A Merciful God and the Destruction of Sodom

I should have the ministry recap from last Sunday up soon. Meanwhile, here are some intriguing thoughts on this week's Scripture passage by English pastor and author, F. B. Meyer (1847-1929).

Meyer notes four reasons why a loving, merciful God was justified in destroying Sodom and Gomorrah.

(Illustration by Gustave Dore)

(1) It was a merciful warning to the rest of mankind.

The lesson of the Flood had well-nigh faded from the memory of man, and heedless of restraint, the human family had made terrible advances in the course of open shameless vice--so much so that there seemed an imminent danger of men repeating the abominable crimes that had opened the sluices of the Deluge. It was surely, therefore, wise and merciful to set up a warning, which told its own terrible story, and reminded transgressors that there were limits beyond which the Judge of all the earth would not permit them to go. God's warnings have a merciful intention, even where they are unheeded.

(2) In this terrible act, the Almighty simply hastened the result of their own actions.

Nations are not destroyed until they are rotten at the core, as the northeast wind which snaps the forest trees only hastens the result for which the borer-worm had already prepared. It would have been clear to any thoughtful observer who ventured out after dark in Sodom that it must inevitably fall. Unnatural crime had already eaten out the national heart, and in the ordinary course of events, utter collapse could not be long delayed.

(3) This overthrow only happened after careful investigation.

"I will go down now and see." God does not act hastily, nor upon hearsay evidence. He must see for Himself if there may not be some mitigating or extenuating circumstances. This deliberation is characteristic of God. He is unwilling that any should perish. He is slow to anger. He tells us that some day, when we come to look into His doings, we shall be comforted concerning many of the evils which He has brought on the world, because we shall know that He has not done "without cause" all that He has done. (Ezekiel 14:23)

(4) During the delay, many a warning was sent.

First, there was the conquest by Chedorlaomer, some twenty years before. Then there was the presence of Lot, which was enfeebled by his inconsistencies, but was still a protest on behalf of righteousness. Finally, there was the deliverance and restoration by the energetic interposition of Abraham. Again and again had God warned the men of these cities of their inevitable doom, if they did not repent.

[From Abraham, or the Obedience of Faith, by F. B. Meyer. Christian Literature Crusade.]