How does 2 Peter 2:6 connect with Genesis 19's account of Sodom and Gomorrah? The Key Verse “if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;” (2 Peter 2:6) What Happened in Genesis 19? • Genesis 19 recounts how two angels arrived in Sodom, were taken into Lot’s home, and the men of the city attempted to violate them (Genesis 19:1–11). • God warned Lot that judgment was imminent; Lot, his wife, and two daughters were urged to flee (Genesis 19:12–17). • “Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah” (Genesis 19:24), leaving the region a smoldering wasteland (19:25). • Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt (19:26), underscoring the danger of lingering attachment to sin. How Peter Uses the Story Peter refers to Genesis 19 to: 1. Underscore God’s past, literal judgment on cities steeped in willful immorality. 2. Provide a prophetic preview—“an example of what is coming on the ungodly.” 3. Encourage believers that God can simultaneously judge the wicked and rescue the righteous (2 Peter 2:7–9). Echoes in Other Scriptures • Jude 7: Sodom and Gomorrah “serve as an example” by undergoing “the punishment of eternal fire.” • Luke 17:28–30: Jesus says His return will resemble “the days of Lot”; judgment will arrive suddenly on an unsuspecting world. • Revelation 21:8: The final, fiery judgment awaits those who persist in unbelief and immorality. Lessons on Judgment • God’s wrath is not theoretical; the ashes of Sodom verify it. • Sin has social consequences—entire communities can harden themselves against God. • Divine patience has a limit; when the measure of sin is full, judgment follows (cf. Genesis 15:16). A Word on Rescue • Lot’s deliverance (Genesis 19:29) illustrates 2 Peter 2:9: “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.” • God provided: – Angelic warning – A clear escape route – Urgency (“Flee for your lives!”) • The same God offers ultimate rescue in Christ (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). Implications for Believers Today • Live alert: cultural acceptance of sin does not cancel divine standards. • Intercede as Abraham did (Genesis 18:23–33); pray for cities before judgment falls. • Hold fast to righteousness—the example of Lot shows that even in corrupt surroundings, God can preserve those who trust Him. |
    |