In Genesis 18 we find Abraham resting at his tent during the heat of the day, when the Lord, accompanied by two angels, came to visit Abraham. The purpose of his visit, it seems, was to tell Abraham what he, the Lord, intended to do (Genesis 18:17). In other words, the Lord’s visit was a visit one Friend makes with his friend, wherein the first lets the second in on what is to be done. In this way the second friend, Abraham, would have input/advice concerning the first Friend’s (the Lord’s) intentions.
As it was, except for Abrham’s intercession for him, Lot, a righteous man, would have perished in the judgment of God with the people Lot had allied himself with in an effort to make the world a better place, vis-à-vis the world the Lord intended to judge. In other words, Lot, although in his own way he sought to serve the Lord, built his house with wood, hay and stubble, none of which would stand the fires of judgment. Therefore, although he could still be saved, it would be done without crediting any of his righteous works to him that would testify of his service to God (cp. 1Corinthians 3:11-15).
In Genesis 18 the two angels left the Lord with Abraham (Genesis 18:22), and they came to Sodom later that same afternoon (Genesis 19:1). Lot was sitting in the gate of the city, meaning he was there to judge the affairs of the city that were brought to his attention by the folks living there. When he saw the angels coming into the city, he arose, and he bowed himself before them out of respect. The text doesn’t mention whether he believed them to be angels or that he believed them to be, as they probably appeared to others, merchants from the east traveling west toward Egypt.
Immediately, Lot invited them to his home to refresh themselves, for a meal, and to stay the night before traveling on to their destination. Nevertheless, the angels refused (Genesis 19:2). The reference to the street is to a broad place in the city, where travelers could pitch their tent and stay the evening in safety. Lot’s invitation was common oriental courtesy extended for the good of the stranger, and probably the angels’ refusal was common oriental courtesy to allow the invitation to be withdrawn, if it was done only for appearance’s sake. Nevertheless, Lot knew the broad place in the city of Sodom wasn’t safe for the traveler. Therefore, when he continued to press upon them to accept his hospitality, they accepted (Genesis 19:3), and Lot made them a feast, and they enjoyed his hospitality.
Nevertheless, before the evening was over, the citizens of Sodom surrounded Lot’s home and demanded that he send the two men/angels out to them, so they could know them (Genesis 19:4-5). The sense is they wished to rape them.[1] The city had been at war with Mesopotamia (Genesis 14:1-12), and ‘friendly’ relations had not been renewed. Therefore, travelers from the east were abused by the citizens of Sodom on a regular basis, when merchants passed through the city.
Therefore, Lot went out to speak with the men of the city. He explained that the men were under his roof, meaning they were under his protection. It was a common courtesy that should never be violated by others. Yet, these men were violating communal custom by demanding Lot send the angels out, so the men of the city could do them harm. Why not, as Lot pointed out, demand that he send out his daughters for the men to rape.[2] It would have been the same thing, but Lot’s efforts to shame the men fell on deaf ears (Genesis 19:6-8).
Instead of being ashamed, the citizens of Sodom told Lot to step back and allow them to carry out their plans or accept the consequences of standing in their way, which would be worse for him than a mere raping of the strangers, whom Lot sought to protect. Nevertheless, the angels laid their hands on Lot and pulled him back into the house and shut the door, but not before striking the citizens of Sodom, who were at the door, with blindness (Genesis 19:9-11). Thus, we are able to understand from the text, that the unrighteous demands of people, obsessed with doing evil, cannot be changed. They are blind to their own wickedness and cannot be helped. They must carry out their evil deeds, before they would ever consider the morality of their works, and even then, repentance is rare.
_____________________________________________
[1] The word translated know (H3045) is the same word used for Adam knowing Eve and making her pregnant (Genesis 4:1). Therefore, these men weren’t seeking information. Their intentions were evil, and Lot knew it.
[2] See my earlier study, Take My Daughters—Please! for my understanding of Lot’s apparently unrighteous offer of his daughters to be repeatedly raped by the men of Sodom.
Smoodock's Blog 