Lets take a look at one of the most well known but poorly understood stories in the bible.
Sodom
Some pretext here, Sodom and Gomorrah were towns with a reputation as stated in Genesis 18:20 " Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;"
We aren't told exactly what this sin was, but we are given a clue in Lots story.
Genesis 19
1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
We know the rest... Lots wife becomes salt when she looks back as Sodom is utterly destroyed leaving his daughters to do the unthinkable just to keep the family from dying out.
Lets break down the events here to understand what was going on.
1. Lot invites two strangers into his home, Either he recognizes them as angels or he simply is a nice guy. Whatever his reasoning, he seemed to know that the streets were not a safe place for his guests.
2. A crowd gathers demanding to 'know' Lots guests....
Here's where a lot of mistakes are made by readers of this passage. yes, the word is "know" in the sexual sense.. but the intent is not romantic but punitive as will be made clear shortly.
3. Lot offers his daughters.
Ok, today that would not be, pardon the pun, kosher.. but Lots intent is to protect his guests. Under the law he had the right (remember this is pre exodus) to do as he did. offer his daughters to appease the ire of the men of the city.
Here's our first major clue, the men of the city weren't looking for a piece of tail... they wanted to humiliate and punish the strangers, and Lot. Lots offer of his daughters said "I will accept you humiliating me and my house, but not my guests."
4. The men become angry at Lot "playing the judge"
In this sense it is quite literal, Lot is saying what is 'fair' in his transgression. At the gate he SHOULD have announced the visitors to the authorities.. he did not do that.
So what was the Sin of Sodom?
Well it wasn't homosexuality, though that was their decided punishment it wasn't what the cry was about. The men weren't offering to buy the angels matching man-bags and take them to the latest musical. The Sin of Sodom was.. in-hospitality. They were given to treating strangers with cruelty and humiliation.
Sound like anyone you know?
