The Destruction of Sodom and the Rescue of Lot

The Destruction of Sodom and the Rescue of Lot

02 November, 2025

Thesis: The destruction of Sodom serves as a stark warning of God's impending judgment on sin, highlighting the urgent need for sinners to flee to Christ for merciful rescue.

Summary: The sermon, based on Genesis chapter 19, focuses on the destruction of Sodom and the rescue of Lot, presenting these events as illustrations of God's judgment against sin and His mercy towards those who seek refuge. It describes Sodom as a city permeated by depravity, into which Lot gradually compromised himself, ultimately losing his influence. The narrative highlights the total corruption of Sodom's inhabitants, whose actions are compared to modern societal issues outlined in Romans 1. The speaker details Lot's reluctant deliverance, his family's compromised testimony, and his eventual failure despite being spared due to Abraham's intercession. The sermon concludes by emphasizing Sodom's complete annihilation as a warning of future judgment for those who reject the gospel, while also presenting a message of hope through Christ's redemptive power despite human failings.

Sermon

Good morning again, everyone. This morning, we’re diving into the harrowing account of Genesis chapter 19. As you turn there, I want to share the title of my sermon: “The Destruction of Sodom and the Rescue of Lot.”

Of course, our text is going to be the entirety of chapter 19. I’m going to be honest with you this morning. This message is so heavy. I have wrestled with this text, and I have prayed through this text, and I have exegeted this text, and I have been run over and demolished by this text, and I have been humbled by this text time and again. I’m just going to, fair warning, preface everything I’m going to say with this: this is not an easy sermon to preach. This is not a light sermon to hear. So if you came for a pep talk and a pat on the back, you ain’t going to get it this morning. You will get the truth. You will get God’s word.

However, as heavy as a theme of judgment is, God also refreshes us with His mercy. And that’s why we chose that song this morning. His mercy is greater still, for even in judgment, God remembers mercy. And the purpose of these passages—those that warn us of coming judgment—is so that we recognize our need to flee to Christ for mercy. Because He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. And He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

So this morning, I want to give you something to think about. Now, if I were to say, sin city, where does your mind go? Vegas, right? You’ve got neon lights. You’ve got gambling. You have drunkenness. You have sexual perversion. And you’d be right. That is sin city. But the concept of sin cities is not new. In fact, human nature and vices remain unchanged. Indeed, in the second millennium BC, we find one of the original sin cities—Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities of the plain filled with vice and corruption. These are not merely examples of sin; they are the archetypal cities of moral decay, where every form of wickedness reached its zenith.

And by the way, this is the city that Lot chose to live in, a choice that would become a defining example of human moral failure and the devastating consequences of forsaking God’s ways. Remember, he leaves his tent-dwelling, altar-building, God-fearing uncle Abraham in chapter 13. And this is the city where he decides to raise his children. This is the place with all of its allurements, its wealth, its prestige, all of its opportunities to make a name for himself, yet it is a city steeped in sin, corruption, and the rejection of divine holiness. This is where Lot chooses to live. But as we will see, it will all be destroyed—not by human hands, but by the righteous judgment of God. Lot will lose everything, including some of his own family, a stark warning of what awaits those who prioritize worldly gain over obedience to God’s will.

However, God, in His mercy, would hear the intercession of Abraham. Remember our sermon last week? Abraham prays for Lot to be spared. And so this morning, we have before us one of the most sobering passages in all of Scripture. And by the way, this destruction of Sodom isn’t just ancient history. It’s a warning of future judgment. That is, judgment to come. But in this unlikely story, we also see that God’s mercy triumphs over judgment. As we sang this morning, truly, His mercy is more.

As we go through this text, I want you to note two parallel themes that run through the entire chapter. We have the theme of judgment, and we have the theme of salvation. We have the theme of destruction, and we have the theme of mercy. In this story, God destines the ungodly for judgment, but rescues those who flee to Him for mercy. So in this chapter, we see that God is both the judge of the wicked and the merciful rescuer of those who flee to Him.

Now the Apostle Peter, he is reflecting on this very passage in 2 Peter 2:9. He writes, “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous in reserve for the day of judgment.” That is, God knows how to do both. He knows how to pour out His wrath upon the wicked, and He knows how to rescue His people from the flames. Warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come with urgency. Aren’t you glad for the mercy of God this morning?

The destruction of Sodom reveals God’s hatred of sin. It warns of future judgment, and it warns sinners to flee from the wrath to come.

As we consider the judgment of Sodom, let us remember that this passage calls us to repentance and a recognition of our own sinfulness. We’re going to look at this text in four different movements. Number one, we have the depravity of Sodom. We’re going to begin reading in verses 1 through 11. Before we do, let us turn to the Lord in prayer, recognizing that this passage is not only a historical account but a present-day warning. Let’s go to the Lord in prayer.

Father, we thank You for another time in Your house. Lord, what a sobering, fearful passage of Scripture we have before us this morning. God, I humble myself right now, because Lord, I realize that I too am a wicked sinner. And I deserve nothing less than the judgment You’ve poured out upon Sodom. That is what we all deserve, Lord—nothing less than the full cup of Your wrath. The place before us is the cross, where Jesus drank the cup of wrath and suffering for us, who was punished in our place, and who invites us to flee to Him for mercy this morning, Lord.

So Lord, I’m going to pray for several things. Number one, I pray, Lord, let us have an accurate view of who You are. Let us see You in all of Your majesty, all of Your glory, all of Your holiness, all of Your justice, all of Your righteousness, Lord. God, give us a fresh glimpse of Your mercy. How deep the Father’s mercy is. How deep His love is for us. And Father, I also pray, give us a fresh vision of hell. May we feel the heat. May the scorching flames come so close to us this morning, Lord, that we would flee to Jesus. That we would tell others about Jesus. That we would recognize that we are not playing games here this morning. That this is real. That this is not merely a matter of life and death, but a matter of eternal judgment, as seen in the destruction of Sodom. Father, we pray, open our eyes to the reality of eternal judgment. Use me this morning, Lord, I pray. And I pray, Lord, if anyone’s lost, let them call to You. Cast themselves upon Your mercy. And may we as believers be stirred up to evangelize and to intercede for those who are lost, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

All right, let’s examine verses 1 through 11, where we see a powerful illustration of God’s judgment on sin and His mercy toward those who repent. The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. Remember, these two angels had accompanied the Lord in chapter 18. They had been visiting with Abraham. God stays behind and speaks with Abraham. The two angels go on ahead. Lot is sitting in the gate of Sodom. And when Lot saw them, he sprang to his feet, rushing to meet them. He fell prostrate before them, his face pressed to the dust. And he said, “Please, turn into your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet, and you may rise early in the morning and go on your way.” But they said, “No, we will spend the night in the open square.” Lot insisted strongly. So they turned into him and entered his house. And then he prepared a lavish feast, baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Now before they lay down, listen to this: the men of Sodom, the men of the city, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called out to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them.” So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly. See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish. Only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “The Lord sent His angels to dwell with Lot, and he keeps acting as a judge. Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot and came near to break down the door. But the men, those were the angels, reached out their hands, brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary in their attempts to find the door.

My goodness, what a story. We turn on the TV and expect to see movies and shows like this, but this is the page of Scripture. We first note Lot’s downward journey into the depravity of Sodom. Lot is looking to live in Sodom. We need to understand how Lot got here in this city, because, friends, compromise doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow drift. It’s a gradual descent. It’s a slow fade when we give ourselves away, as Casting Crowns says. Lot’s story begins with a choice—Abraham gave him the first pick of the land, and Lot’s eyes were drawn to the well-watered plain of Jordan, the garden of the Lord. It looked prosperous, like opportunity. He chose the plain, then moved his tents near Sodom, close enough to enjoy its benefits, close enough to do business, close enough for his family to be influenced by its culture. That’s how it starts. From there, the descent becomes inevitable.

Back in chapter 13, Abraham gave Lot the first choice of the land—a decision that would set the stage for his tragic descent into Sodom. Lot lifted up his eyes and saw the plain of Jordan. It’s well watered. It’s like the garden of the Lord. It looked good. It looked prosperous. It looked like opportunity. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan. Genesis 13, verse 10 through 11 knows the progression. First he looked towards Sodom. And then, chapter 13, verse 12, he moves his tents near Sodom. He wasn’t in the city yet, but he was close enough to be seduced by its prosperity, close enough to be swayed by its values, close enough for his family to be shaped by its corrupting culture. This is the peril of compromise—it doesn’t happen in a day, but in a slow, deliberate drift toward destruction.

Now in chapter 19, where do we find him? He’s in Sodom. Not only is he in Sodom, he’s sitting in the gate of Sodom. Now the gate is where the elders of the city sit—a place of influence, leadership, political power. He’s not just living in Sodom anymore. He has become a man of Sodom. He has arrived. He has become somebody. He is now everything he wished to be. This is the tragic trajectory of a man who once chose the well-watered plain, only to find himself ensnared in the very destruction he once avoided. The path from looking to living, from proximity to participation, from observer to enabler—this is how sin consumes. This is how the heart hardens. This is how the soul becomes a citizen of Sodom, not by accident, but by choice.

So first he looked. He moved near, then moved in. You see how our hearts become increasingly hardened? That’s how backsliding works, friends. It starts with a look, a glance, a fantasy, a step closer. A desire leads to a deed, and those deeds lead to death and destruction. For you’re not just tolerating sin, you’re practicing it. Then you’re justifying it, celebrating it, even pushing it on others. You’re not just visiting Sodom; you’ve become a citizen of it.

But here’s the tragic irony of the story. Lot got everything he wanted—everything that he left Abraham for was his. The wealth, the status, the success. But notice, it cost him everything that truly mattered. He got everything he wanted, but it cost him everything. What are you going to give in exchange for your soul this morning? Satan knows your price. And he is willing to pay. But you will pay in the end.

Two kinds of hospitality we see here at the beginning: Abraham and Lot. Remember, God had visited Abraham, shared a meal with him. He spoke to him face to face. He revealed His plans concerning Sodom. God has a meal with Abraham. He visits His friend Abraham. Notice, He sends two angels into get Lot. God will not step foot into the city. Why? Because God did not have the same relationship with Lot as He did with Abraham. God did not feel at home with Lot as He did in Abraham’s tent. Both men showed hospitality, but there’s a striking contrast in intimacy. Abraham provides a feast of bread and curds and milk and meat as a banquet fit for kings. Lot, by contrast, serves them unleavened bread—food hastily prepared, a staple of last-minute provision. He was not expecting the Lord’s arrival. It was one of those situations: knock, knock, oh, quick, pick up, light a candle. Let’s find some nabs and throw them out there. God was having fellowship with His friend Abraham. Lot was not the case. Two angels were sent by God to rescue Lot from Sodom’s impending judgment.

Let’s note some more contrast. Abraham lived as a soldier in a tent, a man of transient purpose. He was just passing through. Lot, by contrast, settled down, didn’t he? He lived in a house. Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God. Lot had become a citizen of a doomed city. Abraham was a friend of God. Lot was a friend of earthly success. Abraham built altars and prayed to and worshiped God. Lot sat in the city gate and got his wisdom and direction from the philosophy of Sodom. Abraham enjoyed fellowship with God. Lot endured the fellowship of the elders.

Such a contrast. But here Lot is a picture of the weak believer. He’s one who’s constantly drawn to the value system of an ungodly culture. By the way, this is not a carnal Christian. Carnal Christians do not exist. It’s impossible to be a follower of Christ and be a slave of sin at the same time. That’s not how it works. However, there are some believers who, though they have faith, still have their affections set on the comforts of this life. And even though they will be saved on the final judgment, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3, they will be saved so as by fire. They will be like a man running out of a burning building—truly, they’re saved. But they have nothing to show for their lives. Nothing of any eternal value. This is the kind of person Lot represents.

And by the way, every time we encounter Lot in Scripture, he’s always making unwise decisions, isn’t he? That word’s not in my notes, but I’m going to use it anyway. He’s always making the most ill-advised choices. Also, he’s consistently in need of deliverance. A man in constant need of rescue. This man is marked by flawed judgment. He leaves Abraham thinking, “I’m big and bad. Success. I’ll go live in Sodom.” What happens? Then come the kings of the East. Then comes Uncle Abraham. He has to rescue him. The fool returns to the same city. And God’s going to overthrow the city. And Uncle Abraham has to pray, “God, will You wipe away the righteous with the wicked?”

Friends, may we never be like Lot, so enamored with the culture that God has to send angels to drag us away from it. Now, there are innumerable ways we can become too attached to this life. One danger is materialism, isn’t it? We put too much value in goods, the things of this life, making money, even good, necessary things. But we do so to the neglect of our soul and the neglect of our families. We’ve become so concerned about our children’s sports team or getting them into a certain college at the expense of their spiritual well-being. When we’re willing to compromise obedience just to get ahead in business. Or we become more concerned, like Lot, about our standing in the community more than our standing with God.

So ask yourself this week, is there an area in my life I’ve compromised to fit in, to get ahead, to be comfortable? I challenge you, write it down. Confess it to a brother or sister in Christ, a mature believer, and repent of it. Because it will drag you down, and you’ll never escape it. And remember, as we see in Lot’s story, this compromise doesn’t just affect us spiritually—it can put us in physical danger as well.

We notice also the total corruption of Sodom. Lot begs the angels, come stay with me, because to leave them to sleep in the town square was to abandon them to their deaths. Now, by the way, Lot did not know yet that these guys were angels and that they could take care of themselves. But Lot’s fear is justified because when he invites them into the house, he gives them their pancakes. He locks the doors and then a mob of men surrounds the house and they begin to beat on the door. “Lot, let those men out so that we may know them.”

Now, what on earth do they mean? It doesn’t mean they want to play Chinese checkers or get to know them. That is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. In other words, we’re going to rape those guys. Bring them out. Notice the total depravity of the city. All the people in the city, from the youngest to the oldest, implored Lot, bring them out so we can satisfy our urges. And Lot was the last bastion of righteousness in that whole corrupt city, wasn’t he? So let that sink in.

All the people. This was not just a fringe group of troublemakers. This is the entire city, fully immersed in moral decay. The culture was so deeply entrenched in sin that even by pagan standards, the prevalence of homosexual practices was relatively low—other cultures had outlawed such behaviors entirely. Yet, even in Sodom, the punishment for these acts was the death penalty, a grim reflection of their extreme moral corruption. These were not just individuals; this was a society consumed by sin at every level.

But we must understand that there’s a likeness between Sodom and our own culture. Say, how so? Well, we go to Romans chapter 1. In Romans chapter 1, Paul writes about the depravity of the modern man. First, we have the rejection of God’s revelation. Romans 1:21. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him. But they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. The people of Sodom lived in open rebellion against God. And even though they were struck blind, they still groped for the door. Just as Sodom’s depravity mirrors our own, we too are blinded by our own arrogance, yet we persist in chasing fleeting pleasures while ignoring the clear call of God.

Secondly, we have idolatry and self-worship. Remember Ezekiel 16:49. He writes, “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom. She and her daughters had pride, excess of bread, and prosperous ease. But they did not aid the poor and needy.” In other words, they worshiped themselves, their pleasure, and their wealth, and they took no thought for anyone else, much less their own spiritual well-being. They had all the food and entertainment and everything that prosperous culture could provide. Who needs God? This is not just a historical lesson—it’s a warning. The same blindness, the same self-centeredness, the same refusal to turn from sin is alive and well in our world today. The time to flee to Christ’s mercy is now, before the judgment that consumed Sodom falls upon us.

Thirdly, it was sexual perversion. Romans 1:26-27. Listen to this carefully. God gave them up to dishonorable passions. This refers to modern men, as the text explains: “their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.” Similarly, the men abandoned natural relations with women and were consumed by passion for one another. This is sexual perversion. Whether it’s fornication, adultery, or homosexuality—each of these is a visible sign of a culture that has turned away from God and is experiencing His judgment. Not only do these sins bring God’s judgment, they are manifest signs that God has already judged the nation that has rejected the gospel. Friends, we find ourselves in Sodom still to this day.

We also have the breakdown of moral discernment. Though they know God’s righteous decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. So we notice sin progresses from participation to promotion, from indulgence to celebration. Consider the people of Sodom, where sin escalated from individual indulgence to public celebration. Do we not see this in the world today, where sin is not only practiced but openly promoted, even to the point of perverting God’s design for humanity? Friends, this is Sodom.

We also have the removal of restraining grace. God gives them up—three times in the book of Romans, as recorded in Scripture. This is judicial abandonment. This is what happens when mankind continually persists in their rebellion and rejection of the gospel: prosperity, comfort, self-indulgence, moral perversion. Business as usual, right?

Jesus says, remember, this is Jesus, not meek and mild little Jesus. This is King Jesus who speaks. He says that in the days before His return, they will be like the days of Lot. They will eat, they will drink, they will buy, they will sell, they will plant, they will build. But on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:28–30. Man, I tremble. I tremble for our country, for our community, for my family, for people sitting in this room. The judgment of God is coming, and the call to repentance is urgent.

We notice also Lot’s compromised conscience. Lot did display some courage, didn’t he? He went out of his home. He stands as a barrier between the mob and his guest. His courage in protecting the angels is commendable. But then he does something so cowardly, so absolutely repulsive. Lot is willing to sacrifice the chastity and lives of his daughters to persuade the men of Sodom to leave his visitors alone. This is the tragic consequence of a conscience that has been eroded by the world’s standards—choosing to protect strangers over preserving the sacredness of his own family. Friends, you cannot combat evil by resorting to greater evils, for that only perpetuates the cycle of corruption. Evil must be overcome with good, not traded in for worse. The moment we begin to justify sin with sin, we become complicit in the very destruction we claim to oppose.

Now, the custom of hospitality often meant protecting strangers who had come to your house for lodging. However, human customs are an unreliable guide to righteousness unless first measured against the Lord’s covenant and character. There is simply no excuse for this. Lot’s first duty was to his family—not to protect the angels, his visitors. His first duty was to protect his daughters. But friends, this is what happens when the values of the surrounding culture distort the conviction of God’s people. When we base our reasoning on societal standards rather than God’s Word, we become vulnerable to the same inexcusable choices Lot made. His compromise with sin, his willingness to sacrifice his daughters’ purity to appease a corrupt society, reveals the devastating cost of abandoning God’s truth for the approval of the world.

2 Peter 2, verse 7-8. Peter describes Lot’s predicament. Lot, his righteous soul, was vexed by the things, the lawless deeds which he saw and heard. The word vexed literally means to be worn down, to be distressed in spirit. He is tormented by the weight of his own helplessness, burdened in his spirit because he sees this mess going on day after day. Yet, he will not do anything about it. Though he may not have participated, as an elder in the city gates, he should have spoken out. He should have said, This is not right.

Friends, we share equal guilt if we remain silent in the face of sin. For God’s judgment falls not only on those who commit wickedness, but on those who approve of it—those who remain complicit by their silence. The judgment of God will fall on me if I do not, from this desk, proclaim the whole counsel of God. I will be complicit with the sins of the people I’m preaching against. Lot is worn out. Peter calls him a righteous man, but his righteousness is only comparative to the moral corruption of Sodom. We will not be judged by human standards. We will be judged by the perfect law of God.

Notice, he feels at home with these guys. He says, “My brethren, my brothers.” He feels more at home with these guys than he was with his uncle Abraham. He had become so entangled in the culture’s depravity that he feels at home in them. He’s like the lukewarm believer who is neither hot nor cold. He’s too righteous to enjoy the activities of his wicked neighbors, yet too spiritually compromised to enjoy fellowship with God. He’s in that tension, isn’t he? Neither hot nor cold, Jesus warns, I will spit you out.

Remember Lot’s wife—a stark warning. She longed for the life she left behind, and in that longing, she turned back. Her fate is a reminder: the moment you look back, you’re lost. Flee from judgment. Escape the coming wrath. Christians, turn from your old life. Don’t return to the old places. Don’t do the old things you used to do. The judgment of Sodom was complete, but the judgment to come will be far worse for those who hear the gospel and reject it. The sun rose, and Lot made it to Zoar just in time. But his wife, who lingered, became a pillar of salt. Her story is a call to urgency: today is the day of salvation. Don’t delay. Don’t negotiate. Don’t settle for small compromises. Flee to Christ. Trust in His finished work, not your own righteousness. The only hope is in Him. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, and no one remains there. But for those who flee to Jesus, there is mercy. Run. Don’t look back.

Now, let’s examine the tragic fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar, and immediately, the Lord rained brimstone and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah from the heavens, consuming the cities and all their inhabitants. Only Zoar remained, but Lot’s wife, longing for her former life, looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. Abraham, standing on the ridge where he had previously communed with God, saw the smoke rising like a furnace, a vivid testament to divine judgment. This destruction was not arbitrary—it was a fulfillment of God’s covenant faithfulness to Abraham, who interceded for his nephew Lot. Just as Lot was spared because of Abraham’s prayers, we are saved not by our own merit but because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The judgment upon Sodom was complete annihilation, a warning to all who reject God’s call to repentance. The archaeological evidence of charred remains and fortified walls confirms this biblical account, proving that no one remains in those cursed cities. Similarly, those who reject Christ will face an eternal judgment far worse than Sodom’s destruction. The gospel is a call to flee—to abandon self-reliance, family ties, and worldly comforts, and to run to Jesus as the only refuge from God’s wrath. Lot’s wife serves as a solemn reminder: looking back to the world we left behind leads only to destruction. Let us heed the warning, turn from sin, and flee to Christ before it is too late.

In the aftermath of the devastation, Abraham’s eyes scan the horizon, his heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty. Did Lot survive the inferno? Did he escape the flames? The place where he once stood with God now bears the scars of divine judgment, fire and smoke rising like a silent testimony. One might assume God’s mercy extended to Lot, but no—God remembered Abraham. Because of Abraham’s intercession, Lot was spared. Had it not been for Abraham’s prayers and the boundless mercy of God, Lot would have perished with the rest of the wicked. Friends, if God heeded the cries of Abraham, how much more would He heed the intercession of His Son, who now sits at His right hand, pleading for us? “Father,” He says, “I was crucified in their place. The judgment that fell upon Sodom—what should have fallen upon my people—fell upon Me, upon the cross.” So they may be spared. Lot is saved, just as we are, not by our own merit, but by the covenant faithfulness of God and the unceasing intercession of Christ.

You guys got just a few more minutes. I know this is heavy, but hang on there—there’s light at the end of the tunnel, even though we’re going to get dark once again. Look at verse 30. We’re going to finish the chapter, guys—just hang on. Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, with his two daughters by his side. For he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. You think? It’s getting a little too close—maybe we should head to the mountains. So he and his two daughters dwell in a cave. His wife has been turned to a pillar of salt—she forfeited the salvation that could have been hers. She made her choice, and she was consumed.

Now he’s left with his two daughters. It’s really ironic, isn’t it? Chapter 13, he’s taken the best of the land of Canaan for himself. He thinks, I’m going to have flocks and herds and servants and wealth. In the end, everything he owns can fit in a hole in the ground. Everything he lived for burned up. So he goes to a cave. We might ask, why didn’t Lot return to Abraham? Makes sense, doesn’t it? No, he goes to a cave.

Now, hang on. This is rough. Now the firstborn said to the younger, our father is old and there is no man on the earth to come into us as is the custom of all the earth. There’s no more men left. They think the whole earth, the whole population of earth, has been wiped out. So she comes up with a scheme. Come, let us make our father drink wine and we will lie with him that we may preserve the lineage of our father. So they made their father drink wine that night and the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. And it happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, indeed, I lay with my father last night. Let us make him drink wine tonight also and you go in and lie with him. So the younger one does the same thing.

Verse 36, Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father, and the firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. And he is the father of the Moabites to this day. And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi. And he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.

What strikes me is that Lot’s story mirrors Noah’s in a way that demands our attention. Both were involved in cataclysmic acts of judgment, were graciously spared, yet both stories end in failure. Noah becomes drunk. Lot becomes drunk. Noah’s children, or at least one son, Ham, commits shameful acts of indecency. Lot’s children commit indecent acts. What does this mean? We urgently need rescue from the sin that festers within us. We see the corruption that continues. Lot and his daughters escaped Sodom, but Lot couldn’t remove Sodom from his daughters. They had been utterly corrupted by the decadent philosophies and culture of Sodom. This is how they thought. They recklessly justified this as acceptable behavior. Their morals had been utterly corrupted by the decadent culture of Sodom.

Friends, that’s what happens when we raise our children in a compromised environment. They had never seen their father build an altar or pray. They had never seen him visit with God. He wasn’t Abraham, but a man who compromised for success. And he ends up with nothing, absolutely nothing. Parents, the culture you immerse your children in will shape their values and will determine their decision making. See, the question isn’t will your children be discipled? It’s who will disciple them. They will be discipled by someone. They will be influenced by someone. But here’s the choice you face: either media and the culture and the school system will teach them how to do it. Teach them all the junk they don’t need to know. And they’ll make foolish decisions like Lot’s daughters. Or, you can raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You can raise them to fear God. You can be faithful. You can build altars. You can pray. You can come to church. You can live the gospel. So how are you raising your children?

We notice here a wasted life in Lot. This is the last time we see Lot in Scripture. He’s mentioned by others like Jesus and Peter. This is the last time we see him. He goes from being the young nephew of Abraham, tagging along to the promised land, to a man drunk on the consequences of his choices—involved in an incestuous relationship with both of his daughters. He is reduced to nothing. Had he chosen the tent over the house, he might have walked alongside Abraham as a mighty man of God. But he chose the house. He chose the judge’s seat in Sodom, where corruption reigned, instead of the altar where faith was built. His descent into the depths of Sodom’s corruption sealed his fate under divine judgment. His story is a warning, not a destiny. Your life does not have to end like this.

So how will your story end? What legacy will you leave when your time on earth is done? Will your name be spoken in connection with devotion—altars raised, prayers offered—or will history recall you as someone who prioritized personal gain over godly influence, leaving your family fractured in the process? Friends, if you still draw breath, there’s still time. Lot’s tale is a caution, not a condemnation. Your life need not mirror his tragic conclusion. Yet even in the shadows of his choices, a glimmer of hope emerges: from his descendants, a woman named Ruth will rise—a woman who will embrace the God of Israel, who will become the matriarch of a lineage that leads directly to the Messiah. There is hope.

Very quickly, I’m going to give you some hope. Born to this shameful union are two children, Moab and Ammon. Moab and Ammon, their children become the Moabites and the Ammonites. They become fierce enemies of Israel, constantly waging war against God’s people. They lead them into idolatry, oppress them, and corrupt their ways. But even in this dark, dingy cave, a ray of hope shines through because centuries later, from the children of Moab will come a woman whose name is Ruth. She will believe in the God of Israel and say, “Your home, Naomi, will be my home, and your God will be my God.” She marries a godly man named Boaz. She becomes the great grandmother of King David. You know what that means? She is in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isn’t that just like God who finds us in the dark, damp, dingy caves of sin? It says, I can rescue you still. I can make your mess into My message and I can bring you into the family of God. Friends, that is the redeeming power of the gospel. Praise God.

There’s another cave. It’s a borrowed tomb, where the Lord Jesus was laid after He died for broken, messed-up sinners like Lot and his daughters and us. And thereafter, taking upon Himself the judgment that should have fallen on us, He was buried and three days later from that cave He emerged victorious. Conquered our sin. Conquered death. Conquered the grave. And spares all who flee to Him from judgment and calls us friends of God. Praise God. The story doesn’t end in Lot’s cave. Praise God. There’s an empty tomb. Praise God for that.

Friends, there is hope—real, tangible hope! It’s not in our strength to resist temptation. It’s not in our ability to avoid compromise. It’s not in our wisdom to make good decisions. Friends, our only hope is to flee to the mountain. Remember He said, Lot, run to the mountain. What mountain are you wanting to run to? You should run to a mountain called Calvary. You should run to the Lord Jesus Christ. As they come and give us a hymn of invitation. Praise God.

When we come to a text like this, we ask, why? Why did God do this? The better question is, why didn’t God destroy the whole earth? Why didn’t God destroy the other cities? The question isn’t, why do bad things happen to good people? The better question is, why has God not condemned us all to hell? If there’s one truth, God is judge of the wicked, but He is also the merciful rescuer. He will judge the ungodly, but He will show mercy to all who flee to Him.

Friends, I want to warn you. Those who reject Jesus, the Bible says they are condemned already. We talk about the fires and flames of Sodom. 2 Thessalonians 1.8 says, Christ will come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says, as those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness store up wrath for themselves that will rain like fire and brimstone upon Sodom. Friends, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah shows us exactly what God thinks about sin. And friends, God’s standards and His opinion have not changed. And one day, every person will stand before an infinitely holy God and answer for their lives. That’s the reason why Hebrews 10 says, those who sin with the knowledge of the truth, nothing remains but fiery indignation that will condemn and consume the adversaries.

Friends, there is a place called hell where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die—a realm of unrelenting flames, ceaseless anguish, and eternal separation from the presence of God. It is not annihilation, not soul sleep, but a furnace of unending torment, where the anguish of the lost will never cease. Revelation 14 declares the smoke of their torments ascends forever and ever, a visible sign of judgment that never fades. As terrible as the judgment upon Sodom was, it was only temporary—a fleeting shadow compared to the eternal darkness of hell. But friends, hell is eternal. Abraham saw the smoke, but the lost who perish without Christ will see it ascend forever and ever and ever and ever, without end, without cessation, without reprieve. That is why you must flee to Jesus—His arms are outstretched in mercy, His heart aching for your salvation. Friends, that is why we must intercede for the lost, for the weight of their eternal fate rests on our prayers and our urgency.

As Charles Spurgeon said, if sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies; if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, then let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions—and let not one soul go unwarned or unprayed for. Friends, there is a reason we must pray. We must spread the gospel because this is no mere game, no mere drill, no mere task I undertake for wages. It is real, urgent, and eternal. The judgment that fell on Sodom was temporary, but the fire of hell is unquenchable, its torment endless. This is not something I get paid to do. Okay? This is real. And forgive me for going past 12. Big deal.

Friends, He knows how to keep the unrighteous under judgment. He also knows how to rescue those like Lot. Friends, I had the privilege of speaking with my grandpa yesterday. And he told me his testimony. He said that I think he was 38. Life of drinking, partying. Well, he was with his friends about 3 o’clock one morning and the highway patrol pulled in where they were parked and they had been, you know, as drunk people do, riding around spinning wheels. He thought that the highway patrolman thought that one of his friends was him. They had the same car. He’s like, no, that wasn’t me. The highway patrolman says, don’t lie to me. That’s you. He said, no, sir, it wasn’t me. He said, don’t lie to me. That’s you. He was going to arrest him. My grandpa said he had a knife in his back pocket. He had already reached for his knife, ready to drive it into his gut. By the mercy of God, his friend jumped in between them and said, now, he’s telling the truth. That was another guy. I can tell you where he lives. The officer let him go, had a good night. He said, but you can’t drive home. So my grandma picked him up. He was still drunk. He said, he laid in the back seat and as he was laying in the back seat, he was still drunk out of his mind. He said, the floorboard of that car opened up and he saw a vision of hell. He said, he saw nothing but lava and flames, just molten mass of burning, just churning over and over and over again. And he heard a voice speak to him and said, you would have been there. If you would have stabbed him, he would have pulled out his gun and shot you and killed you and you would be right there. That moment, my grandpa said, was the beginning of his journey to Christ. He realized that without the gospel, that vision of hell was his destiny. It’s why we must pray, why we must spread the gospel—because this is not a game, this is not a drill, this is real.

By the mercy of God, his friend jumped in between them and said, now, he’s telling the truth. That was another guy. I can tell you where he lives. The officer let him go, had a good night. He said, but you can’t drive home. So my grandma picked him up. He was still drunk. He said, he laid in the back seat and as he was laying in the back seat, he was still drunk out of his mind. He said, the floorboard of that car opened up and he saw a vision of hell. He said, he saw nothing but searing lava and flames—a molten mass of burning, churning endlessly. And he heard a voice speak to him and said, you would have been there. If you had stabbed him, he would have pulled out his gun and shot you and killed you, and you would be right there.

Let me tell you this morning. He said, “God, I’m going to be there anyway if You don’t save me.” He sobered up. Every desire for alcohol was gone. He was changed. And let me tell you, he has been preaching the gospel ever since. That’s the power of salvation. That is the Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come. That is the life-transforming power of the Lord.

So friends, if you are not saved this morning, that is your home. That is your eternal destiny. So will you run to Christ to experience hell on the cross in your place? And if you have loved ones whom God has burdened your heart for, come up here and pray for them because God would spare the city if there were just ten righteous. But let me tell you, God spared us because of the righteousness of one, the Lord Jesus Christ. And He will spare from judgment all who run to Him and call upon Him in faith. So once again, I’m going to be here and pray. And you are welcome to join me.