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Bible Study Sodom

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Nathan

Nathan

Member
Its been 3 days since the Bible study forum has been used. I figure if I go 3 days without a really good meal I get pretty hungry. :)

So I was reading the other day and came across some Scripture dealing with Sodom. I have read it before, but it still caught my eye and provoked thought.

What I want to do is simply get others thoughts on why Sodom was destroyed and what God was thinking. I figured it would be a good way to dig a little into the Word and see what sort of useful things we might find buried.
 
Gen 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Gen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Gen 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
 
reba said:
Gen 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Gen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Gen 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
Click to expand...

I find it interesting that it says they were wicked 'and' sinners.
 
Genesis 19:13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."

People were calling out to the Lord to just end it, cause it had gotten so bad.
 
Ah yes Nathan, a thought provoking thread to be sure. As I review these Scriptures of our great God's reflection on the goings on in Sodom, I see a couple of bad decisions of a man of God, namely Lot.

In Genesis....
Genesis 13:10 "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly."

I find lot's decision to select the "Plain of Jordan" a preferred place to live, over the decision to go to a more promised land like that that Abraham chose. Little did Lot know what Sodom was like because He didn't chose to investigate Sodom's reputation.... "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." I really don't think that would have made his decision had he known this about the residents of Sodom.

I believe that the decision of Lot was a fleshly decision, not sought thru prayer to God for His decision. Abraham chose to better place to live, perhaps because he had sought the will of his Abba Father.

A good lesson for us all to seek the will of God, "Seek the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness" before making life's decisions.
 
Mat 10:15
Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Now why would Jesus say such a thing?
 
Did Abraham choose? or did God choose for Abe?
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
 
reba said:
Did Abraham choose? or did God choose for Abe?
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Click to expand...
It's one of those suspense moments in scriptures.
Abraham offering the "Holy Site" of The Holy Land to Lot...where the future Temple was to be. But instead Lot saw the well watered plain...
Just like Eve saw the fruit was good for food and for making one wise;
Cain saw that God favored Abel's sacrifice;
Ham saw his father Noah's nakedness...

It's a thematic thingy. Can't remember the exact name of it.
 
I assume the scriptures are written in chronological order ... which is not always the case ...
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Gen_15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
 
reba said:
I assume the scriptures are written in chronological order ... which is not always the case ...
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Gen_15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Click to expand...
Yes but the bulk of the volume of people reading Genesis are post Holy Land settling.
 
reba said:
I assume the scriptures are written in chronological order ... which is not always the case ...
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Gen_15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Click to expand...
Up to this point God says,"I will give..."
And here is "I have given..."

Future tense vx past tense... all of actions yet to happen.
 
LovethroughDove said:
Genesis 19:13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."

People were calling out to the Lord to just end it, cause it had gotten so bad.
Click to expand...

Ah, yes. So what was so bad about the place that God decided it was enough, and time to destroy it?
 
Chopper said:
Ah yes Nathan, a thought provoking thread to be sure. As I review these Scriptures of our great God's reflection on the goings on in Sodom, I see a couple of bad decisions of a man of God, namely Lot.

In Genesis....
Genesis 13:10 "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly."

I find lot's decision to select the "Plain of Jordan" a preferred place to live, over the decision to go to a more promised land like that that Abraham chose. Little did Lot know what Sodom was like because He didn't chose to investigate Sodom's reputation.... "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." I really don't think that would have made his decision had he known this about the residents of Sodom.

I believe that the decision of Lot was a fleshly decision, not sought thru prayer to God for His decision. Abraham chose to better place to live, perhaps because he had sought the will of his Abba Father.

A good lesson for us all to seek the will of God, "Seek the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness" before making life's decisions.
Click to expand...

So the place seemed like the Garden, from the outside appearance it was about as good as it gets.

But what was going on inside was way different.

One of those things where location, location, location doesn't fit the bill. :)
 
Nathan said:
Ah, yes. So what was so bad about the place that God decided it was enough, and time to destroy it?
Click to expand...
Well, in the scripture I had.......the outcry to the Lord had him take action. That would be like today and let's say I'm over all the fighting, when we are supposed to love each other. He acted upon those who called out to him.
 
JohnDB said:
Mat 10:15
Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Now why would Jesus say such a thing?
Click to expand...

Just so we can see the context of Jesus statement;

Matthew 10
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
9 Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, greet it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

So the towns condition of being worse than Sodom is based on its reception of Christs disciples and their message. Along with that, I suppose Jesus is drawing a parallel to Sodom in conjunction with not receiving?
 
reba said:
Did Abraham choose? or did God choose for Abe?
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Click to expand...

Does seem like Abe chose, and God didn't rebuke him for it or anything.
 
The way i see it God in His foreknowledge had Lot choose the Sodom area.. Lot choose first and Abe took what was left or in this case 'right"
 
LovethroughDove said:
Well, in the scripture I had.......the outcry to the Lord had him take action. That would be like today and let's say I'm over all the fighting, when we are supposed to love each other. He acted upon those who called out to him.
Click to expand...

You bring up an interesting point. Who was the outcry from?
 
Chopper said:
Ah yes Nathan, a thought provoking thread to be sure. As I review these Scriptures of our great God's reflection on the goings on in Sodom, I see a couple of bad decisions of a man of God, namely Lot.

In Genesis....
Genesis 13:10 "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly."

I find lot's decision to select the "Plain of Jordan" a preferred place to live, over the decision to go to a more promised land like that that Abraham chose. Little did Lot know what Sodom was like because He didn't chose to investigate Sodom's reputation.... "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." I really don't think that would have made his decision had he known this about the residents of Sodom.

I believe that the decision of Lot was a fleshly decision, not sought thru prayer to God for His decision. Abraham chose to better place to live, perhaps because he had sought the will of his Abba Father.

A good lesson for us all to seek the will of God, "Seek the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness" before making life's decisions.
Click to expand...

hello Chopper, dirtfarmer here

I agree that Lot's decision was a fleshly decision. It is stated in verse 10, " and Lot lifted up his eyes". That is the problem of most believers, we lift up our eyes rather than lift our voice in prayer.

I don't see Abraham as making a chose, but living by the principle set forth in Romans 8:28 even though it was not yet stated in scripture: " And we know that all things work together for good to them that God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
 
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