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Genesis 19

 

          Now the story switches from God and Abraham to the two angels.  We are going to see why the outcry against these two cities was so great.

 

  1. As the angels arrived at Sodom, where was Lot?

 

 

What is the significance of sitting in the gateway of a city?

 

 

What does this tell us about Lot and his position in Sodom?

 

 

  1. What did Lot do when he saw the angels?

 

 

How are his actions similar to those of his uncle, Abraham?

 

 

What can we learn about Sodom in that no one else paid any attention to the strangers?

 

 

What can we learn about the angels in that Lot treats them as visitors?

 

 

What does Lot want the angels to do?

 

 

How do the angels respond?

 

 

How safe would it be for strangers to sleep in the “town square”?

 

 

  1. Verse 3 says that Lot insisted strongly that they go with him.  Why?

 

 

Because of Lot’s actions, what did the angels decide to do?

Lot made a meal for them.  Do you think he knew who these strangers were?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. What happens in verse 4?

 

 

Who exactly surrounded the house?

 

 

Why do you think the Bible points out that this mob included the young and the old?

 

 

What does this tell you about Sodom?

 

 

According to verse 5, what did all the men of the city want?

 

 

Do you think this really happened or was it an exaggeration?

 

 

What do you think it would be like to live in such a city?

 

 

  1. What does Lot do?

 

 

Why was Lot not afraid of the men?

 

 

Why do you think Lot closed the door behind him?

 

 

  1. Look carefully at what Lot does next.  In order to save the two strangers from this mob, what was Lot offer to do?

 

 

Is Lot serious?  If so, what does this tell us about Lot?

 

 

Some commentaries say Lot’s offer is proof that even he was affected by the sin of the city.  Others state that Lot was simply protecting his guests as was the custom of the times.  How do you view Lot’s actions?

 

 

Also, is it possible that Lot offered the mob his daughters knowing that they would not accept his offer?  If so, then what was the purpose?

 

 

If you were one of Lot’s daughters, what would you be thinking?

 

 

  1. What do the men of Sodom say to Lot?

 

 

What do they mean that Lot is an alien?

 

 

How do they feel about Lot’s trying to tell them what is right and what is wrong?

 

 

Do people today still get upset when someone tries to point out right from wrong?  Can you give an example?

 

 

What do the men of Sodom threaten to do to Lot?

 

 

What did the men do then?

 

 

  1. The LORD had seen enough.  The angels now act.  What did they do to save Lot’s life?

 

 

What do they do to the crowd of men?

 

 

Even after they are all struck blind, what do the men still try to do?

 

At this point, how would you describe Sodom and its inhabitants?

 

 

Let’s take Abraham’s conversation with God one step further.  Are there five righteous men in Sodom?

 

 

Do you think there are really places like this today?

 

 

  1. In verse 12, what do the two angels ask Lot?

 

 

Based on their comments, what is about to happen?

 

 

Do you think there is any doubt in Lot’s mind that these are not strangers but angels of the LORD?

 

 

The angels again say that the outcry against Sodom is so great that God is going to destroy it.  What are some of the sins that have caused such an outcry?

 

 

Are we still seeing these sins today?

 

 

  1. Who is in the house with Lot?

 

 

Lot also wants to save his two future sons-in-law.  Where does he find them?

 

 

Being careful, what can we infer about these two men?

 

 

How do they respond to Lot’s entreaties?

 

 

Why might they not believe Lot?

  1. Verse 14 states that these two men were pledged to marry his daughters.  What does this mean?

 

 

What affect does our environment have upon us? 

 

 

Can you think of examples where people did not take God’s warnings seriously?

 

 

Does our country as a whole pay attention to such warnings?  Why or why not?

 

 

  1. What do the angels urge Lot to do in verse 15?

 

 

Has Lot done all he could to spare the lives of innocent people?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. What was Lot’s reaction as recorded in verse 16?

 

 

Why was it so dangerous for Lot to hesitate?

 

 

What can we learn about obedience from this verse?  Compare it to 17:23.

 

 

What did the angels do when Lot hesitated?

 

 

How did Lot and his family make it safely out of Sodom?

 

 

Have you ever hesitated to obey God because you were concerned about what you had to leave behind?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. What do the angels instruct Lot and his family to do?

 

 

Why was it important for Lot not to look back?

 

 

What can we learn from this advice?

 

 

Where were Lot and his family to run?

 

 

  1. What does Lot ask of the angels in verse 19?

 

 

How sound is his argument?  Please explain.

 

 

Where does Lot want to go?

 

 

Why do you think Lot keeps pointing out that the town is small?

 

 

  1. Look carefully at the angel’s response in verse 21.  What is it?

 

 

What was the angel going to do to the “small” town before Lot planned to make it his hiding place?

 

 

What does this tell us about that city?

 

 

Why do you think Lot might have wanted to go there instead of to the mountains?

 

 

Why do the angels want Lot to flee quickly?

 

 

What was the name of the small town?

 

  1. When did Lot reach Zoar?  Looking at when they left Sodom, how far do you think they ran?

 

 

How did the LORD destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

 

 

Why do you think we are told twice in verse 24 that the destruction was from the LORD?

 

 

Who and what exactly did the LORD destroy?

 

 

Why do you think the destruction was so complete?  Specifically, why do you think the LORD destroyed even the vegetation?

 

 

What part of God’s character are we witnessing in these verses?

 

 

  1. Verse 26 is short and succinct.  What does it tell us?

 

 

Why do you think Lot’s wife looked back>

 

 

Why was doing so such a terrible thing that God would punish her in this way?

 

 

How did Lot and his daughters respond?

 

 

Why do you think we are never told Lot’s wife’s name?

 

 

What spiritual message can we learn from this verse about Lot’s wife

 

 

Look at Matthew 6:24.  How does this verse relate to what happened to Lot’s wife?

  1. The narrative temporarily leaves Lot and his daughters and returns to Abraham.  Why do you think God does this?

 

 

Why does Abraham get up early in the morning?

 

 

Would you have done the same?  In other words, if you had received word that God was going to destroy an entire city, would you want to see it?  Please explain.

 

 

What does Abraham see as he looks down upon the plain?

 

 

Remembering his conversation with God the day before, how do you think Abraham felt?

 

 

  1. What can we learn about intercessory prayer from verse 29?

 

 

God did not relent in his judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.  But He did remember Abraham.  What does this mean to you?

 

 

According to verse 29, why did God bring Lot out of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?

 

 

  1. The narrative now returns to Lot and his daughters.  Why do Lot and his daughters leave Zoar?

 

 

Where do they go?

 

 

Reread verses 17 and 20.  What were God’s original instructions to Lot?  Why did he choose to flee to Zoar instead?

 

 

What changed his mind about staying in this city?

 

 

Read carefully verse 30.  Lot did not just flee to the mountains.  What did he choose to do?  Why do you think he made this choice?

 

 

Instead of living in a nice house, Lot moves his daughters into a cave.  What affect might this have had on his daughters?

 

 

  1. We are told that Lot chose to make this cave his home.  After a period of time, what became the major concern of his daughters?

 

 

Why would this be so important to them?  (Remember, who else was killed in the destruction of Sodom?)

 

 

Why do you think they did not talk to their father about this?

 

 

  1. Again, we see what happens when we try to “help” God.  Previously, what had Abraham done?  What had Sarai done?

 

 

Now, what does the older daughter suggest?

 

 

What was her motivation?

 

 

Why do you think this came from the older of the two daughters?

 

 

How does the daughter suggest they proceed with their plan?

 

 

Before we go any further, does Lot bear any responsibility for this current situation?

 

As their father, what should he have done?

 

 

Where could he possibly have found suitable husbands for his daughters?  (See Genesis 24:3-4.)

 

 

What type of relationship do you think Lot had with his daughters?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. What the daughters plan to do seems very hard to comprehend.  They were in a very difficult situation:  they lost their fiancés; they saw their mother die; they find themselves living in a cave; and they have a father who does not seem to care.  How do you feel about their decision?

 

 

Why do you think they did not cry out to God as Abraham had done?

 

 

According to verses 33-35, what do the daughters do?

 

 

What does it tell you about Lot that he was not aware of what had happened?

 

 

How should we “judge” Lot and his daughters in this episode?

 

 

Are the daughters’ actions excusable at all?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. We are told that Lot was not aware at all that his daughters had lain with him.  However, verse 36 tells us that both of his daughters became pregnant.  How do you think Lot accounted for this?

 

 

Do you think his daughters told him what they did?

 

 

  1. The Bible never states that God condemned Lot or his daughters.  No judgment is made about their actions as being good or bad.  Why do you believe this is so?

 

 

However, God does let us see the consequences of these events.  What is the name of the older daughter’s son?  The younger daughter?

 

 

What can you learn about the Moabites and the Ammonites?

 

 

What type of relationship did they have with their “cousin” Israel?

 

 

What can we learn about the consequences of sin from this episode?

 

 

  1. Everything in the Old Testament is recorded so that we can learn from it.  What can you learn from this chapter about Sodom and Gomorrah and from Lot and his family?

 

 

Jesus also used this story to teach those around Him.  Read Luke 17:30-36.  Why do you believe Jesus tells us to remember Lot’s wife?

 

 

What does the rest of this passage have to do with us today?