Q: What was the ‘main’ reason that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? And …?
Q: What was the ‘main’ reason that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? Didn’t Jesus give us a ‘solemn’ warning in Luke 17:32 ”Remember Lot’s Wife.” What lesson was it about Lot’s wife that we were to remember? And was she saved from the fiery judgment that fell on the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? [I remembered your bishop teaching on this subject.] One final question: I’ve been tasked by my senior leadership to develop a Bible course for the ministry, that will help Christians to better interpret Scripture, memorize verses, and how to systematically read the Old and New Testaments. Can you share a little directional light on these subjects? Thanks Dr. Mike
A: Thanks pastor for this encompassing question(s).
Yes, I too remembered this being one of Bishop Green’s most popular sermons. My understanding, from teaching on various subject matters from the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah, is that the twin cities had a combined population of about 10,000 inhabitants, which was a large city, during that particular time in history. God said, “For the sake of 10 righteous, I will spare the city of 10,000.” God’s saying, for one righteous person in a city (interceding), I’ll spare 1,000 unrighteous. The problem was: when Abraham was interceding with God, for the salvation of the twin cities, there weren’t 10 righteous people to be found!
About the question You asked concerning Lot’s wife in Genesis 19: Jesus mentioned her for the sound reasoning of DISOBEDIENCE!
She looked back at the twin cities that she ‘LOVED’ and therefore, she became IDENTIFIED with the SIN of the people: thus its CONDEMNATION also, and was therefore JUDGED with it by God [Himself]!
So, what Jesus was saying in Luke 17 and Matthew 24, was, DON’T DELAY – GO QUICKLY, BECAUSE DELAY COULD COST YOU YOUR LIFE!
Of course there are schools of biblical and theological thoughts, out there, as to whether or not, she was Eternally Lost. Some may say that God saw her SIN of DISOBEDIENCE as great enough for a life sentence, and others may say, she falls into the same category as others in the Old and New Testaments, whose flesh was weak, at the moment of temptation, but that God was merciful … so they conclude, ONLY God knows the true heart!
Last but not least, concerning your task of creating sound biblical resources for a 20 weeks class: to shorten your research, I hope that a couple of teaching resources, that I’ve already produced on the ministry site, will help alleviate some of your research, for example,
interpreting Scripture (see A Concise Study on Hermeneutics: Interpreting the Scriptures), memorizing Bible verses (see Evangelism: A Passion for the Lost), and concerning a systematic study of the Old and New Testaments, a number of saints have asked about the method for during the entire Bible; and I’ve indicated to them, that it will be included in the first [Spiritual Nuggets] Newsletter for 2020.