LOT’S DELIVERANCE FROM SODOM
Genesis 19: 27: And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29: And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
Our subject is “Lot’s Deliverance from Sodom.” The main lesson we learn from this passage is that God has a people in this sin-cursed world and for their sakes, God will not destroy this world until he calls each one out by his sovereign grace.
SODOM AND THE PRESENT WORLD
Sodom was like the present world in which we live, full of vile, God-hating sinners. Among their many sins, they had legalized homosexuality. It was commonly practiced and condoned among young and the old. Many in our day have a tendency to be overly harsh toward sodomites, especially religious folks. Homosexuality is one of the few sins that does not trouble most who call themselves Christians. Therefore, that is one reason it is spoken of so harshly.
But most are guilty of the sin which homosexuality typifies. This present world has more of these other vile sinners than it does sodomites. But we do not hear people speaking as harshly against this first vile sin. This is the sin which leads to homosexuality. What on earth could it be? God tells us plainly in Romans 1. They “changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another...” (Ro 1:25-27)
God did not put either vile sin in man’s heart. Out of the lust of his own heart, man changed the spiritual use God ordained and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. Likewise, out of the lust of his own heart man also changed the natural use, when God gave them up in reprobation.
Changing the truth of God into a lie is a vile sin like homosexuality. A man worshipping his own will and works is as vile as a man lusting after another man; both are the lusts of man; both are lusting toward man’s own flesh; both are against God; and neither produces children or spiritual fruit of any kind.
In fact, the first ought to be considered to be even worse. So when we look at Sodom—and this present world full of sodomites—remember this world is full of this other vile sin as well, though we hear little about spiritual sodomy, wherein man worships his own will and works rather than submitting to the sovereign will and grace of God.
What was Lot doing when he turned his back on God’s altar and moved to Sodom to serve himself with Sodom’s well-watered fields? Was it not very close to worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator? It is certainly what you and I—and every child of God—did the whole time we were dead in sins. We worshipped and served our belly more than God. So why did God not give Lot up to reprobation? Why did God not destroy Lot in Sodom with the others? Why did God not do the same with us? There is only one answer, God’s grace!
By grace, before Lot sinned in Adam or in himself, God chose Lot and put him in Christ. Therefore, Lot was a righteous man in Christ. We know this because the apostle Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, called Lot a “just” and “righteous man” (2 Pet 2: 7-8) Lot was not righteous by his own obedience, that is plain to see. Neither is any child that God saves righteous by his own works of the law. Lot was righteous because Christ was his Surety. The same is true of every child God saves by grace.
THE LONGSUFFERING OF GOD
The Lord told Abraham he was about to destroy Sodom, “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” (Gen 18: 23-26) Abraham kept asking until he brought the number down to only ten men. And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” (Gen 18: 32) As we will see in our text, there was only one man, Lot, in that whole city who was righteous in Christ. But the Lord spared the city for that one righteous, elect, child.
In this intercession on Lot’s behalf, Abraham stands as a beautiful type of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God making intercession for his people. He “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he everliveth to make intercession for them.” (Rom 8: 34; Heb 7: 25) Long before Lot knew what God was doing, there was one interceding on his behalf. Likewise, long before any of God’s elect know it, there is One—the Righteous One, Christ Jesus—making intercession for us.
Be sure to get this point. God’s longsuffering is not for all sinners in this world but for the sake of his elect alone! God said, “then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” As we will see, even when Lot begged to go into Zoar, the LORD spared Zoar only for Lot’s sake, “And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.” And the angels of the LORD said they could nothing to Sodom until Lot came out of that city, “Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.” (Gen 19: 21-22)
We learn from this that as long as one elect child, righteous in Christ our Surety, remains in this world, God will spare the whole place just for their sake. God will spare it until he regenerates his child to faith in Christ and God will not destroy the world in that last day until he has brought out every believer!
Many speak of God’s longsuffering falsely as if the longsuffering of God means that God is sitting idly by hoping that sinners will repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. But God the Holy Spirit said through the apostle Peter, concerning Lot and concerning all God’s elect, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” (2Pe 2:9 ) God’s longsuffering is not inactive. God’s longsuffering is God working all things together to call his child to repentance by his irresistible grace. That is why the Holy Spirit declares through Peter, “ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance….And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.” God is longsuffering because God predestinated the exact time when each of his elect shall be brought to repentance. In his longsuffering, God is working all things “after the counsel of his own will” to do just that! (Eph 1: 3-5, 10-11)
The apostle Peter wrote, “Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (2Pe 3: 9, 15-16) So let’s see what Paul wrote about God’s longsuffering. Paul said that while he was dead in sins, in his vain religion, he was “a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious....and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus…I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” (1 Tim 1: 13-16)
We see in Paul the pattern of God’s longsuffering which God set forth concerning all that shall “hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” Did God sit idly by and hope that Paul would come to repentance? No. If he had Paul would have remained a spiritually dead, God-hating enemy of Christ. Instead, Christ actively interrupted Paul on the road to Damascus and irresistibly called Paul to life and faith in Christ.
Therefore, knowing by experience that God’s longsuffering leads sinners to repentance he wrote that very statement in the plainest words, writing, God’s “goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;…leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom 2: 4) So if God has one child left in this world, who from before the foundation of the world God determined to save by his sovereign will, then God says, “I will spare all the place for their sakes.” (Gen 19: 26)
Brethren, never envy those who reject Christ and live prosperously in this life. Scripture says, “The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.” (Job 12:6) “Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.” (Ps 73: 7)
Yet, God is sparing the whole place for the elect’s sake. It is not that God takes delight in the destruction of those who reject Christ. He does not. God says to the guilty rebel, “Why will ye die?” But for all who go through life rejecting Christ, God says, “They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.” (Job 21: 18) “When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever.” (Ps 92: 7)
None in that vastly populated city worshipped the true and living God—except one man—Lot. But he was so weak in faith by now that he could not bring himself out. Even though God was about to destroy Sodom in judgment, God would not do so until God brought his one child out. Likewise, God has a people in this sin-cursed world and for their sakes, God will not destroy this whole place until he calls each one out by his sovereign grace.
THE IRRESISTABLE GRACE OF GOD
The Lord separates his child out of this world by his own irresistible grace. Irresistible or invincible grace simply means that no sinner can resist God!
First, by his sovereign grace, the Lord shall send a messenger to call out his child through the gospel of Christ and him crucified. (1 Cor 1: 21) In Lot’s case, “there came two angels to Sodom at even.” (Gen 19: 1) These angels were in the form of men. We know that because they sat down and ate with Abraham and were about to eat with Lot. When Lot saw them they appeared as men.
I do not know if they were preachers or if they were angels sent down from heaven. But we do know from the scriptures, that Christ sends his preachers and scriptures calls them angels. Also, right now God uses his holy angels while he is using preachers to preach. The Holy Spirit does the regenerating. But God’s people are ministered to by God’s holy angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb 1:14) In the last day, when Christ returns, his heavenly angels will gather up his believing people. (Mt 13: 41, 49; 16: 27; 24: 31)
Also, by his irresistible Spirit the Lord works his will, saving his own, while stopping any that would hinder the work. When Lot took the men to his home, a group of sodomites gathered outside Lot’s house seeking to rape the two men. Lot stepped outside in an attempt to reason with the sodomites. (Gen 19: 4-6) Those sodomites were about to tear Lot limb to limb, “But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.” (Ge 19:10-11) The same sovereign hand that pulls his chosen child into Christ the Door, into Christ our Refuge; also blinds his enemies, small and great, so that they cannot even find Christ the Door.
Furthermore, our all-powerful God will not allow his child to wait around when it is time to come out from among the damned, “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot,...And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and [they] set him without the city.” (Ge 19:15-16) The LORD’s power is the cause of our willingness, “thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” (Ps 110: 3) They first hastened Lot then Lost hastened. Lot lingered so they laid hold of him. It was only then that Lot came out. We do not worship and serve “Lot’s hastening” or mine or yours. If the LORD would have left Lot to himself then Lot would have lingered till he died in Sodom. Indeed, Lot willingly ran out of Sodom. But who gets the glory? Lot only did so because “they brought him forth, and [they] set him without the city.”
What I am saying is the LORD’s mercy saves! God does not try to save his elect! God does not try to get his message across to us! God does not try to teach us! While Lot lingered the men laid hold upon his hand, the LORD being merciful unto HIM; and they brought HIM forth, and set HIM without the city. (Ge 19:15-16) That is irresistible, invincible mercy! Mercy that saves is the only kind of mercy there is! It was mercy to Lot alone! Others came out in body but not in heart. But the mercy of God was to Lot alone!
Brethren, Lot gives us more comfort than any sinner in the Bible. Why? He was weak in disposition. Lot was full of faults throughout life. He erred after repeated warnings. Even when he stood on the verge of ruin, he still was not resolute. Lot was as weak as one gets in faith. Yet, God who is rich in mercy saved him!
Notice this! As if to declare that Lot’s salvation, and ours, is because our Substitute bore the rain of God’s fire and brimstone as the Substitute in place of his people and then arose triumphant to work this grace in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, “The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.” (Gen 19: 23) Indeed, when Christ has brought us out of our pride, out of this world of Sodom, and made us enter into utter “insignificance” (the meaning of the word Zoar) that is when the believer sees, through faith, the Sun of Righteousness risen in his glory.
Yet, the picture of our complete salvation is in Lot being delivered into the top of the mountain. Yes, but it is only after Christ has delivered us out of Sodom and brought us down to insignificance that Christ then delivers his child up to glory’s mountain. So it was typified in Lot, “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain,…” (Gen 19: 30) Christ said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn 6: 44) That is the sovereign, irresistible, saving grace of God!
A WORD OF WARNING
If there be any who still reject our glorious Redeemer, here is a word of warning especially for you, “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.” (Ge 19:24-25). All who remained in Sodom, from the least upon the ground to the greatest, are still burning in that fire that is never quenched!
Just imagine! Not a single person knew that would be the last sunrise they would ever see. Christ said, “In the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded.” (Lu 17: 28) One family had dinner reservations at their favorite restaurant that night to celebrate an anniversary. Another man was excited he had an important business deal to finalize first thing that the morning. One family just got a load of lumber delivered so they could begin building a new house. But not one had their mind on God or salvation or eternity. They expected today to be like yesterday. Christ said, “But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Lu 17: 29-30)
Sinner, what if today is that last day? Are you prepared to meet God? Have you spent your life preparing for how you will spend eternity? Or does your life only consist of eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building? Christ said of all who hear this gospel and reject him, “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for [you].” (Mt 10: 15)
Also, believer, there is a warning here for you and me, “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Gen 19: 26) Lot’s wife came out of Sodom in body but her heart was still there. Her will and affection was for all “her stuff” back in Sodom. She was not far from the kingdom of God, but she was not in! She was walking behind Lot, so perhaps she thought Lot would not see if she took just one glance back. But God saw! God looks on the heart! Our Lord gives the application. Christ said, “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. (Lu 17:33 ) But none of Christ’s truly sanctified people will be found looking back. By his grace, We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Heb 10: 39)
GOD REMEMBERS CHRIST
Lastly, everything God does in the saving of his people as well as the judgment of his enemies is in remembrance of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember how Abraham pictured Christ when he interceded for Lot before the Lord? Now, hear this passage typifying Christ our Redeemer, “And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” (Ge 19:27-29) Did you catch those three words? “God remembered Abraham.” Therefore, before destroying Sodom, God sent Lot out.
Likewise, believer, God remembered Christ when he spared you all the days of your rebellion. God remembered Christ when he sent the gospel to you. Every time you linger, God spares you by his grace because God remembers Christ. In that last day when he gathers up his flock, God shall gather you up because God remembers Christ. Everything God does for his people is in remembrance of Christ.
Therefore, every day of our lives, may everything you and I do be done remembering our Lord Jesus Christ. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col 3:17)
Amen!