Returning to Genesis 19

At the end of July, we finished our study of Genesis with an explosive look at Sodom and Gomorrah. If you recall, we looked at the wickedness of those cities and the Lord’s nuclear destruction of Sodom. If you don’t recall, or were not with us in July, we considered the archaeological discovery of the city and the presence of Trinitite (a glassy substance created by a nuclear blast) at the archaeological location.

If you’d like to read more, check out this report. Or you can listen to the sermon which explains how the holy wrath of God was perfectly mixed with his undeniable grace. Grace that will come to the forefront in this Sunday’s sermon, too. Only to see God’s grace in Genesis 19:30–38, we will have to walk through the cave of Lot and his two daughters, which is perhaps one of the vilest stores in the Bible.

Parental Warning Advised. If you have young children, be sure to read Genesis 19 before Sunday, so that you can be ready to answer questions, if your children are of age to understand the sexual sin present in Genesis 19.

As a parent I am committed to reading the Bible to my children and to discussing whatever we find there. And if you read the first book of the Bible, as you should, you will find polygamy (Genesis 4 and also later), surrogacy (Genesis 16), sodomy (Genesis 19), incest (Genesis 19), rape (Genesis 34), prostitution (Genesis 38), and sexual temptation and purity (Genesis 37). In other words, you cannot read the text of the Bible without finding gross examples of sin, but also greater examples of grace.

Indeed, when we come across the stories of men and women messing up royally in the Bible we should be warned and encouraged. We should be warned because these men and women, who share our same human natures, are examples to us of what sin can do, when it is left unchecked. Indeed, their sexual immorality and its dire consequences proves the point that the law of God is good, holy, and true. It is a grace of God that he tells us to deny ourselves and flee sexual sin. For if you deviate from God’s law, it will have consequences. God will not be mocked. And the stories of sin in the Bible help us properly value the goodness of obeying God’s law.

At the same time, these stories of sin also provide channels of hope and promises of grace. For in fact, when sin increases, grace (or at least the promise of grace) increases too (see Romans 5:20). And in the case of Lot and his two daughtes, we will find a pathway from the Ammonites and the Moabites to Jesus Christ himself. For in fact, Jesus has Moabite blood! And if that does not offer encouragement to you, then you need to think twice.

When we sin against God in ways that appear to destroy the future. When our sin fractures our family, breaks relationships, costs tens of thousands of dollars, or worse, physically harms someone we love, we might conclude that there is no hope and no grace. But this is what the stories of Genesis argue against. Where sin increases, the promise of grace does too, for those who trust in the promises of God and the gift of grace found in Christ.

Truly, we serve a God who can raise the dead. And figurally speaking that is what we will see this Sunday. In Scripture, caves are places of death. And that is certainly how Genesis 19 will end—with Lot silent in the cave. But as we will also see, this is not the final word about Lot or about his offspring. Indeed, the final word will not be found until we come to the New Testament.

And so to prepare for Sunday, take time to read Genesis 19 and also Matthew 1:1–17. If you have extra time, take a look at Ruth, too. And come expecting to see the grossness of sin and greatness of God’s grace.

As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday, as we ascend the hill of the Lord in worship.

For His Glory and your joy,
Pastor David