Genesis 19 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 19

WHEN:

• Abram was born in approximately 1996 B.C. and died in 1821 B.C. at 175 years old (Gen 25:7).

• The city of Sodom was destroyed when Abram was 99 years old (approximately 1897 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Lot – Abraham’s nephew. A righteous man who lived in the wicked city of Sodom.

• Angels – 2 angels visited Lot in Sodom and warned him of the city’s destruction.

• Citizens of Sodom – “Exceedingly wicked sinners against the Lord” (Gen 13:13).  

• Lot’s Wife – She disobeyed God and was turned into a pillar of salt.

• Lot’s Daughters – They escaped Sodom with their father and bore him two sons.  

WHERE:

• Genesis 19 centers around the city of Sodom and the town of Zoar. The exact location of these cities is still unknown, but most scholars place them on the southern end of the Dead Sea.

OUTLINE:

• TWO ANGELS VISIT LOT IN SODOM (19:1-3):

  • That night, all the men of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house and demanded the angels be brought out to them so they could “have relations with them” (sexually).

  • Lot refused and even went so far as to offer his own daughters to the men in order to protect his guests.

  • But the men of the city wouldn’t take no for an answer, and they pressed forward intending to break the door down.

  • They angels saved Lot by pulling him into the house and striking the men outside with blindness.

• LOT AND HIS FAMILY ESCAPE SODOM (19:12-22):

  • The angels told Lot to gather his family and flee because God was going to destroy the city for its wickedness.

  • Lot tried to get his sons-in-law to flee with him, but they wouldn’t listen.

  • When morning dawned, Lot hesitated to leave, but the angels took hold of him, his wife, and his 2 daughters and brought them outside the city.

  • Lot’s family was told to find refuge in the town of Zoar, and they were told not to look back as God destroyed Sodom.

• GOD DESTROYS SODOM WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE (19:23-29):

  • God “rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah” which destroyed the city, the plants, and the people.

  • Lot’s wife disobeyed the angels and looked back after fleeing Sodom and she was turned into a pillar of salt.

• LOT AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS (19:30-38):

  • Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar so he and his daughters lived in a cave in the mountains.

  • Lot was growing old and didn’t have a male descendant to pass on his family name, so his daughters decided to get him drunk, sleep with him, and become pregnant by him in hopes of conceiving a son.

  • Their plan, however disturbing, worked and they gave birth to two sons. The eldest gave birth to Moab, the father of the Moabites. The younger gave birth to Ben-ammi, the father of the Ammonites.

APPLICATION:

• Surrounding yourself with ungodly people will make your life harder.

• Lot was flourishing when he was living with Abraham, but his decision to move to Sodom and make his home with evil people cost him his peace, his family members, and his wealth.

• The same is true for us. Surrounding ourselves with ungodly people may have certain benefits in the short term, but the negative effect of those people has a detriment on our lives and souls over the long term.