The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah teach us something about God’s nature. While He judged their sin, He also rescued the righteous remnant.

The Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant” (Genesis 18:20). Abraham heard about the coming judgment and began to speak to the Lord. 

“Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?” (vs. 23-24). Abraham negotiated with the Lord back and forth, agreeing that if only 10 righteous people were left in the city, the Lord would rescue them from the coming judgment.

As night approached, Lot met two angels in the city square and invited them to stay the night in his home. “But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!’” (Genesis 19: 4-5). Lot pleaded with these men to not do such a horrible act to no avail.

Before Lot’s family finally retired for the night, a larger crowd appeared at Lot’s home: “All the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!” (vs. 9).

As the situation became uncontrollable, the angels pulled Lot back inside the house and blinded the men of Sodom. The angels asked if any other members of Lot’s lived in the city. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. For we are about to destroy this city. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it” (vs. 12-13). Lot hesitated, but “At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent, ‘Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!’” (vs. 15).

Lot asked if he and his family could flee to another city to survive what was coming. The angels agreed and said, “Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there” (vs. 22). At dawn the next day, God’s judgment came upon Sodom and the surrounding villages. 

The story of Sodom’s destruction because of their sexual perversion can mask something more important for a believer. It teaches us about the patience of God. The Lord was patient during Abraham’s negotiations with Him to allow a small remnant to survive what was coming.  He honored Lot’s offer of hospitality to the angels to stay the night in his home, but Lot’s hospitality put him and his family in a place of danger. 

While the sexually aroused crowd of the men of Sodom and their destruction gains most of our attention, it is the nature of God that is the most important part of the story. The Lord honored His negotiated agreement with Abraham. If, like Lot, we do what is right and honorable and enter a moment where our lives are put in jeopardy because of our hospitality, the Lord will save us no matter what kind of evil surrounds us and tries to destroy our lives. The Lord is patient with His people. He will always make a way of escape for the righteous if we are willing to follow His instructions and His leading.