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The Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah
This chapter is based on Genesis 19.
Among the cities of the Jordan valley, Sodom was “like the
garden of the Lord” (
Genesis 13:10
) in its fruitfulness and beauty.
Rich harvests clothed the fields, and flocks and herds covered the
encircling hills all around. Art and commerce enriched the proud
city and the treasures of the East decorated her palaces. Caravans
brought supplies of precious things to her markets, and with little
thought or work, people could live comfortably there.
Idleness and riches harden the heart that has never been troubled
by poverty or burdened by sorrow. The people gave themselves up
to fulfilling their sensual desires. “This was the iniquity of your
sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and
abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the
poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination
before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit” (
Ezekiel 16:49,
50
). Satan is never more successful than when he comes to people
in their idle hours.
In Sodom there was laughter, partying, feasting, and drunken-
ness. The most evil passions were unrestrained. People openly
defied God and His law and delighted in violence. Though they had
the example of the pre-Flood world and knew of their destruction,
they followed the same course of wickedness.
When Lot settled in Sodom, corruption had not become universal,
and in mercy God permitted rays of light to shine amid the moral
darkness. Abraham was not a stranger to the people of Sodom,
and his victory over much stronger forces prompted wonder and
admiration. No one could avoid the conviction that a divine power
had made him conqueror. His noble and unselfish spirit, so strange
to the self-seeking inhabitants of Sodom, was another evidence that
the religion he had honored was superior. God was speaking to that
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