Genesis 19:17-29 - "A Brand Plucked from the Burning"

Genesis 19:17-29

"And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt."

In Genesis chapter 19, we see the importance of the angels appearing to Lot in Sodom and warning him of the impending doom. Even though he lingered because of acquaintances and associates in that city, yet the angel mercifully grabbed him by the hand, the LORD being merciful unto him. There may only be one in an entire family to whom the LORD is pleased to show saving Mercy, and in this case, it was Lot. They brought him forth and set him without the city, and the word was clear: “escape for thy life; look not behind thee” (v. 17).

Here then is the urgency—escape for your life and do not look behind you. Sheep are dumb animals by nature, unaware of the dangers around them, and so it is with the LORD's sheep. They were not chosen because of any goodness or wisdom in them, but rather are ignorant, depraved, and hopeless without the Great Shepherd rescuing them. If it were left to us, we’d be destroyed with the world. But Grace intervenes, Grace that is particular, purposeful, uncommon, and in Christ alone. Lot said, "Behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy" (v. 19). He knew it was particularly regarding him. And the LORD caused Lot to implore that there be a city to run to, a picture of Christ, the City of Refuge.

This brings us to Abraham’s confidence: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). Abraham rested there, and we rest there—that whatever God does is right, and it’s right because He does it. God had determined to spare Lot, one of the LORD’s, one who vexed his righteous soul night and day (2 Peter 2:8). He would not die with the unjust. He would be delivered out, just like all those God has purposed to save have been delivered out through the death of God's Son so that they be not destroyed with the world, as a firebrand plucked from the fire, (Jude 1:23).

"Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar" (v. 22)—small, insignificant. Yet it was the place of Mercy for Lot, and therein a type of the LORD Jesus Christ. The world looks at Him as a little one. “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). They saw Him as a little root out of dry ground, and yet He is the Redeemer and Savior of His people. All the cities were destroyed except this one, because one of the LORD’s was there. Even so with the LORD Jesus Christ, the preservation of His people is in Him alone.

"Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven" (v. 24). The sun had risen when Lot entered Zoar, and then the destruction came. A great judgment, fire and brimstone, from God. Yet even with such mercy set before them, Lot’s wife looked back from behind him and became a pillar of salt. When the angel of the LORD said, "Look not behind thee" (v. 17), it's the Word of the LORD and therefore to be followed. If the LORD has delivered you, then you run "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith," (Hebrews 12:2).

Her looking back revealed the state of her heart—lost and set on destruction, unconcerned for the state of her soul. And how many are like that today? We would never know the depravity and sinfulness of our own soul if the LORD did not grant Grace to see our need and look to Christ. She "looked back" connotes looking intently, lingering, and possibly even returning. But Lot did not turn with her. One that is bought and drawn by the Spirit will run with their eyes set upon Christ rather than follow their companions into destruction.

Abraham rose early in the morning and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. Looking toward Sodom and Gomorrah, he saw that “the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace” (v. 28)—a vivid picture of Divine condemnation. Yet it also testified that God remembered Abraham and brought Lot safely out from the midst of the destruction. And so we bow. God’s way is always perfect. He spared Lot, brought him out, and then destroyed the cities. Salvation is of the LORD. His Mercy, His Grace, His sovereign will accomplished in Christ, our Zoar, our City of Refuge.