants to live recklessly should think of how God didn’t hesitate to reduce those cities into ashes. Genesis 19:23 Sodom and Gomorrah serve as a great example to those walking on the path of the ungodly. 2 Peter 2:6, 1Corthians 10:11 - He calls us into Righteousness:
Before he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he saved lots and his household. The Lord knows how to differentiate the righteous living from the bad and deals with either accordingly. 2 Peter 2:7-10, Malachi 3:18. - God is pleased when we intercede for others:
Abraham never rejoices in the fall of this city. Instead, he stands in the gap to pray for Sodom and Gomorrah to stop the Lord’s divine judgement. Unfortunately, God could not find one righteous soul in the land. Genesis 13:13 God is Honoured When We Trust Him. Abraham trusted God would keep his word if he saw two righteous people in the city. He also trusts his leadership. Lots snubs the angel’s order and prefers to trust his path. Psalms 37:5. - Obedience pays:
Lots’ wife refused to obey the word of the Lord. She loved Sodom and Gomorrah more than the command given to them. Her heart and desire were in the city, and she became a pillar of salt (Luke 17:32).
Conclusion
The Bible’s account of the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah is for us to read, learn, and use as a guide to our path away from destruction. God doesn’t take pleasure in his people’s death, yet he won’t tolerate waywardness and stubbornness. The only way out of this impending destruction is total repentance and accepting the Lordship of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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