Topical Bible: God: The Deliverance of Lot

◄ God: The Deliverance of Lot ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The deliverance of Lot is a significant event in the biblical narrative, illustrating God's mercy and justice. Lot, the nephew of Abraham, resided in the city of Sodom, a place notorious for its wickedness and sin. The account of Lot's deliverance is primarily found in Genesis 19, where God intervenes to rescue Lot and his family from impending destruction.

Background and Context

Lot's choice to dwell in Sodom is first mentioned in Genesis 13:10-13, where he separates from Abraham and chooses the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley, despite the moral depravity of the cities therein. The wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah becomes so grievous that God decides to destroy these cities. However, God, in His righteousness, reveals His plans to Abraham, who intercedes on behalf of the righteous in Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33).

The Angelic Visitation

Genesis 19 begins with two angels arriving in Sodom in the evening. Lot, recognizing their divine nature, insists on offering them hospitality, a gesture that contrasts sharply with the city's pervasive immorality. The men of Sodom, however, surround Lot's house, demanding to engage in depraved acts with the visitors. Lot's attempt to protect his guests highlights his righteousness, albeit imperfectly, as he offers his daughters instead (Genesis 19:1-8).

Divine Intervention and Warning

The angels intervene, striking the men of Sodom with blindness and instructing Lot to gather his family and flee the city. They warn, "Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city" (Genesis 19:15). Despite the urgency, Lot hesitates, prompting the angels to physically lead him, his wife, and his daughters out of the city, demonstrating God's mercy and the importance of obedience to divine instruction.

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

As Lot and his family flee, they are commanded not to look back. Tragically, Lot's wife disobeys and is turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is executed with divine wrath, as "the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens" (Genesis 19:24). This act serves as a testament to God's judgment against sin and His ability to deliver the righteous from peril.

Lot's Legacy and Lessons

Lot's deliverance underscores several theological themes. It highlights God's justice in punishing sin while simultaneously showcasing His mercy in rescuing the righteous. The narrative also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of moral compromise and the importance of heeding God's warnings. Lot's account is referenced in the New Testament as an example of God's ability to rescue the godly from trials (2 Peter 2:7-9).

In summary, the deliverance of Lot is a powerful demonstration of God's character, balancing justice with mercy, and serves as a reminder of the importance of righteousness and obedience in the face of a corrupt world.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 19:1
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Of Lot's Deliverance from Sodom, and Its Consumption by Fire from ...
City of God. <. ... Book XVI. Chapter 30."Of Lot's Deliverance from Sodom, and
Its Consumption by Fire from Heaven; And of Abimelech, Whose Lust Could ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 30 of lots deliverance from.htm

Thanksgiving to God for Deliverance from the Evils Expected Owing ...
... Thanksgiving to God for deliverance from the evils expected owing to ... also with me
the wisdom [1481] of God in this ... of the body; and whilst it is the lot of all ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xi thanksgiving to god.htm

God's True Treasure in Man
... regards as His 'portion' and 'the lot of His ... Israel, according to one metaphor, was
God's 'son,' begotten by that great redeeming act of deliverance from the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/gods true treasure in man.htm

God Showed Himself, by the Fall of Man, as Patient, Benign ...
... most ungrateful, if, unmindful of his own lot, and of ... again, he might be the more
subject to God, and might ... upon him such an unhoped-for deliverance, and might ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xx god showed himself by.htm

Sacred Poems and Hymns
... Acknowledgment that Divine Providence chooses our Lot. HYMN CXLVII. ... The Image of
God. HYMN CLXXXVII. ... HYMN CXC. Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Trouble.--Ps. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/

City of God
... Was Not Circumcised on the Eighth Day, Because He Had Broken God's Covenant ... Chapter
30.--Of Lot's Deliverance from Sodom, and Its Consumption by Fire from Heaven ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/

Chapter xix
... a mighty act of judgment in which God displays powers ... Even when the merciful act
of deliverance is recorded ... been used, Moses uses "Elohim," because Lot no doubt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xix.htm

Jehovah-Jireh
... heaped and the treasury full, you will have neither part nor lot in the ... reminded
him or others of his trial, but by a name that proclaimed God's deliverance. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/jehovah-jireh.htm

The Intercourse of God and his Friend
... stir them to intercession and to effort for their deliverance. ... nowadays, which need
sorely the lesson that God 'remembered Abraham' and delivered Lot. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the intercourse of god and.htm

"The Time of Trouble. "
... Did He forget Lot when the fire came down from heaven to consume the cities
of the plain? ... Day and night they cry unto God for deliverance. ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /39 the time of trouble.htm