Most everyone knows the Bible story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – the rain of sulfur and fire sent from heaven (see Genesis 18.16 – 19.29).  There is more to the story than just some hydrogen bomb blasting away the towns.  Seen as an archetype for judgment day, the background gives a lot of information about God’s plans.

First we see God moving to save the godly from destruction.  At the end of chapter 18 there is an interesting discussion where Abraham intercedes for the cities.  He asks if the LORD will spare them for the sake of fifty righteous people living there, since it would not be right to put the righteous to death with the wicked.  “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (18.25) A series of bold requests gets the number down to ten – “for the sake of ten, I will not destroy it” (18.33).  In chapter 19 Lot and his family are rescued from the destruction.  Reading how Lot and his family act (see 19.8, 26, 30-38), one realizes there is more to “righteousness” than just doing good things – the godly and the righteous are the elect – those whom God desires to liberate.

Second we see God’s wrath against the wicked.  The actions of “the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man” (19.4) were despicable.  The angel visitors had to strike the men of the city with blindness in order to rescue Lot (19.11).  All the people of the town committed appalling acts; God’s wrath meant the catastrophe upon the city was total.

Third, we see the certainty of the final judgment.  Verses 18.20-21 tell us the LORD has given careful consideration of the situation and is double-checking all the facts that he already knows to be true.  God is patient with the nations, but he keeps his promises (2 Peter 3.9).  The punishment for all who do not repent and believe will be severe.