Genesis 18 gives the account of three heavenly visitors who visited Abraham by the tents of Mamre. Biblical texts and deductions support the fact that one of them was Jesus Christ, pre-incarnate in the flesh (a theophany to Abraham) who remained standing and communing with Abraham as the other two angels made their way toward the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which they were going to destroy (Genesis 18:22). Then after the Lord had finished speaking (communing) with Abraham, the Bible records that the Lord went his way (Genesis 18:33), but the Scripture records that only two angels came to Sodom in the evening (Genesis 19:1). The Lord does not show up in Sodom, a place that was grievously sinful (Genesis 18:20).
What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? The most common answer is homosexuality and that is not incorrect as we shall see from the way, how all (not some but all) of the men of Sodom, both young and old, come to satisfy their carnal perverted appetites. But we must be careful to not write off that the sins of these wicked cities was exclusively homosexuality, which God does not condone and which he detests (Leviticus 18:22). Ezekiel 16:48-50 lists that the sins of Sodom was also pride, gluttony (fullness of bread) and laziness (abundance in idleness) while the poor and needy suffered around it. The people were haughty and committed abominations. Jude also adds to this list fornication and a going after strange flesh (sexual perversion sins again).
The Lord does not show up in such a place such as Sodom and Gomorrah.
Points to ponder:
While it is easy to judge if one is guilty of abominable sins such as the sins of the flesh i.e., homosexuality, fornications and their like, we must be careful to recognize that God finds the other sins of pride, gluttony, laziness, haughtiness, and inhospitability of not helping the poor and the needy, equally grievous and detestable.
Let each of us therefore take stock of our personal life and see if we are guilty of one or more of the following:
– sexual sins (matters of the flesh over the Spirit)
– pride (wanting to be like God, not needing him)
– gluttony (an excessive desire to satisfy our fleshly appetites)
– laziness (not working for the Lord)
– haughtiness (putting on the mind of the devil who wanted to elevate himself above God) and
– inhospitability (not doing what we ought to unto the least of God’s brethren).
Now take note, if we are grievously sinful and guilty as charged of any of these detestable (abomination) sins, then don’t be surprised, if the Lord God does not show up.
Do you want the Lord to show up in your life? If that is an affirmative, the remember, repent and redo what the Lord has chosen you to do.
Genesis 19:1-2 (KJV)
1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Ezekiel 16:48-50 (KJV)
48 As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
Jude 7 (KJV)
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
