Lesson 10: Upon Whom the Ends Have Come

10.3 The Story of Sodom and Gomorrah

When the Fire of Judgment Falls – Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah

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Introduction

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most powerful and sobering accounts in the Old Testament. Two cities, known for their immorality, social injustice, and spiritual rebellion, are destroyed by fire from heaven. Yet the biblical writers—especially Peter, Jude, and Ezekiel—make it clear: This story is not a distant event from antiquity, but a prophetic warning for every generation—including our own.

When we read 2 Peter 2:4–11, Jude 5–8, and Ezekiel 16:46–50, we realize: God does not tolerate evil indefinitely. Equally important: God’s judgment never comes without reason. It is the response to persistent, willful rebellion against His grace and order.

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Bible Study 

1. Sodom in the Old and New Testament

2 Peter 2:4–11: Sodom and Gomorrah are given as examples of how God judges the ungodly. Lot is portrayed as a “righteous man” whose soul was tormented by the lawless deeds of his neighbors.

Jude 5–8: The cities are cited as examples of those who “indulged in sexual immorality” and “pursued unnatural desires.” Their punishment with “eternal fire” is explicitly mentioned.

Ezekiel 16:46–50: Beyond sexual sin, Ezekiel lists pride, excess of food, laziness, and failure to help the poor as the primary sins of Sodom.

2. The Deeper Sin: Spiritual Arrogance

Ezekiel 16 shows that sin isn’t always what it appears to be. Israel despised God’s mercy and committed spiritual adultery.

God compares His own people to Sodom—and declares: “You are worse.”

The deepest sin is not immorality, but religious self-righteousness that numbs the heart.

3. Judgment and Grace – Side by Side

God does not destroy recklessly. He warns, He pleads, He gives time.

But when the human heart hardens, consequences follow.

The story of Sodom is also a call to repentance—before judgment comes.

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Answers to the Questions

Question 1: What moral conditions led to the destruction of Sodom?

Answer: The Bible presents several reasons:

• Sexual immorality and perversion (Jude 7)

• Pride and arrogance (Ezekiel 16:49)

• Abundance without care for the poor (Ezekiel 16:49)

• Indifference to God’s commandments

• Contempt for divine order (2 Peter 2:10)

This combination of personal depravity, social cruelty, and spiritual arrogance made Sodom ripe for judgment.

Question 2: What parallels can we see today?

Answer:

• A society that relativizes everything—including morality

• Self-fulfillment above all—regardless of the harm to others

• Sexual orientation and identity as the highest form of self-expression

• Coldness toward suffering, exploitation of the weak

• Pride in “tolerance”—but intolerance toward biblical truth

• Disregard for Scripture, indifference to sin even within the church

These are not just “worldly” problems—many of them affect the church as well.

Question 3: Why does God speak so harshly to His own people in Ezekiel?

Answer:

• Because they knew the truth—and rejected it

• Because religious people are often dangerously close to spiritual blindness

• Because self-righteousness can be more deadly than open sin

Like David (2 Samuel 12):
He was enraged at the injustice of the rich man who stole the poor man’s lamb—until Nathan said, “You are the man!”

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Spiritual Principles

• God’s patience is long—but not endless

• Rebellion often begins with complacency

• True faith shows in compassion, purity, and justice

• God’s judgment begins with His own house (1 Peter 4:17)

• Genuine obedience begins with recognizing oneself as a sinner and seeking grace

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Application for Daily Life

• Self-examination: Where have I grown complacent? Where do I judge others without examining my own heart?

• Live mercy: Do I see the needs around me—or am I like the rich in Sodom: full, bored, and cold?

• Humble repentance: When the Spirit convicts me, do I respond like David: “I have sinned against the Lord”?

• Speak warning with love: Not moralistically, but prophetically—like Nathan to David, like Ezekiel to Israel

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Conclusion

Sodom was not destroyed merely because of sexual sin, but because a whole people elevated themselves above God. They despised life, oppressed the poor, and dulled their conscience. This story is a living warning—but also a call to repentance and grace. If we repent, God is faithful and just.

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Thought of the Day

“The greatest blindness is failing to see our own guilt while loudly condemning the guilt of others.”

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Illustration – Under the Glass Roof

It was late. The city lights reflected off the glass wall of Elina’s apartment, perched high above the streets of Frankfurt. Cars left glowing streaks, music thumped from a rooftop club, and her phone vibrated silently on the table. She ignored it—just like she had been ignoring most things lately.

Elina was 29. Successful, efficient, independent. She worked in digital brand management. By day she spoke about client engagement and vision strategies; by night she scrolled through endless streams and documentaries about climate collapse, social debates, and identity politics. Everything seemed to unravel, yet no one stopped to breathe.

In the corner of her apartment sat an old moving box—untouched since inheriting her mother’s house. Childhood memories. Things forgotten but not discarded. One evening she opened it—she didn’t know why. Between old calendars, faded letters, and a stuffed bunny, she found a small, worn Bible. Inside, her mother had written:
“Read before you judge. – Mom”

She flipped through randomly—no intention, no faith—and landed in Ezekiel 16. Her eyes caught the words:
“This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: pride, excess of food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.”

Not what she expected. No fire from heaven—just a mirror. Arrogance. Fullness. Indifference.

She closed the book, unsettled by the whisper inside: “You know this.”

In the following days, her awareness grew. Things she once ignored hit her deeply. The homeless boy on the subway vent. The heated meeting at work where a colleague was fired for speaking openly about his Christian faith. The way people treated him—as if belief were more dangerous than greed.

Elina defended him. Not loudly—just quietly. And that was enough for people to watch her differently.

At night, she dreamed of flames—not war, not disaster—but a city drenched in luxury, facing heaven’s response. She wasn’t watching. She was inside. Her glass ceiling shattered. The skyline burned. The proud city crumbled into silence. Then a figure appeared. White. Calm. No scream. No condemnation. Only one sentence:
“You are the woman.”

She woke up drenched in sweat. The silence was deafening. She knelt—so unlike her—normally the one in control, structured, self-made. And she whispered her first true prayer:
“I see myself. And I see You. Lord, save me from myself.”

Over the months, her life changed radically. She quit her job. Gave up her apartment. Moved into something simpler. She started volunteering in a soup kitchen and a women’s shelter. She spoke to people, not target groups. She stopped managing and started listening.

She was no longer admired. No longer “the career woman,” no longer “the enlightened one.” But she was free. And at peace.

When asked why she changed her life so dramatically, she doesn’t use theological terms. She simply says:
“I was proud. Full. Tired. And blind. But God opened my eyes—before the fire came.”

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Reflection from the Story:

Sodom was not just a city. It was a condition of the heart. And those who recognize it can be saved—before it’s too late.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-10-upon-whom-the-ends-have-come-10-3-the-story-of-sodom-and-gomorrah-allusions-images-symbols-living-faith/

June 3, 2025

DAILY BIBLE READING

Genesis 48 – Jacob’s Blessing over Ephraim and Manasseh – God’s Ways Are Higher Than Ours

When God Chooses the Unexpected: The Younger Becomes Greater Than the Firstborn

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Bible Text – Genesis 48 (KJV)

¹ And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

² And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

³ And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

⁴ And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

⁵ And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

⁶ And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

⁷ And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

⁸ And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?

⁹ And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

¹⁰ Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

¹¹ And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

¹² And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

¹³ And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.

¹⁴ And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

¹⁵ And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

¹⁶ The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

¹⁷ And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.

¹⁸ And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

¹⁹ And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

²⁰ And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

²¹ And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

²² Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

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Introduction

Genesis 48 presents a deeply moving moment in Jacob’s (Israel’s) life: on his deathbed, he calls his beloved son Joseph to bless Joseph’s two sons—Ephraim and Manasseh. But the blessing does not go as Joseph expects. Through Jacob, God reveals that His choices often go beyond human logic. This scene is not only historically important, but it also contains a rich spiritual lesson about grace, divine selection, and God’s leading.

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Commentary

1. Joseph Visits His Father (vv. 1–2):
When Jacob falls ill, Joseph rushes to him with his sons. This moment reflects family love but also spiritual significance. Jacob strengthens himself—spiritually, not physically—to pass on the blessing.

2. Jacob Recalls God’s Promises (vv. 3–4):
Jacob recounts God’s appearance in Luz (Bethel), affirming God’s promises: growth, fruitfulness, a great people, and the promised land. He begins his blessing not with emotion but with God’s Word—the true foundation of every spiritual inheritance.

3. Ephraim and Manasseh Become Jacob’s Sons (vv. 5–7):
Jacob symbolically adopts the two sons of Joseph as his own—”like Reuben and Simeon.” This gives them full inheritance rights, a picture of spiritual adoption: God includes us in His family even though we originally did not belong.

4. Meeting the Grandsons (vv. 8–12):
Jacob asks, “Who are these?”—a symbolic moment, as if opening the gateway to blessing. He recognizes God’s faithfulness not only in seeing Joseph again but also his offspring. It is a testimony of divine mercy.

5. The Crossing of Hands (vv. 13–14):
Joseph positions his sons according to birth order—Manasseh on Jacob’s right (the firstborn’s place). But Jacob deliberately crosses his hands: the right hand on Ephraim, the younger. This was intentional—led by God’s Spirit.

6. The Blessing (vv. 15–16):
Jacob gives a threefold blessing:

• From the God of his fathers,

• From the God who shepherded him,

• From the Angel who redeemed him from all evil.

A complete picture of God’s work: past, present, and as the Deliverer from harm.

7. Joseph Objects (vv. 17–19):
Joseph tries to correct his father, assuming he made a mistake. But Jacob responds, “I know, my son, I know.” Human tradition (firstborn priority) does not always reflect God’s choice. God’s election follows His own wisdom.

8. A Blessing for All Israel (v. 20):
“May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!” – This becomes the standard blessing in Israel. The younger is placed before the older—a prophetic image of God’s grace choosing according to His purpose, not merit.

9. Jacob’s Final Promise to Joseph (vv. 21–22):
Jacob speaks of his approaching death, but also of God’s promise to bring Israel back to the promised land. He gives Joseph an extra portion of land—prophetic of future conquest.

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Summary

Genesis 48 is a powerful scene of faith and prophecy. Jacob, near death, reflects on God’s faithfulness and speaks blessings over the next generation. Though Joseph expects Manasseh to receive the greater portion, God reveals through Jacob that Ephraim—the younger—will become the greater nation. This blessing is deliberate and spiritually guided, not driven by human logic. It exemplifies the principle: God’s ways are higher than our ways.

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Message for Today

• God does not see as humans do. He chooses not according to rank, performance, or expectation, but according to His own counsel.

• Even if we seem “second in line,” God may have great plans for us. Ephraim was the younger, yet God exalted him—because He willed it.

• Spiritual blessings extend across generations. Jacob’s words were not just for that moment—they became a lasting pattern for all Israel.

• In crisis, we should act like Jacob—speaking in faith, not swayed by emotion. On his deathbed, Jacob testified with clarity to God’s faithfulness.

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June 1 – 7, 2025

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 8

After the Flood

Read online here

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Introduction

The flood was over. The waters receded, and the ark came to rest. But life after the flood was not simply a continuation—it was a complete new beginning. In Chapter 8 of Patriarchs and Prophets, we read how God not only saves but also leads, protects, and grants new promises. Noah, the faithful preacher of righteousness, stands as a shining example of obedience, gratitude, and trust—even in times of deep uncertainty. The world that awaited him was no longer the same—but God had not changed: faithful, powerful, and full of grace.

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Commentary

1. Faith in the Test (The Months in the Ark)
The five months spent in the ark were a hard trial of patience. Without knowing when the waters would recede, Noah remained steadfast. He did not doubt God’s leading. Faith carried him and his family through the darkness.
Lesson: True trust is shown in the silence of waiting. God’s hand guides even when we cannot see it.

2. The Ordered Return (The Birds and Patience)
Noah sent out the raven and the dove in search of a sign. But he did not act impatiently—he left the ark only when God explicitly commanded him.
Lesson: Even when we see signs, our decisions must be guided by God’s word, not by circumstances alone.

3. The First Altar (Gratitude and Sacrifice)
Before he built a home for himself, Noah built an altar for God. He offered clean animals—an expression of his faith in the coming sacrifice of Christ.
Lesson: True gratitude first honors the One who gave everything—even when our own resources are scarce.

4. God’s Response: The New Covenant
God smelled the “pleasing aroma” of the sacrifice and declared a new covenant: there would be no more global flood. The rainbow became the sign of this covenant.
Lesson: God uses visible signs to assure us of His invisible faithfulness. His promises are for all generations.

5. A Changed Earth, A Changed Lifestyle
The earth was completely altered—landscape and ecosystem. God permitted the eating of meat as an adaptation to the new reality.
Lesson: God’s care and instructions adapt to human situations, but His moral will remains unchanged.

6. Hidden Treasures and Judgment
The flood buried not only bodies but also human pride, wealth, and idolatry. From this came coal, oil, and ore—evidence of God’s judgment but also of His mercy.
Lesson: What man abused, God transformed into a testimony of His power and justice.

7. Future Judgments: Fire Instead of Water
As water once cleansed the earth, so fire will purify it at the end. Volcanoes, earthquakes, and disasters are forerunners of Christ’s return.
Lesson: God’s warnings are not meant to frighten but to call us to repentance—His grace protects His people.

8. God’s Protection for His Own
Just as Noah was safe in the ark, God’s people will be protected by His power at the end. Psalm 91 becomes a personal promise amid chaos.
Lesson: The safe place is not geographical, but spiritual—under God’s wings.

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Summary

After the flood, Noah stepped into a radically changed world. But in the midst of death and destruction, his heart remained focused on God. His obedience, gratitude, and faith make him a model for all generations. And God responded with grace, promise, and protection. The rainbow stretching across the sky and throne remains the eternal sign: God’s covenant stands. And though future judgments will come, He will preserve those who trust in Him.

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Message for Us Today

In a world again marked by uncertainty, disasters, and moral decay, God calls us to live like Noah: with faith, obedience, and gratitude. When all that we know is shaken, we can rest assured:

God’s hand is still at the helm.
His covenant still stands. The rainbow in the sky is more than a natural phenomenon—it is a testimony of His faithfulness. And just as Noah was preserved in the midst of judgment, so we too can know:

The righteous are safe—not because they are strong, but because they trust in God.

So then, let us build altars of gratitude before we build houses. Let us give before we take. Let us believe before we see.
For the Lord, your Redeemer, says:
“My kindness shall not depart from you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/3-06-2025-genesis-chapter-48-believe-his-prophets/