EFFORTPOST Sodom and Gomorrah

If there is any tale that is notorious in the Bible, it is that of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is a tale of death, temptation, circumcision, and bussy. There are many lessons to learn from the scripture which has often been misinterpreted. It forms an integral part of Jewish lore and Christian tradition.

Abraham is Warned

When Abram turned 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said: "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous." (Genesis 17:1-3). No more shall his name be Abram - it shall be Abraham. The Lord goes on to explain:

This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant. (Genesis 17:10-14).

===================================================

Notes from Holly!

It is this verse that is the basis for infant circumcision, or brit milah, in Judaism. Circumcision is seen as a sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, originating from the covenant made between God and Abraham.

===================================================

Following this, Sarah, who was Abraham's wife, fell pregnant with Ishmael. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Not long after, the Lord pays Abraham a visit and declares that Sodom and Gomorrah are wicked and shall be destroyed. Abraham is worried, as he has his nephew Lot living in Sodom. Hence, he begins to bargain with God. He begins by asking if God will spare the cities if 50 righteous men are found. God agrees. He asks about 45 righteous men, then 40, then 30, then 10 and each time the Lord agrees. This shall be important later.

Abraham's intercessory has been debated among theologians. For some, it is a moment that shows Abraham's righteousness. Abraham's first concern was for any righteous people who might reside in Sodom and Gomorrah. He knew that God was just, and he believed it would be unjust for the righteous to perish along with the wicked. For others, the interaction serves as a teaching moment about God's willingness to listen to the concerns of his faithful followers and to engage in a dialogue with them. It demonstrates God's responsiveness to righteous intercession and his consideration of human appeals.

Ultimately, it doesn't make a difference. If God is omniscient, he knew there would not be 10 innocent souls in the cities, so Abraham's bargaining was futile. Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed.

Angels Visit Lot

Two angels come to Sodom in the form of man. When Lot saw the men he beckoned them to spend the night at his house. The angels say they will sleep in the square, but Lot insists so the angels follow him home where they are served unleavened bread. Before they could sleep, all the men and youths of Sodom surrounded Lot's house. They demand the following: "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may know them." (Genesis 19:5).

The men both young and old surrounded Lot's house, and it is implied that the entire population of Sodom is present. They do not care about hospitality. They do not care about consent. They only care about bussy. Lot refuses and he makes a shocking offer: "Look, I have two daughters who have not known a man; let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof." (Genesis 19:8)

===================================================

Notes from Holly!

So, the topic of Lot offering up his daughters to be r*ped has been debated by theologians. It is accepted by many that the Bible is demonstrating that there are not even 10 righteous men in Sodom - even Lot is depraved. Others claim that it is a matter of cultural norms of the time which put hospitality above all else. For some, this is a feminist issue, and a demonstration of what low of a position women held in society during Biblical times - even guests had a higher position.

===================================================

The men and youths refuse the offer - they want the bussy and will be satisfied by nothing else, not least of all virgin gussy. To protect themselves, the angels produce a blinding light that stops the men and youths from finding the door. The angels then revealed that they have been sent by the Lord to destroy the city and that Lot should flee with his family. Lot warns his sons-in-law but they believe Lot is speaking in jest. The angels say: "Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be consumed." (Genesis 19: 17).

Lot and his family flee to a city named Zoar, but it is not without Lot lingering first. This implies that Lot had lived in Sodom for too long and that he had been infected by sin. The city of sin had become his home, and he had grown attached to it. Hence, the angels seize Lot and his family by the hands and rush them out of the city.

Lot's Wife Gets Salty

God got to destroying Sodom and Gomorroh in a manner that resembles the Flood of Genesis. The difference is that instead of water, the Lord sends down sulfur and fire. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, but as Lot's family flees, Lot's wife looks back and she becomes a pillar of salt.

Lot and his two daughters were afraid to settle in Zoar so they stayed in the caves nearby. It is there that Lot's daughters secretly decide that they will lie with their father to preserve their lineage. So they get him drunk on wine one night and the firstborn date r*pes him. The next night the other daughter date r*pes him. Thus both became pregnant by their father. The firstborn bore a son named Moab while the younger bore a son named Ben-ammi.

===================================================

Notes from Holly!

It is notable that this situation is a reversal of the previous scenario. Lot wanted to give up his daughters to sexual depravity. Instead, it is his daughters that lead Lot into sexual depravity. Lot gets a taste of his own medicine.

===================================================

So why did Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt? Some argue that it is another sign of attachment to the city of sin. She was so consumed by Sodom that she had to look back at her home, and she could not be saved. Others say it is a simple matter of disobedience - God gave an instruction, and Lot's wife disobeyed so she was punished. It should be noted that this part of the story parallels that of the tale of original sin. There is a temptation and it is a woman who is unable to resist.

Conclusion

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a cautionary tale against sexual debauchery and carnal sin. Those who defy God's laws are punished greatly, and it is seen that all characters have both good and bad parts to them. We also learn that God listens to prayer and can be bargained with.

Thanks for reading. Tune in next time when I discuss the case of Mackenzie Shirilla.