The destruction now takes place. The two angels (who, remember, looked like men) went to Sodom and met Lot. Lot demonstrated typical middle Eastern hospitality and offered to look after the angels. Initially the angels declined, but then accepted. So Lot prepared a meal for them. Meanwhile the men of Sodom demonstrated their depravity by calling for Lot to send the men out so that they could have sex with them (hence the term, "sodomise").
Lot's reaction is quite shocking to us. He, rightly declines to send out the visitors, but is quite willing to offer his daughters. Three things need to be said here: (i) the strong ethos of hospitality contributed to Lot's reaction; (ii) it is still totally unacceptable; and (iii) the Bible reports what happened, it does not condone it.
The people of Sodom were not to be dissuaded, and then used the fact that Lot was an outsider to build up anger against him. They were going to break the door down, but then the angels struck them with blindness. Then they speak to Lot and reveal their true purpose. This was twofold : (i) to destroy the city; and (ii) to rescue Lot and his family. Lot's son-in-laws thought the angles were joking. Given the demonstration of power they had just seen, they might have been more inclined to take them seriously. The angels seem to pay no attention to this, and urge Lot and his family to leave quickly.
Lot's reaction is quite shocking to us. He, rightly declines to send out the visitors, but is quite willing to offer his daughters. Three things need to be said here: (i) the strong ethos of hospitality contributed to Lot's reaction; (ii) it is still totally unacceptable; and (iii) the Bible reports what happened, it does not condone it.
The people of Sodom were not to be dissuaded, and then used the fact that Lot was an outsider to build up anger against him. They were going to break the door down, but then the angels struck them with blindness. Then they speak to Lot and reveal their true purpose. This was twofold : (i) to destroy the city; and (ii) to rescue Lot and his family. Lot's son-in-laws thought the angles were joking. Given the demonstration of power they had just seen, they might have been more inclined to take them seriously. The angels seem to pay no attention to this, and urge Lot and his family to leave quickly.
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