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Bible History of the Old Testament |
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No. 13 Abraham Told About the Impending Doom of Sodom
While Abraham's faith was being exercised and blessed, Lot's situation was getting worse and worse. The people in Sodom were rapidly losing their day of grace from God. Abraham was sitting "in the tent door in the heat of the day" when Jehovah appeared once more to him in visible form. This time it was in the form of three wayfarers whom he saw and welcomed to his tent and eagerly fed and gave refreshment to. There can be no doubt that Abraham recognized the character of his heavenly Visitors, though he received and entertained them in the tradition of the day. According to Genesis 18:13, the heavenly guests were the Lord Himself and the two angels who were to be the ministers of His avenging justice in Sodom and Gomorrah. Their visit was two-fold - with one bearing reference to Sarah, and the other to Abraham. If Sarah was to become the mother of the promised seed, she must learn to believe also. She probably did not believe what God had spoken to Abraham as much as he did. Anyway, the message was addressed directly to her. She was told directly that she would have a son. Her non-belief appeared in her laughter, and she was reproved by God. It was God Himself who told Abraham about the impending doom of Sodom and Gomorrah. God told Abraham this because he would be the heir to the promises, and he would also be the one who would be the leader of his household and children to help them to keep the way of Jehovah. It might be gathered that the story of destruction was communicated to him so that it would serve as a warning of what would happen if the nation fell into idolatry. It was not to be regarded as an isolated judgment, but the scene of judgment was to exhibit to Israel the heavy consequences of sin. It is in this light that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments present the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. On the other hand, as God had in the covenant made gift of the land to Abraham and to his seed, it seemed fitting that he should know what was to take place there in the near future. If it was to be his land, then he should also be allowed to fight for its deliverance. He must have had a huge sense of ownership of the land to go before God in the bold way that he did. It was only through his pleading with God that his nephew Lot and family were able to get out before the destruction. Mercy was extended to Lot, but he didn't escape the consequences of his selfish and sinful choice in going to Sodom in the first place. Lot was to be taught a serious lesson that material wealth and things do not bring happiness. Even thought Abraham had begged for Lot's life, the angels had a hard time getting him and his family out of the city. Lot's wife had so much regret in leaving that she turned around and longed for it so much that she turned into a pillar of salt. Tradition has since pointed out a mountain of salt, at the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, as the spot where the occurrence had taken place. Like many old traditions, though, this cannot be proven as fact. The judgment that descended on the doomed cities is described in the sacred text as a "rain of brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven", by which the whole district was consumed. This literal account has been confirmed by archaeologists as the whole neighborhood of the Dead Sea abounds with sulphur and bitumen. This would furnish the materials for something terrible to happen when the lightning struck from heaven because they were so flammable. They would probably have been accompanied by an earthquake, which would throw up huge masses of combustible matter. It was probably a very huge explosion. Abraham could see the smoke from the cities for miles away in Hebron. It must have seemed like a huge furnace from which a cloud of smoke arose to heaven. The basin of the Dead Sea has been specifically examined by archaeologists. The results of their soundings have brought to light the remarkable fact that it really consists of two lakes. One of them is 13 feet deep, and the other one is 1,300 feet deep. The first lake is regarded as the site of the doomed cities, and the last was probably a sweetwater lake. It is thought that there may have been volcanic activity also involved here. It is extremely sad to notice how little effect that even extreme terrible judgments are capable of producing even upon those mostly nearly affected by them, such as Lot and his daughters. They had been able to go and live in Zoar, which was a town not far from Sodom. But the same weakness of faith which had made them reluctant to leave Sodom now induced them to leave Zoar, where they had been promised they would be safe. Much worse than that, though, they fell into a most grievous and abominable sin - they both had sex with their father so they could carry on their own family line. Abraham also fell into sin again when he left Mamre and settled in the territory of Abimelech, king of Gerer, in the land of the Philistines. Abimelech seems to have had a royal title, but was very different from the other kings of Egypt. He appears to have been true and upright in character and to have feared the Lord. When Abraham tried to pass off Sarah once again for his sister, the Lord was able to directly communicate with Abimelech in a dream what the real state of the matter was. Upon knowing this, the king directly took matters into his own hands and took care of the matter. This time, Abraham pretty much had to admit that it was a lack of faith that led him to do this terrible thing. Nevertheless, God was with him and the king knew that his was an anointed man of God and a prophet, despite his weaknesses. When the king told his servants what God had told him about Abraham, "the men were sore afraid". Since the people there had such a reverent respect for him there because of what God had told them, it is no wonder that Abraham made the land of the Philistines the place of his lengthened residence, pitching his tent close to Beersheba. Abraham and Abimilech had made a formal covenant between them that was accompanied by a sacrifice of seven ewe lambs. To show that this was a public alliance, the king came with his chief captain and declared publicly that God was with Abraham in all that he did. With this covenant in force, the Philistine people would not bother Abraham there and he could live in peace. For more information from this book, go to the archives page at my site www.cathydeaton.com There are other articles of interest there, also. This text is taken from the book Bible History Old Testament written by Alfred Edersheim. Permission has been granted to use this book.
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