THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM. -- Genesis 19:15-26. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Escape for thy life._ -- Genesis 19:17. TIME. --About B. C. 1894. PLACE. --Sodom and Gomorrah, in the Plain of Jordan. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 18:23-33; Genesis 19:1-14; Luke 17:28-32; Deuteronomy 29:22-27. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. _F... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE HE LINGERED. The crisis was imminent, and he seemed almost paralyzed, hence the "men" found it needful to hurry him, his wife, and two daughters who were unmarried and dwelt under his roof, by taking them by the hand and leading them. It is possible that he "lingered" in affectionate and usel... [ Continue Reading ]
ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE. These words indicate the imminence and dreadful character of the danger. Utter destruction awaits all in the wicked city. There is no escape but in flight. The storm of destruction would sweep over the whole plain, and there would be no safety anywhere within its borders. All w... [ Continue Reading ]
OH, NOT SO, MY LORD. We have here. demonstration that the faith of Lot was far less trusting than that of Abraham. Though God had sent his ministers to warn and rescue him, yet he still feared to follow the directions that were given him, and proposes, instead of the way pointed out, an expedient o... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, NOW, THIS CITY IN NEAR TO FLEE UNTO, AND IT IS. LITTLE ONE. By "this city" he means Zoar, before called Bela, but now taking the name of Zoar, which means "littleness," from the plea of Lot that it was. "little one," and hence might be exempted from destruction. Though Zoar may have been in... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE,. HAVE ACCEPTED THEE CONCERNING THIS THING ALSO. The Lord was pleased to grant his request. The intercession of Lot caused the safety of Zoar. On more than one occasion when he had determined to execute vengeance on Israel for its perverseness, the intercessions of Moses are represented as havi... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TILL THOU BE COME THITHER. These heavenly messengers had, then, strict charge to insure the safety of Lot, probably on account of the prayers of Abraham more than his own deserts, and the purposes of divine judgment were necessarily delayed until he had found refuge. The very pr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUN WAS RISEN UPON THE EARTH WHEN LOT ENTERED ZOAR. The morning was just beginning to dawn when he was led out of Sodom, and it was probably two hours after, at sunrise, that he entered Zoar. It could not have been but. few miles distant. Most writers have supposed it to be at the extreme south... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE DOOM OF SODOM. 24. THE LORD RAINED.. BRIMSTONE AND FIRE. Not only these cities, but as we learn from Deuteronomy 29:23, Admah and Zeboim, all the five cities of the plain except Zoar, were submerged by fire. The five cities are named in, Genesis 14:2. Bush holds that brimstone and fire is u... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE OVERTHREW THOSE CITIES AND ALL THE PLAIN. This language seems to point out physical changes in the plain, possibly its depression by earthquake forces, at the time of the catastrophe, until it was overflowed by the waters of the lake. The vicinity has been, in later periods, disturbed by ear... [ Continue Reading ]
III. LOOKING BACK. 26. BUT HIS WIFE LOOKED BACK FROM BEHIND HIM. The whole family had been commanded not to look behind them. To do so was disobedience to God. Instead of pressing forward with. steady aim in the way that Lot was leading, she vacillated, longed to return, and finally disobeyed the... [ Continue Reading ]