The Outcry of Sodom / December 2000

And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

Genesis 18:20-21

Most of you know the basic story of Sodom and Gomorrah. We know that these cities did some grievous things, sexual in nature, and that God judged them. It is one place in the Bible that we weigh the issues of homosexuality and sexual perversion. In fact, our vocabulary has the word "sodomy" from the story to define perverse sexual behavior.

While the story of Sodom and Gomorrah does contain the elements of sexual perversion, this is not the primary reason why God came down to judge the inhabitants. Examine again what the Lord said to Abraham. “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great.”

What outcry? Did you hear an outcry? Abraham didn't hear an outcry. Sexual perversion is a behavior of consenting adults, right? So, what outcry is the Lord referring to?

There are two elements to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah: the outcry and their sin. We know that their sin was exceedingly grave and was a great perversion, but who cried out and what was it that the Lord heard? Whatever it was, God heard it and it caused Him to come from heaven, walk upon the dust of the earth, see for Himself, and execute fire and brimstone total judgment. Only Lot and his daughters were spared. So what was the outcry?

There is a lot of sin going on in the world and it is exceedingly grave, but the Lord hasn't shown up yet to execute fire and brimstone judgment. There is plenty of sexual perversion going on in this world and the Lord has not shown up yet with His judgment by fire. What was it at Sodom and Gomorrah that caused God's direct action? Before we try to answer the questions, maybe we should ask ourselves if this is important to us. Why should we want to know what the outcry of Sodom is? What bearing does it have on us?

We know the Lord is coming back to judge this world and His judgment will be more severe than Sodom and Gomorrah. He says He will judge the whole world, not a couple of cities. Sodom and Gomorrah are examples for us to prepare for the final judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah has a lot more to do with other more serious issues than just sexual behaviors. Listen to what the prophet Ezekiel has to say about Sodom and Gomorrah.

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.

Ezekiel 16:49-50

"Arrogance, abundant food, careless ease, failing to help the poor and needy, haughtiness, and abominations." Before we go any further, doesn't this description of Sodom match the description of America. Let me be plain and obvious. Our generation and this world has made a transition recently. We have now become like Sodom and Gomorrah. I'm not just referring to the sexual perversions; I'm referring to what the outcry of Sodom was.

There is an ancient story in a book that parallels much of Genesis. It is called the Book of Jasher. It is not considered to be part of the Bible but it does elaborate on people and places in the Bible. In particular, it tells a series of events trying to explain the outcry of Sodom. I am not saying that it is accurate but it does lend insight into ancient thinking about this subject. By the way, the books of Joshua (Josh 10:7) and 2 Samuel (2 Sam 1:18) do refer to this book.

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Using the book of Jasher, let me explain in more detail what the ancients said of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Festivals of Sodom

Sodom and Gomorrah was actually a complex of five cities. They were located in a fertile and green valley with the Jordan river feeding it. It was said that a man would have to walk a half a day to cross this valley and that many travelers, strangers and merchants came through it. According to the ancients, Sodom would hold a festival in this valley four times a year. Each man would come to the valley with his wife and daughters. Then the men would take other men's wives or daughters to have sex with them without the objections of the husbands and fathers. Apparently, they took particular pleasure in virgin daughters.

As bizarre as that may seem, it is no more bizarre than Lot offering his daughters to the mob when the men of Sodom demanded Lot's guests (the Angels of the Lord) to be brought out.

Can you imagine the emotional and physical trauma to the women of Sodom for such behavior? But this strange festival is not considered to be the outcry that the Lord heard.

The Visiting Merchant

Another story of Sodom deals with a visiting merchant who came to Sodom and set up his goods for sale on the streets of Sodom. The citizens of Sodom came to see his wares and then everyone mobbed his small market taking everything. He was unable to guard and protect his wares because of the sheer number of people taking them. Furthermore, his cries of help were ignored; instead, the people began to taunt him. Each would hold up what they stole and explain that they only took one item or a small item. It is said that the mob played timbrels and danced following the man out of the city weeping at the loss of all his goods. But the weeping at the loss of goods is not the outcry that the Lord responded to.

The Hospitality of Hedad

Another story of a traveling merchant is even more bizarre. It tells of a merchant with a donkey carrying cloth of many colors. Apparently, the load upon the donkey was suspended by a mantle (a carrying frame) and a cord (a line to bind the load to the frame). Unlike the first merchant, this merchant was only traveling through Sodom and not intending to stop and sell his wares. A certain man of Sodom named Hedad saw the merchant and invited the man to stay the night in his house to rest. At first, the man was going to continue on, but Hedad explained how the day was ending and that he could care for his donkey as well with straw and food. So, the man accepted Hedad's invitation.

The next day, Hedad's invitation was extended even further to meals for the man. The day went by and another night's rest was extended. The traveling merchant again accepted. Again, another day's hospitality was offered and accepted. Then on the third day, the merchant insisted that he must continue on his trip and requested the mantle and cord to tie his goods to his donkey. At this point, Hedad began to do something bizarre.

Hedad then began to give an interpretation of the cord and mantle as though they were symbols in a dream. Hedad said that the man would have a long life (the cord) and that he would have an orchard of many trees with different fruits (the mantle with the colored cloth). The man, of course, was shocked and complained that he had no dream and wanted his cord and mantle returned promptly. Hedad continued to act as though he was interpreting a dream and would not return the man's property.

The traveling merchant then went to the city's officials, the judges. There he came before a judge to make complaint against Hedad. After the merchant stated his case, then Hedad complained how he had shown great service to the man for the past two days and he had offered to only charge him three pieces of silver instead of four for the interpretation of his dream. The judge then ruled in favor of Hedad, citing his hospitality for the past two days. However, the judge also ruled that the merchant would have to pay for all the meals, lodging and the interpretation of the dream. The judge further explained that Hedad's reputation for good interpretations was excellent.

Apparently, the judgment against the merchant equaled the value of his goods. The man went away with only his donkey. Hedad and the corrupt judge took his property, including the cord and mantle. Can you imagine the dismay of the merchant realizing that Hedad had intended all along using his hospitality to trick him into staying the two days and then using an utterly absurd story to take his property? But, even this is not the outcry that the Lord responded to.

The Evil Judges

Sodom and Gomorrah was also known for its evil judges.

According to the ancients, in four of the five cities, evil judges were stationed to do harm to strangers to the benefit of the citizens. A poor stranger traveling into Sodom would easily find himself arrested and charged with a violation of law and customs. They would accuse the stranger of judging them when he questioned their strange customs. While Sodom wanted to be open with their sexuality, they were closed to any questioning of its value. Each of these four cities and judges had a bed that was used to measure these questioning strangers. It was a particular length. The judge would order the stranger onto this bed to be measured. If he was found to be shorter than the bed, he was stretched. They would put three men at his head and arms, and three others at his feet. Then they would stretch the man to the length of the bed. In medieval times, this was called the rack. If the man was longer than the bed, he was then squeezed somehow from at his sides, to the point of death. Essentially, the questioning stranger was tortured to death in a public display. The judges would then proclaim that this was the proper punishment for any man who came to Sodom and questioned their customs.

You can be assured that the stranger cried out, but according to the ancients, even this was not the outcry of Sodom that the Lord responded to.

The Poor Man

In every city there are those who are poor. In the ancient times, the poor would sit near the gates of a city asking for money to buy food. According to the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah, if a poor man was seen asking for money for food, he was taken into the center of the city and constrained. There, the citizens of Sodom would give him money (gold and silver). But when he would offer the money for food, no one was permitted to sell him food. Instead, they would watch and taunt the man with giving him money but no food for which he needed. No matter how much he offered, no one would sell or give him any food. Because of his constraints, they would watch the man starve to death. Then, each man of Sodom would retrieve his money and the man was buried under a bush in the wilderness.

Can you imagine the poor receiving the monies only to be refused the food no matter how much he offered? Death by starvation is not a pleasant thing anywhere. In Sodom, it was put on display for entertainment. Even this was not considered to be the outcry that the Lord respond to.

Eliezer's Visit to Sodom

Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, was dispatched by Sarah to visit and see to the welfare of Lot. According to the story, Eliezer came upon a man of Sodom beating and stripping a poor man of his clothes near the city of Sodom. When Eliezer challenged the man, the man asked if he was a family member of the poor man or one of the judges of Sodom. When Eliezer confessed that he was neither, then the man of Sodom attacked Eliezer with a rock striking him in the head causing him to bleed.

The man then drug Eliezer into the city and took him before one of the corrupt judges. There, the man complained to the judge that he had struck Eliezer to remove some bad blood from his body, and now B Eliezer refused to pay his hire for removing the bad blood. Eliezer, of course, responded to this incredible complaint by questioning how anyone could expect to be paid for wounding another. The judge of Sodom of course ruled in favor of the man from Sodom. At this point, Eliezer rose up and struck the judge. When the judge began to bleed profusely, Eliezer explained that he had removed some bad blood from the judge and that his fee should be paid to the first man for his service to Eliezer.

While this story has an interesting turn and we want to cheer for Abraham's servant Eliezer, this is not the outcry that the Lord responded to.

Palitith, Lot's Daughter

Abraham's nephew, Lot, lived in Sodom. According to the tradition, Lot had a third daughter.
Her name was Palitith and she was the oldest. Palitith grew to maturity and married a man of Sodom. One day, as she went to the center of the city to draw water, she found a poor man constrained with the money begging for food. Each day, she would put bread in her empty pitcher and take it to the well. Secretly, she would give the poor man bread and water. Then she would return home with her water as though nothing had happened. After many days, the men of Sodom could not understand why the poor man had not died of starvation, but instead seemed as healthy as ever. So, they stationed men to watch over him. When Palitith gave him bread from her pitcher, the spies reported her and she was arrested. All of the people of Sodom judged her and built a large bonfire. Thereupon, they threw Palitith into the fire for helping the poor man. Even this, however, is not referred to as the outcry of Sodom.

The Woman of Admah

Admah was one of the five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. A woman in that city, like Palitith, took pity upon a visitor. When she saw the stranger and knew the danger he was in, she took the stranger in, claiming he was her guest and invited by her. She gave him food and water, and then before the men of the city could challenge him again, secretly helped him to escape with his life. The woman was arrested. To judge her severely even though she had been lawful, they covered her with honey and placed her where bees attacked her and stung her to death.

The Outcry of Sodom

According to the tradition, the cry of this unknown woman in Admah is the outcry that the Lord heard. But don't misunderstand the real meaning of the ancient story. It is well understood that every story was part of the outcry. You see, the outcry was the outcry of injustice.

Just as the woman of Admah was challenged for being hospitable toward the stranger, so Lot was challenged with taking in the two angels into his house. Sodom was a place of abundant food, tranquility, and life with ease. They refused to help the poor and needy, they refused to feed the hungry, and they did many evil things. Their sexual perversions were more of a symptom than a cause of their perversions. They had perverted every good thing and attacked anything righteous.

The reason that the angels wanted to go to the square of the city (Gen 19:2) was to see if anyone did justice, to see if anyone sought the truth B ten were not found in any of the five cities.

Now consider ourselves and where we live. Sexual perversions abound. Like Lot, we disagree with the culture and lifestyle, but our communities are full of the sights and sounds of sexuality and open sensuality. Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry in America. The internet has pornographic sites in the 100,000's. Everyone knows about it and by knowledge is a participant to some extent. But let's address something really grievous.

Our country slaughters innocent unborn people in the millions for the sake of inconvenience. Our government sanctions and our supreme court has ruled that this is equal to righteousness and justice. Every elected official is measured against this one issue B the right to an abortion.

In our most recent presidential election, we have watched judges step into the decision making process to render biased decisions no different than the judges of Sodom and Gomorrah.

In Israel, we have watched the Palestinians blow up a school bus with children, killing the teachers and maiming the children. Then on the same day, in retaliation, Israeli helicopter gun ships attacked the Palestinian headquarters. I watched as western commentators chastised Israel for not knowing who specifically in the Palestinian cause was responsible for the bombing and for indiscriminately attacking the Palestinians.

I feel like Eliezer trying to understand the logic of paying a man of Sodom for helping him get rid of some bad blood. We live in a time and world where Godliness is under attack as being an ultra right-wing conservative extremist. We live in a bizarre place where justice is whatever you make it to be with some judge's latest ruling. We live where truth is whatever you make believe it is. And what is really weird, everyone goes along with it.

A few years ago, a Christian lady friend of mine who works at a U.S. government facility, shared how one of the men in the office, suddenly came in one day dressed as a woman. That wasn't the weird part. Then all the ladies in the work place were called to a meeting and it was explained that this woe-MAN would be using the ladies room. She (him) [IT] was embarrassed raising her/his/its skirt in the men's room. Any lady objecting was then led into another meeting to counsel with some PhD from the local university to deal with their prejudices and archaic ultra conservative beliefs. Don't laugh. This really happened and is happening in our land. The customs of our land are no different from Sodom and Gomorrah. You will be judged as unrighteous for taking issue with it!

The outcry of Sodom is coming from our world today. This world has abundant food but we will not share it with the hungry. The hungry are starving. This world is slaughtering the innocent and the helpless, all for our own personal convenience. The world is at ease and laughing at any suggestion of God's judgment. Righteousness is old fashioned and out of style. Justice is perverted and twisted for the benefit of a few. The harm of others has become entertainment for the masses.

Just as the Lord came and had lunch with Abraham sharing with him what was about to happen to Sodom, the Lord has shared with us about the world's future. Abraham pleaded for the righteous few. The Lord was careful to save the righteous. In fact, listen to the Angel's words as Lot was escaping.

Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.

Genesis 19:22a

The Lord has heard the outcry. He has informed us of His intent. He has seen for Himself. We have heard the plea to escape. As soon as the righteous are safe, judgment begins.

How quickly and in what manner does that judgment come? Part of the answer is in the last night in Sodom. We know that Lot spent a long night pleading with his sons-in-law to escape, only to hear them think he was joking (Gen 19:14). How many of your family think your walk with the Lord is some kind of a joke? How many of your family have accused you of acting like a judge because you believe we are the last generation and will see God's judgment. The judgment at Sodom and Gomorrah came the next day. And on that very day, Lot's wife looked back in the process and was judged.

It is on this last point that we conclude. This was the point that Yeshua made reference when He warned us about the final judgment. People who live in Sodom like to live there, and they don't like to leave it. This is particularly frightening when you consider that we all are living in the Sodom and Gomorrah of today. I'm curious. Can you find nine others in your town that will follow the instruction of the prophet?

Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

Are we prepared to leave Sodom and Gomorrah or are we still asking, "What outcry?"

With saw in hand, the man trudges up the slope breathing in the cool air. His eyes scan the hill side like a radar, moving back and forth. He weighs carefully his choice. It has to have good shape but not too big. He remembers that he has to drag the thing back from where he has come. Finally, his choice is made and he positions himself for the best leverage with the saw. The base isn't too thick but the task is frustrating as he pushes and pulls with the saw. A small timber echoes in his heart as the tree leans over into the snow. Relief comes over him as he stands and begins the task of dragging the tree down the hill to his waiting vehicle. His eyes now strain to see if an unexpected owner of the field might suddenly appear demanding payment for damages.

He binds his harvest to the roof and shakes off the shedding debris. He drives home and unloads the green bundle into his garage. The overhead light enables him to closely inspect the base. Another cut will be required to square it up. With that comes the cross pieces to give it a stable base. Three nails should hold it well. He faintly remembers something about another cross and three nails but that is another holiday and story.

With its fabricated base in place, the tree is set aright and for the first time the family is called to inspect the tree. The opinions all vary, but the real criticism concerns the stability of the tree to remain vertical. The wood base is not perpendicular and adjustments are made for the tottering effect and ever present "its leaning too much that way." Finally, it is deemed acceptable.

The process is a little raucous, grasping the tree at arms length, the man and the tree dance without music through the doors and adjoining rooms. Chairs and other furniture give way throughout the procession. Finally, it is set in its permanent position for the next several weeks.
Boxes of decorations are brought out from their year long hiding places. Lights are strung and tested. Each bulb is hung with precision and skill. The array of dangling objects and colorful lights beginx to give shape to a great ball gown and is given the same type of compliments. The moment finally comes when the last decoration is placed, usually at the top, and the family steps back like an audience in awe. It is a Christmas tree and it is beautiful. It is also an idol and the house has proved that they are idolaters. At least, that is what the Bible says of them.

For the customs of the peoples are delusion; because it is wood cut from the forest, the work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They decorate it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers so that it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, and they cannot speak; they must be carried, because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, nor can they do any good.

Jeremiah 10:3-5

I suspect that most Christians share the same thoughts I had when I observed Christmas. I never considered the Christmas tree to be an idol. Idols are things that you bow down to like the ancients did thinking they would receive blessings, but I never bowed down to the Christmas tree B except when I went to get the gifts from under it.

I observed Christmas primarily as a remembrance of the Lord's birth, but then even beginning Bible students know that the actual birth was sometime in September near the actual Biblical holidays.

I knew that Christmas was a spiritual holiday and our thoughts should be for "Peace and goodwill toward all men." Of course, we observed all this by expressing our goodwill through materialistic gift giving and getting, attending parties, overeating and drinking alcoholic spirits.

I understood that Christmas was a man made tradition, but it a was good tradition and my family and children enjoyed it. I always expressed how we believed in only the Bible and didn't follow the traditions of men like those Jews did. Of course, we knew that Christmas meant AChrist Mass@ and that it was really a Catholic and Lutheran holiday. We weren't Catholics or Lutherans by any stretch of the imagination, but we liked their traditions and allowed this one indiscretion in our strictly Biblical observance. Besides more people than just Catholics and Lutherans observed it. Even people who didn't believe in God observed Christmas. That ought tell you something!

I can understand the difficulty in stopping the observance of Christmas in a home and family. For your children, you would have to explain that Santa Claus and the reindeer are really made up stories based on some Catholic saint (which you don't believe in). And then you would have to explain that misleading your children and raising false expectations is Aokay@ for Christmas but not in real life. For your extended family, you would have to explain your real faith in the Bible and the Biblical holidays, knowing that they would accuse you of believing in the God of Israel, a Jewish Bible, and becoming Jewish by believing in a Jewish Messiah. You would have to deal with some very difficult questions about you and what you really believe in. Then, you would find yourself in the uncomfortable position of trying to share love and truth in an atmosphere of hypocrisy.

I empathize with you brethren as you negotiate all these issues this season. As for me, I believe that you mean well and do want to choose the Lord's way. But so that it is clear between us and there is no delusion, you don't need to wish me a "Merry Christmas." I'm not Catholic nor Lutheran and on December 25th I won't be worshiping the Roman sun god symbolized by a decorated fir tree.

Jesus is not the reason for the season; Christmas is a season looking for a reason.

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