What does Genesis 19:23 mean?
The Lord's judgment is coming on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—actually, upon the entire region occupied by these two depraved cultures. Prior to this, and for the sake of our own understanding, God even allowed Abraham to set the limit of Sodom's rescue: 10 righteous people. This, despite being such a low standard, is a test this culture could not pass. Lot and his family were living in Sodom, but God has mercifully removed them, allowing them now to escape what is coming by hiding out in the small, nearby city of Zoar. In fact, the Lord has agreed not to destroy Zoar for their sake.In the previous verse, it was made clear to Lot that the judgment would not begin until his family reached Zoar. Now they have arrived, sometime after sunrise. Just as the family makes it to safety, God enacts one of his most spectacular instances of earthly wrath. In a moment symbolic of God's ultimate defeat of sin and evil, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will be annihilated in a rain of fire.
Genesis 19:23–29 describes the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with sulfur and fire. Based on prior descriptions in the book of Genesis, this devastation is both overdue and well-deserved. The Lord's judgment wipes out the cities, all of the valley, all of the people, and all of the vegetation. God demonstrates that He will judge humans for their sinfulness when the time is right. He also demonstrates His grace and mercy, however, remembering His promises to Abraham in rescuing Abraham's nephew Lot.
Two angels, disguised as men, visit Abraham's nephew, Lot, in the city of Sodom. After the men of Sodom attempt to rape the angels in Lot's home, the angels rescue Lot and his family, forcibly removing them from the city. Then God sends fire and sulfur from heaven. This destroys all of the land and people in and around the cities. As stated in earlier verses, this is the result of their great and ongoing wickedness. Lot's wife is turned to a pillar of salt when she disobeys the angels by looking back on the destruction. Lot and his daughters flee first to Zoar, then to a cave in the hills. There, Lot's confused and frightened daughters get him drunk, have sex with him, and each become pregnant.
