QT 9/11/2025 Gen 19:1-13, Evil can be constrained by righteous men

Genesis 19:1–13 (ESV) —

1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

 

NOTE: It is hard to understand customs of hospitality or the willingness of Lot to offer his two virgin daughters to protect the men. So my focus is on the angels. They were quite insistent about sleeping in the town square, and it is clear that they had the power to protect themselves from these evil men. The passage might be interpreted as a common use of hyperbolas, not at all meaning "all the men," except for the fact that the author goes to great extent to say it was every man of the city. What an incredibly evil city! The men of the city were blinded. If they did received their sight back, they then saw the whole countryside and city go up in flames. And then they sat in Hades where the fire is forever burning.

 

The angels mission was to destroy the city. I'm sure they were already briefed on the situation and the few righteous, although, were they told there was one, three, or four righteous? My guess is that they were told one. But Lot's righteousness had an extenuating effect to his family, to include his sons-in-law. It doesn't mean that they were righteous, only that they were sanctified by him temporarily. We too have a sanctifying effect upon our community. We are part of the restraining force that is holding back evil. If, and when we disappear (are raptured), the evil in the world will be unconstrained. Lot's effect was pretty minimal in Sodom since the entire population of men were evil. As righteous men decline, sin will increase.

 

PONDER:

1. What is the effect of my own life on my community?
2. Does my life encourage sinful behavior and unrighteousness, or does it, by example, restrain evil?

 

PRAYER: Father, I desire to be a man of righteousness that, by example of life, restrains the evil in the world. Yesterday, a very evil act occurred. My country has few righteous men. And evil is increasing. Demons are once again possessing souls in large numbers.