“They are illustrations of this true proverb: ‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and ‘A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire'” (2 Peter 2:22 NET).

We will close our look at 2 Peter chapter two with some final observations regarding false teachers…

The Scriptures tell us that many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The New Testament epistle of 1 John underscores the need to assess the spiritual concepts and beliefs we encounter…

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 NIV).

This serves to remind us that God may not be the motivating force behind every spiritual encounter or apparent display of supernatural ability. The same concept applies to spiritual leaders as well, for a person who claims to be a spiritual leader may not be someone who accurately conveys spiritual truth. A teacher who presents an alternate Jesus, or a “Jesus” who is inconsistent with the person who appears in the Biblical Scriptures, is someone who is peddling a falsehood. This important Biblical admonition can help us follow Jesus’ guidance from Mark 13:5: “…Take heed that no one deceives you.”

The Book of Acts provides us with a good example.

We can learn much from the positive example set by the inhabitants of the town of Berea as chronicled in the Biblical book of Acts…

“Immediately when night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to the city of Berea. When Paul and Silas arrived in the city of Berea, they entered the synagogue. The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God’s message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:10-11 GW).

With these things in mind, it’s important to remember some key points from our study of 2 Peter 2…

• False teachers will always exist.
• False teachers don’t tell the truth about Christ.
• The “Jesus” that some religious groups speak of may not be the same Jesus we see within the pages of the Scriptures.
• False teachers often take advantage of others and manipulate them for personal gain.
• False teachers often have an unbiblical concept of God.
• Its easy to be deceived by false teachers if we aren’t diligent to study the Scriptures.

Finally, the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians gives us an effective method of guarding against spiritual deception: “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

“They prove the truth of this proverb: ‘A dog returns to its vomit.’ And another says, ‘A washed pig returns to the mud'” (2 Peter 2:22 NLT).

We continue with a short list of strategies that can help us recognize and guard against the risks presented by false teachers. For example…

The “Jesus” proclaimed by some religious organizations may vary from the Jesus we find in the Bible.

Some groups that self-identify as “Christian” believe that Jesus was merely “a” God. But Jesus isn’t simply a god; He is the God according to the following Biblical passages…

“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM'” (John 8:58 [compare with Exodus 3:14]).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

“Thomas answered and said to [Jesus], ‘My Lord and my God!'” (John 20:28).

False teachers often have an unbiblical concept of the Deity.

For example, the Scriptures tell us that there is one God (1 Timothy 2:5). This God has always existed and has always been God (Habakkuk 1:12, Isaiah 44:6). God can never make a mistake and never changes (Psalm 18:30, Malachi 3:6). The God of the Scriptures is a God of love (1 John 4:8) who is holy in all His ways. In other words, God is morally perfect and completely separate from anything that may be dirty or impure (Isaiah 5:16).

God is all-knowing and all-powerful (Psalm 147:5, Deuteronomy 32:39). He is good, merciful, and righteous in His judgments (Psalm 100:5, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 96:13). The God of the Scriptures has no equal anywhere (Isaiah 46:9). Teachings or beliefs that do not align with these characteristics are inconsistent with the Biblical definition of God.

Jesus warned us of the need to guard against false and misleading teachers.

Consider the following portion of Jesus’ message from His Olivet Discourse: “Jesus began to say to them, ‘Watch out that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many'” (Mark 13:5-6 NET). This brief but powerful message serves to remind us of our need to take responsibility in measuring the ideas and beliefs we encounter against the teachings of the Scriptures to verify their truthfulness and accuracy.

This holds true even if someone assigns the label “Christian” to those beliefs, for “Many will come in [appropriating to themselves] the name [of Messiah] which belongs to Me [basing their claims on the use of My name], saying, I am [He]! And they will mislead many” (AMP).

“What happened to them shows that the proverbs are true: ‘A dog goes back to what it has vomited’ and ‘A pig that has been washed goes back to roll in the mud'” (2 Peter 2:22).

Given the information presented to us in 2 Peter chapter two, what measures can we take to detect and defend against the threats posed by false teachers? Well, we can turn to a variety of strategies to help address that question…

Test all things against the Scriptures.

A good way to start is by prayerfully studying the God’s Word to ensure that a message or doctrine aligns with the Scriptures. The mere presence of the word “Christian” on a building, ministry, or teaching doesn’t guarantee its authenticity. Therefore, we should remember the counsel given to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22: “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (NIV).

Remember that false teachers are often untruthful.

Consider the following warning from the New Testament epistle of 1 Timothy…

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV).

These verses remind us that false teachers are skilled in the art of deception. In light of this, we would do well to familiarize ourselves with God’s Word to avoid being misled.

False teachers are aggressive recruiters.

The Biblical book of 2 Timothy offers the following assessment of such teachers…

“For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6-7).

This passage alerts us to some of the strategies employed by false teachers. In fact, today’s false teachers hold many advantages over their first-century counterparts…

• Today, a deceptive religious teacher can easily reach countless households with video presentations in high-definition quality.
• Access to a global audience is now made possible by the power of the internet.
• The availability of podcasts, streaming media, and other forms of digital content allows for the widespread distribution of false teachings in a variety of formats.
• Traditional broadcast mediums continue as a reliable and effective means of communication for such teachings.

As it was in the days of the first century, false teachers still work their way into homes and “…mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught” (Titus 1:11 NET). The difference is that present-day false teachers now possess the ability to leverage 21st century technology to market and present their teachings in a far more effective manner.

“But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘a dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’ (2 Peter 2:22).

While dogs in the New Testament era were occasionally kept as pets, they were frequently regarded as scavengers and pests. Because of this, people often used the word “dog” in a derogatory manner to describe an offensive individual. Those characteristics thus served as fitting analogies for the false teachers of 2 Peter chapter two. That comparison draws upon the imagery of Proverbs 26:11, where this same word-picture is used to depict the actions of a foolish individual.

Our second illustration (which portrays a pig returning to the mud), is an extra-Biblical adage. Pigs were unclean animals according to the Old Testament law, and that made them ideal stand-ins for these heretical teachers as well. However, there may be more to these analogies than meets the eye.

For instance, a dog returns to the internal impurities it has expelled from inside. A pig returns to the external impurities it finds outside. In our first example, these internal impurities emerge from within, and are comparable to those who are internally enslaved to corruption (2 Peter 2:19). Our second example highlights the external impurities associated with those who “who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness” (2 Peter 2:10).

So, the external behaviors of these animals reflect their internal natures, just as the corrupt behaviors of these false teachers reflect their immoral character. That leads us to an important takeaway from this chapter…

“There is no suggestion in the proverb that they had experienced any change in their natures. They were unclean before they were delivered from the vomit and the mud, and they were still unclean when they returned to them. So it is with the people of whom Peter wrote. They had undergone a moral reformation but they had never received a new nature…

This passage should not be used to teach that true believers may fall from grace and be lost. These people never were true believers. They never received a new nature. They demonstrated by their last state that their nature was still unclean and evil. The lesson is, of course, that reformation alone is not only insufficient, but is positively dangerous, because it can lull a person into a false security. Man can receive a new nature only by being born again. He is born again through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” ₍₁₎

(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary. Edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers [2 Peter 2:1-22]

“For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:21 ESV).

2 Peter 2:21 is a portion of Scripture that challenges us in several respects. By analyzing this text with the aid of the following commentators, we can gain a better understanding of this complex passage. We can begin with this reference to “it would have been better…”

“Peter’s comment here reflects the severity of the situation. The false teachers have experienced Christ’s work enough to understand the basic principles of following Him, but they resist coming to repentance … The cost of losing these false teachers to their own devices—which will ultimately result in their perishing, if they still do not repent—does not outweigh the harm they cause in leading others away from Christ and inhibiting God’s work within the community.” ₍₁₎

Next comes the phrase, “never to have known the way of righteousness…”

“The phrase ‘to have known the way’ refers to an intellectual knowledge of the ethical teachings and mode of life characteristic of Christians (note the phrase ‘holy commandment’). Perhaps the nature of their knowledge and faith are analogous to that of the demons who ‘believe and shudder’ (James 2:19). This verse indicates that the conversion of the false teachers was illusory.” ₍₂₎

This is followed by a description of those who “turn back…”

“Rather than turning to God, the false teachers have turned back to their own ways. The idea here is that the original knowledge of Jesus gave these leaders an opportunity to repent, but instead they exploited it to lead others astray.” ₍₃₎

That brings us to a warning, as well as an application from this passage…

“The entire canon makes it clear that those who apostasize can, at least for a time, give many signs that they have been converted (Matt. 13:1–9, 18–23). But for those who apostasize, this knowledge of Christ never involved a saving trust in the Lord (John 6:22–71). Because apostates have seen the light of the Gospel and rejected it, Peter reminds us that their condemnation will be worse than if they had never known of the Gospel in the first place (2 Peter 2:21).” ₍₄₎

Our final commentator offers an important consideration for those who profess to be Christians…

“I’m not sure that Peter is saying that if you go back to the world that you’ll never come back to Jesus. I think that may be the case sometimes. But he is saying that if you go back to the world, you will find your life worse than it ever was before you knew Jesus. Why? Because you now know what it’s like to be clean. And you’re miserable.” ₍₅₎

(1) John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 2 Pe 2:21.

(2) R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2259.

(3) John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 2 Pe 2:21.

(4) Entangled Again. Ligonier.org. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. Accessed 17 August, 2024 from https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/entangled-again.

(5) Rich Cathers, 2Peter 1-3. (n.d.). Accessed 17 August, 2024 from https://bstudy2.calvaryfullerton.org/61%202Pe/2001/612Pe01-03.htm.

“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:21).

Knowledge and responsibility are two elements that go hand in hand. Those who have been made aware of the salvation that is available through faith in Christ but fail to act upon that knowledge are exposed to a significant degree of risk. For instance, consider the cautionary messages that are presented to us in the Biblical book of Hebrews…

“For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened— those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT).

“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said, ‘I will take revenge. I will pay them back.’ He also said, ‘The Lord will judge his own people.’ It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT).

These are difficult and challenging portions of Scripture. Yet it is important to understand that genuine Christianity encompasses more than an acknowledgement of certain religious truths. It involves trust in Christ. One commentator puts these insights into perspective…

“If a man has never known the right way, he cannot be condemned for not following it. But, if he has known it and then deliberately taken the other way, he sins against the light; and it were better for him that he had never known the truth, for his knowledge of the truth has become his condemnation. A man should never forget the responsibility which knowledge brings.” ₍₁₎

(1) Barclay, William. “Commentary on 2 Peter 2”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/2-peter-1.html. 1956-1959.

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning” (2 Peter 2:20).

2 Peter 2:20 is a complex passage that will benefit from a careful and thoughtful analysis. We can begin by saying that those who know Jesus but have yet to fully embrace Him in faith are at a heightened risk of falling prey to heretical teachers. This brings us to a point that bears repeating: it is of utmost importance to read the Biblical Scriptures, for it enables us to familiarize ourselves with the person of Christ. Those Scriptures also demonstrate why He is worthy of our trust.

Next, we should consider the nature of the word “knowledge” as used here in 2 Peter 2:20. That word is epignosis in the original language of this passage. This implies a depth of understanding regarding Christ that goes beyond a superficial awareness. Instead, this word highlights the accuracy and precision of that understanding. This hypothetical scenario from 2 Peter 2:20 thus involves those who have an accurate knowledge of Christ but have not yet placed their trust in Him.

One Biblical scholar helps clarify these distinctions…

“…they are not saved, only professing Christians. They are said to have had a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. It is one thing to know Him personally, as a believer does, and another to know of Him, namely, the facts about Him, and to give a mental acquiescence to these, as an unbeliever does. Such a knowledge resulted in their escaping the pollutions of the world.” ₍₁₎

Another source adds, “The implication is not that these people necessarily knew the Lord (in the sense of being saved), but that they were in the circle of those who had embraced Christ as Lord and Savior.” ₍₂₎ The point is this: those who fail to act on their knowledge of Christ by placing their faith in Him are in a precarious position. If they should fall back into the entanglements of a world that has abandoned its Creator, they will find themselves in a worse condition than they were before.

How might that place someone in a worse condition? Well, Jesus answered that question in the following excerpt from His parable of the faithful and evil servants: “Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater” (Luke 12:48 TLB). This carries important implications, and we’ll examine some of those implications next.

(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [note on 2 Peter 2:20-21] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

(2) NET Bible notes on 2 Peter 2:20 https://classic.net.bible.org/bible.php?book=2Pet&chapter=2&mode=print

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage” (2 Peter 2:19).

Our journey through 2 Peter chapter two has brought us face to face with a sobering reality: false teachers take advantage of those who are seeking freedom from things like guilt, anxiety, emotional distress, or the adverse effects of an immoral lifestyle. Our text from verse nineteen alerts us to the underlying motive that drives those individuals- they are enslaved by a corrupt mindset.

Much like an unethical salesperson who offers the promise of a superior product but delivers something else, these teachers promise “freedom” but deliver bondage. Perhaps the best-known Biblical statement on the subject of genuine freedom comes from a portion of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of John…

“…’If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed'” (John 8:31-32, 34-36).

Unfortunately, the heretical teachers of 2 Peter 2:19 advertised another kind of “freedom” that failed to align with Jesus’ message from that passage. That alternative view of freedom often meant liberty from any form of moral constraint. But those who act on that definition of freedom are inevitably enslaved by their own immorality. The following source offers a further explanation along with a warning…

“We read in verses 18–19 that the message of these teachers included promises of freedom. These promises likely included freedom from moral restraint and freedom from accountability to God, since these teachers encouraged licentious behavior and denied final judgment (2:14; 3:4). However, far from resulting in true freedom, these teachings actually made the false teachers slaves of their own corruption.

Alarmingly, these teachers targeted those who were ‘barely escaping’ from error (v. 18). False teaching has a greater potential to influence those new to the faith, and so we must do what we can to protect new converts, otherwise they might fall back into old patterns of sin.” ₍₁₎

We experience freedom in Christ because we are no longer driven to engage in destructive behaviors that bring harm to ourselves and others. As another source rightly observes, “The false teachers can’t deliver the freedom they promise, because they themselves are enslaved to the very corruption which people are trying to escape.” ₍₂₎

(1) Tabletalk magazine. Slaves of Corruption. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/slaves-corruption Retrieved 12 August, 2024

(2) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 2:19.

“For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error” (2 Peter 2:18).

In 1946, the British Institution of Electrical Engineers documented a previously unknown mechanical device called the “Turbo Encabulator.” That device was previously unknown for a good reason- it was a fictitious machine that was created for the amusement of the engineers who invented it. The product documentation for the Turbo Encabulator was thus infused with a humorous maze of techno babble, mechanical gibberish, and imaginative descriptions of fictional components.

Engineers at the General Electric corporation later built upon that work with the publication of a data sheet for the Turboencabulator. This bulletin was similar to the documentation created for other devices manufactured by General Electric, but contained the same ridiculous technical jargon. An excerpt from that publication offers an amusing sample of this pseudo-technical language…

“Based on the principle of power generation by the modial interaction of magnetoreluctance and capacitive directance, the Turboencabulator negates the relative motion of conventional conductors and fluxes… In addition, whenever a barescent skor motion is required, it may be employed with a reciprocating dingle arm to reduce the sinusoidal depleneration in nofer trunnions.”

An instructional video for the Turbo Encabulator was later created that mimicked the industrial training films of the 1960’s with the same entertaining results.

While the Turbo Encabulator was invented to make us laugh, there was nothing funny about the heretical teachers of the first century, or those who carry on their work today. Much like the imaginary Turbo Encabulator, such teachers hide false doctrines and religious platitudes inside “great swelling words of emptiness.” These void and empty teachings thus masquerade as penetrating insights, but actually deliver little or nothing of spiritual value.

We can often identify the presence of such teaching with the following question: “How much Scripture does this person use in his or her teachings?” Religious books, messages, or presentations that routinely feature little or no Biblical text should thus serve as warnings. Spiritual teachings that are not supported by the text or context of a Biblical passage should also be viewed with great suspicion.

The insight offered by one source is one that bears repeating in this regard…

“…There are various ways to use the word of God deceitfully, or to tamper with it. Using a Bible text to preach a ‘sermon’ that has little or nothing to do with the Bible is one of the common ways of doing it.” ₍₁₎

Image Credit: Engineers at General Electric’s Instrument Department, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Turboencabulator&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

(1) Paul T. Butler. The Bible Study Textbook Series, Studies In Second Corinthians (College Press) [p. 93] Copyright © 1988 College Press Publishing Company https://archive.org/stream/BibleStudyTextbookSeriesSecondCorinthians/132Corinthians-Butler_djvu.txt

“These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (2 Peter 2:17).

There are few emotions more painful than disappointment. For instance, let’s consider the plight of a thirsty traveler in an ancient culture where access to water from a well was crucial for survival. Imagine the hope and encouragement that would accompany the sight of a water well in the distance. Now imagine the intense disappointment our traveler would experience if he or she found that well to be dry. In that scenario, we might argue that it would have been better if our fictional traveler never came across that well at all.

That little drama serves to illustrate the word-picture given to us here in 2 Peter 2:17. False teachers are like spiritual wells without water, which is worse than no well at all. If you’re dying of thirst, it would be better to have no well than a dry well, since the presence of a well naturally raises the expectation of finding water. When it comes to false teachers, the situation is quite similar – you approach with the hopeful anticipation of receiving something valuable from God’s Word, only to be disappointed when you leave empty-handed.

Peter builds upon this analogy with a subsequent reference to “…clouds blown by a windstorm” (CEV). To better understand this reference, it helps to remember that ancient farmers didn’t have access to modern irrigation methods to supply water for their fields. Instead, farmers often had to rely on steady rains to help their crops develop. A cloud that held the promise of rain but failed to deliver might be a matter of life or death for a farmer and those who depended on him.

This stands in contrast to Jesus, who once said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-38). He also said, “‘…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life'” (John 4:10-14 NIV).

Finally, the indictments leveled against these false teachers went beyond their failure to deliver on their promises, for this passage ends on an ominous note: “…their fate will be the black night of utter darkness” (Phillips). Thus, it is important to familiarize ourselves with the Christ of the Scriptures. As Jesus Himself reminded us, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

“These false teachers have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Balaam, son of Beor. Balaam loved what his wrongdoing earned him. But he was convicted for his evil. A donkey, which normally can’t talk, spoke with a human voice and wouldn’t allow the prophet to continue his insanity” (2 Peter 2:15-16 GW).

After failing to place a curse upon the people of Israel, here is what took place immediately after the prophet Balaam left the Moabite king Balak….

“While Israel was staying in the Acacia Grove, the people began to prostitute themselves with the women of Moab. The women invited them to the sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate and bowed in worship to their gods. So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger burned against Israel” (Numbers 25:1-3 CSB).

So Balaam could not collect on Balak’s promise of a payment to curse the people of Israel, at least not initially. However, it appears Balaam devised a trap that involved seducing the people of Israel into acts of idolatry and sexual immorality. Balaam’s strategy was apparently this: “If I can’t get God to harm the people, perhaps I can get the people to harm themselves.” Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened according to the opening verses of Numbers chapter twenty-five.

So what do we have in Balaam? Well, a few potential applications come to mind…

• Balaam serves as an example of a spiritual leader who is “only in it for the money.”
• He was someone who appeared religious, but actually had a hidden agenda.
• In Balaam, we have someone who was willing to sell others out for the right price.
• Finally, Balaam merchandised a God-given gift for personal gain. In the words of 2 Peter 2:15, Balaam was someone “…who loved the wages of unrighteousness.”

Now, before we conclude our look at Balaam’s life, we should take note of one final detail. That detail involves Balaam’s demise, as recorded for us in Numbers 31:8. During a battle against the people of Midian, that portion of Scripture tells us that the people of Israel defeated five Midianite kings. And then, almost as an aside, we read this: “They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.”

Balaam’s death reminds us that judgment eventually comes to all. Like Balaam, we may disguise our true intentions from others, but we can never hide them from our Creator. Thus, we should remember Balaam’s example along with the words of Romans 2:6: “[God] will render to each one according to his deeds.”

“Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Peter 2:15-16 ESV).

Balak, a Moabite king, sought to enlist the prophet Balaam’s help in cursing the people of Israel; however, his efforts produced the opposite effect. The prophet he sought to hire to curse the Israelites responded with three blessings instead. That led to what happened next…

“King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, ‘I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times. Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from your reward.’

Balaam told Balak, ‘Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.’ I told you that I could say only what the Lord says!’” (Numbers 24:10-13).

If the Biblical account of Balaam’s life ended there, we might struggle to grasp the significance of this reference to “the prophet’s madness” here in 2 Peter chapter two. Unfortunately, the story of Balaam’s life didn’t end with that passage. By piecing together various portions of Scripture, it becomes apparent that Balaam’s interest in Balak’s money was greater than it seemed.

For example, the Biblical book of Deuteronomy conveys the following information regarding the Moabites and another Old Testament people group known as the Ammonites…

”…they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you” (Deuteronomy 23:4-5).

So it seems that Balaam asked God to curse the people of Israel, but He refused to do so. Then there is Jesus’ message to the church community in the ancient city of Pergamos…

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin” (Revelation 2:14 NLT).

Based on this information, it appears Balaam concluded he couldn’t curse Israel directly. So he devised an alternate plan. This portion of Scripture tells us that Balaam guided Balak towards an indirect means of destruction by leading the people of Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality. Not coincidentally, that is exactly what took place after Balaam departed from Balak, as we’ll see in the last installment of our sub-study into Balaam’s life.

“They have gone off the road and become lost like Balaam, the son of Beor, who fell in love with the money he could make by doing wrong; but Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey spoke to him with a human voice, scolding and rebuking him” (2 Peter 2:15-16 TLB).

The Biblical book of Numbers relates the account of the prophet Balaam and his journey to visit a king who offered to hire him to curse the people of Israel. But unbeknownst to Balaam, the donkey he was riding refused to pass the angel of the Lord who stood before them. That led to the following encounter…

“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. ‘Why did you beat your donkey those three times?’ the angel of the Lord demanded. ‘Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.’

Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, ‘I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.’ But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, ‘Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.’ So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials” (Numbers 22:31-35 NLT).

Upon his arrival, Balaam was taken to a place where he could curse the nation of Israel encamped below. But God instead gave him a blessing to invoke upon the people. That prompted an immediate response from Balak, the king who sought to hire him: “…’What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!’ But Balaam replied, ‘I will speak only the message that the Lord puts in my mouth’” (Numbers 23:11-12 NLT).

The king then escorted Balaam to another location where he could curse the Israelites. But once again, Balaam spoke a blessing upon the people. That led to the following exchange: “Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!’ But Balaam replied to Balak, ‘Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the Lord tells me?’” (Numbers 23:25-26 NLT).

The following verse tells us, “Then King Balak said to Balaam, ‘Come, I will take you to one more place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there” (Numbers 23:27 NLT). However, Balaam pronounced another blessing that ended with an echo of God’s promise to Abraham, the Old Testament patriarch: “Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you’” (Numbers 24:9)

And, as we’ll see, that’s when Balak really became enraged.

“They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice” (2 Peter 2:15-16 NLT).

While it’s hard to make a definitive statement, it appears God qualified His permission to allow the prophet Balaam to accompany a delegation of Moabites who approached him with a proposal to curse the Israelites. We find that qualification in Numbers 22:20: “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them…” (NKJV). However, the following verse tells us that Balaam rose the next morning and departed with the Moabite ambassadors seemingly of his own accord.

Balaam’s apparent readiness to act on an invitation to curse those whom God sought to bless may shed light on the events that followed…

“But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.

Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.

“This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. ‘What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?’ it asked Balaam. ‘You have made me look like a fool!’ Balaam shouted. ‘If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!’” (Numbers 22:22-29).

The most noteworthy incident in this passage is open to debate. Was it the fact that God caused a donkey to speak a human language, or the fact that Balaam engaged in a conversation with a talking donkey as though there was nothing out of the ordinary?

Either way, Balaam’s donkey responded to him with a perfectly logical question…

“’But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,’ the donkey answered. ‘Have I ever done anything like this before?’ ‘No,’ Balaam admitted” (Numbers 22: 30).

So far, Balaam’s donkey has demonstrated greater composure than Balaam himself. But then again, Balaam’s donkey knew something he didn’t, as we’ll see next.

“They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey–an animal without speech–who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Peter 2:15-16 NIV).

After meeting with the emissaries of a Moabite king named Balak, the prophet Balaam weighed their offer to hire him to curse the people of Israel. Balaam then responded by saying, “‘Stay here overnight,’ Balaam said. ‘In the morning I will tell you whatever the Lord directs me to say.’ So the officials from Moab stayed there with Balaam” (Numbers 22:8).

The following verses continue by saying…

“That night God came to Balaam and asked him, ‘Who are these men visiting you?’ Balaam said to God, ‘Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent me this message: ‘Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come and curse these people for me. Then perhaps I will be able to stand up to them and drive them from the land.’

But God told Balaam, ‘Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!’ The next morning Balaam got up and told Balak’s officials, ‘Go on home! The Lord will not let me go with you'” (Numbers 22:9-13).

But that saga was far from over…

“Then Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time. They went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: ‘This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming to help me. I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!’

But Balaam responded to Balak’s messengers, ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God. But stay here one more night, and I will see if the Lord has anything else to say to me’

That night God came to Balaam and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do'” (Numbers 22:15-20).

Perhaps Balaam was a little too eager to meet with a king who was willing to pay him to curse the same people God wanted to bless. That (and the lure of some easy money) may explain what happened next.

“They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet” (2 Peter 2:15-16).

A cursory reading through the Scriptures reveals an amazing number of Biblical personalities who displayed some genuine character issues. One such individual was a prophet named Balaam. He will complete our final character sub-study here in 2 Peter chapter two. In looking at the events of Balaam’s life, we should find encouragement to apply the words of 1 Corinthians 10:11: “These things happened to them as a warning to us. All this was written in the Scriptures to teach us who live in these last days” (CEV).

Balaam’s account begins in chapter twenty-two of the Old Testament book of Numbers. At that point in Biblical history, the nation of Israel had already defeated two Amorite kings along with their armies. The next monarch destined to be overthrown was a Moabite king named Balak. As you might expect, Balak was anxious about being the next in line to face elimination, as is evident from the following passage…

“Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites. And when the people of Moab saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified. The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, ‘This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!’”

“So Balak, king of Moab, sent messengers to call Balaam son of Beor, who was living in his native land of Pethor near the Euphrates River. His message said: ‘Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and are threatening me. Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse.'”

“Balak’s messengers, who were elders of Moab and Midian, set out with money to pay Balaam to place a curse upon Israel. They went to Balaam and delivered Balak’s message to him” (Numbers 22:2-7 NLT and following).

So Balak sent some of his top ambassadors to a prophet named Balaam to request his assistance. We’ll look at Balaam’s response to that request next.

“then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries” (2 Peter 2:9-10).

2 Peter 2:9 is an oft-quoted portion of Scripture that has offered great reassurance to God’s people in the midst of their adversities: “…the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials” (NLT). This encouraging message has been a source of comfort to countless individuals throughout the years. Nevertheless, we would do well to consider this passage carefully to avoid reading something into this verse that isn’t there.

For instance, this passage tells us that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials; it does not say He will do so in every instance. In fact, history is filled with examples of God-honoring individuals who persevered through many different trials. It is also worth noting that Peter touched upon this reality in his first epistle as well.

Instead, this portion of Scripture serves to reassure us that the godly will not suffer the punishment that is reserved for the unjust. As one source observes, “We can trust in God’s deliverance of the godly because it is just as certain as His judgment of the ungodly.” ₍₁₎

From here, our author will resume his description of false teachers over the remaining verses of this chapter. That narrative continues in verse ten with a list of characteristic qualities that are commonly associated with such leaders. The “the lust of uncleanness” is listed first among those attributes, and represents a subject that has occupied Peter’s attention on more than one occasion.

Another characteristic of these individuals is their disdain for authority. While any institution populated by fallible human beings will likely feature some who mishandle their authority, that does not serve as a justification that permits us to dismiss authority in general. Unlike the false teachers referenced here in 2 Peter 2:10, we are not to be authorities unto ourselves.

Christ leads by example in this area. While the relationship between God the Father and God the Son is one of complete equality, the Son is willingly subordinate to the Father and freely submits to His authority. As Jesus Himself once said, “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:3 NIV). So those who demonstrate “…nothing but contempt for authority” (Phillips) fail to follow Christ’s example in this area.

(1) Enduring Word Bible Commentary 2 Peter Chapter 2. (2022, July 13). Enduring Word. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-peter-2/

“(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)” (2 Peter 2:8).

Our text from 2 Peter 2:7-8 mentions Lot’s personal righteousness three times over the course of two verses. Lot’s Biblical record shows that he was a just man who was deeply distressed by the lawless conduct of those around him. Lot bravely sought to defend two strangers from a mob of sexual predators who subsequently threatened him as well. He heeded the warning he received from God’s messengers and urged others to do the same. Finally, Lot followed their directions in sharp contrast to his wife’s example.

However, Lot was also something of a weak and vacillating individual. For instance, Lot made several questionable decisions with no apparent desire to seek God’s direction or input. He also made an unconscionable offer to sacrifice his virgin daughters to those who would abuse them. In addition, we should note that Lot was hesitant in the face of a clear directive from God’s messengers and wavered in his compliance (see Genesis 19).

Finally, Lot underestimated (or disregarded) the detrimental influence of Sodom’s godless culture on his family, particularly his children. Their immersion in that immoral society clearly impacted their choices and decisions. Despite Lot’s personal integrity, the people of Sodom successfully instilled their values in his children, leaving him powerless to counteract their influence in his daughters’ lives.

Lot’s example should prompt us to consider the cultural influences that are imposed upon our families and respond accordingly. This may mean establishing a family devotional time, prioritizing church attendance, or removal of our children from academic structures that serve as a detriment to their spiritual lives. These are important considerations, and the example of Sodom’s cultural influence on Lot’s family should motivate us to take action in these and other areas.

We will close our look at this portion of Scripture with some final observations from Lot’s life…

“If we had only the OT account of Lot, we might not think him a true believer at all. In the Genesis account, he almost appears as a status-seeking opportunist, willing to put up with sin and corruption in order to make a place and name for himself in the world. But Peter, writing by inspiration, tells us that he was a righteous man who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked.

God saw that Lot had genuine faith, and that he loved righteousness and hated sin. To emphasize that Lot really was a righteous man in spite of appearances to the contrary, Peter repeats that his soul was tormented daily by the things he heard and saw in Sodom. The vile immorality of the people caused him deep suffering.” ₍₁₎

(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers [pg. 2297]

“and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)” (2 Peter 2:7 NET).

The Biblical book of Genesis continues with the scandalous account of Lot and his daughters in the aftermath of their escape from the city of Sodom…

“The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, ‘I had sex with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.’ So that night they got him drunk with wine again, and the younger daughter went in and had intercourse with him. As before, he was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.

As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their own father. When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites. When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites” (Genesis 19:34-38 NLT).

The descendants of Moab and Ben-Ammi (the Moabites and the Ammonites mentioned above) eventually grew to become enemies of Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites. Nevertheless, God, in His sovereignty, brought some positive outcomes from these encounters between Lot and his daughters.

You see, the Old Testament book of Ruth tells us that Ruth was a descendant of the Moabites (Ruth 1:4). She later married a man named Boaz. Their relationship produced a son who became an ancestor of Israel’s king David and eventually, Jesus Himself (see Ruth 4:13-22). In addition, Israel’s King Solomon married a woman from Ammon (2 Chronicles 12:13). She had a son named Rehoboam who was also in Jesus’ ancestral lineage (see Matthew 1:7-16). So, despite the highly inappropriate nature of these interactions, God demonstrated His ability to orchestrate several positive outcomes.

As we consider this passage from 2 Peter 2:7-8 and contrast it with the events of Lot’s life, it becomes clear that he was a righteous individual who failed to anticipate the consequences of his decisions. That produced a chain of events that led to the loss of his wife, most of his family, and everything he worked to achieve. It also impacted his surviving children and their subsequent moral decisions.

One commentator summarizes these realities and prepares us for a look at some concluding applications from Lot’s life…

“It is to Lot’s credit that his conscience was not seared and his heart was not hardened by his surroundings. It seems, however, that his daughters and wife were not ‘distressed’ by their surroundings. Rather, they were influenced toward wrong by those wicked inhabitants.” ₍₁₎

(1) Bruce Oberst, Letters From Peter. College Press, Joplin, Missouri, Copyright 1962 pg. 167

“and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless” (2 Peter 2:7 NIV).

It’s relatively easy to trace Lot’s path as he ascended to a leadership role within the city of Sodom. Nevertheless, Lot was eventually reduced to living in a cave, along with the last two surviving members of his family. So what led to that dramatic fall? Well, the immediate answer to that question involves God’s destruction of Sodom. However, we can also say that Lot’s undoing resulted from a series of small decisions that ultimately led to some tragic results.

But those negative repercussions were far from over, for we’re about to see an example of the family values that Lot’s daughters acquired while living in Sodom…

“Later the older daughter said to the younger, ‘Our father is old, and there is no man in the country to sleep with us, the way everyone does'” (Genesis 19:31 NET).

So it seems that life inside a cave prompted Lot’s oldest daughter to conclude that her prospects for marriage were limited at best. Unfortunately, it also appears that Lot’s daughter never thought to seek God or ask for His provision to solve her dilemma. That led to a decision that clearly reflected her exposure to Sodom’s cultural influence…

“‘Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.’ So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again” (Genesis 19:31-33 NLT).

Before we continue, we should remember that Lot and his daughters had suffered the loss of their home and possessions. While we might assume that this family was left with virtually nothing, that assumption isn’t entirely accurate. While their resources may have been limited, it seems they did have enough alcohol on hand to get one of them drunk. That may be indicative of the poor quality of the local water, or it may offer a glimpse into their priorities and what they deemed important.

Nevertheless, the fact that Lot’s daughter had to get him intoxicated implies that she knew he would never willingly consent to a sexual encounter with her. Even though the prohibition against incestuous relationships didn’t come into effect until later, Lot was apparently aware that such relationships were wrong before God.

As for Lot’s daughter, her conduct can be attributed to the moral values that were instilled in her during her formative years in Sodom. Perhaps this is why the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians reminds us, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character'” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

“and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked” (2 Peter 2:7 ESV).

The Biblical account of Lot presents us with an informative character profile. At an earlier stage in life, Lot traveled with his uncle Abraham as he lived the nomadic life of a shepherd. However, disputes eventually arose between Lot’s herdsmen and Abraham’s herdsmen as they competed for the same limited resources. Abraham then offered Lot his choice of pastureland and Lot readily accepted…

“Lot looked up and saw the entire Jordan Valley. All of it was well irrigated, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as far as Zoar (this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah). So Lot chose for himself the entire Jordan Valley. Lot set out toward the east, and they separated from each other” (Genesis 13:10-11 CEB).

Genesis 13:12 continues by saying, “…Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain” (NLT). So this passage tells us that Lot initially lived near Sodom after he departed from Abraham. However, the following chapter informs us that Lot was “…living in Sodom” (Genesis 14:12 NIV) some time later.

That brings us to Genesis chapter nineteen. When God’s angelic detectives arrived in Sodom to investigate the city, they were met by Lot, who was “…sitting at the city gate” (Genesis 19:1 GNT). While “sitting at the gate” may sound insignificant, this position held great importance and influence in the Old Testament era.

As you might expect, the “city gate” served as the primary thoroughfare through the fortified walls of an ancient city. The city gate was typically constructed as an arched entryway with room for seating within the arch. It was there that many of the legal, social, and commercial activities of the city took place. For instance, the city gate functioned as a public forum, a place where people could gather to discuss the news of the day.

It also served as a marketplace where vendors could display their wares. The gate was a hub for official business and public announcements, as well as a place where magistrates rendered judicial decisions and local authorities (or “elders“) gathered to witness legal transactions.

So it seems that Lot’s involvement with this city grew over time. First, he lived on the outskirts of Sodom. Then he moved into the city. Finally, he assumed a leadership role at the city gate. Thus, it appears that Lot was more than just an ordinary citizen who lived in Sodom; he had become a significant figure within that community.

“and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked” (2 Peter 2:7).

The focus of our next sub-study in 2 Peter chapter two involves Abraham’s nephew, Lot. We’ve already noted Lot’s prominent role in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, for he was one of only three people to escape God’s judgment upon those areas. So how did Lot manage to survive that catastrophic destruction?

Well, it certainly wasn’t because Lot was eager to leave. In fact, God’s angelic representatives practically had to drag Lot and his family out of town because they hesitated to depart from the city. Instead, Genesis 19:29 explains the reason behind Lot’s narrow escape from Sodom: “When God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot lived, he remembered his promise to Abraham and saved Lot from the terrible destruction” (CEV).

This tells us that Lot’s survival was linked (at least partially) to his uncle Abraham’s intercession for him. Thus, we should never underestimate the impact of our prayers on behalf of others. As we’re reminded in the Biblical book of James, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16 NIV).

The following verse then goes on to summarize Lot’s journey after he left the city.

“Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave” (Genesis 19:30 NIV).

So even though Lot (and the remaining members of his family) escaped to an obscure little village named Zoar, they apparently didn’t stay very long. Our text from Genesis 19:30 offers an explanation for their hasty departure: “Lot left Zoar because he was afraid to stay there” (GW). To better understand Lot’s fearfulness, let’s consider his arrival in Zoar from the perspective of those who lived there.

For instance, how do you think the citizens of Zoar felt when they discovered Lot was the only person (aside from his daughters) to survive the cataclysmic disaster that just destroyed their neighboring towns? Imagine if you were a superstitious resident of Zoar, or someone who lived in fear of provoking the “gods.” Would you welcome Lot as a new resident, or would you be more inclined to say, “You are followed by a curse. Take your misfortune elsewhere and leave.”

If Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar, then it probably means that his new neighbors were not very hospitable. That would explain why Lot and his daughters had to leave town in favor of living in a cave. This event thus serves to illustrate an important Scriptural truth: “…everything that was written in the past was written to teach us…” (Romans 15:4 NIV).

To make the most of that lesson, our next study will focus on the events that led to Lot’s change of address before we transition to the sordid events that followed.

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6 KJV).

Genesis 19:27-28 serves as an epilogue that will close our look at God’s judgment on the ancient cites of Sodom and Gomorrah…

“Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace” (Genesis 19:27-28).

So, the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great that God decided to eradicate those cities after verifying the charges against them. But what was the sin that generated the outcry against those cities? Certainly, the attempted sexual assault of God’s angelic investigators served to reflect the city’s moral climate. However, the book of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel offers another perspective to consider…

“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen” (Ezekiel 16:49-50).

Arrogance. Gluttony. Unconcern for those who are less fortunate. Pride. Conceit. Self-indulgence. Those were the internal attitudes that contributed to the action taken against the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah- and they are the same internal attitudes we must guard against today.

This brings us to a conclusion drawn from our text in 2 Peter 2:4-6…

• If God has shown that He will imprison wicked angelic beings.
• If God has demonstrated that He will punish untold multitudes of sinful individuals in the form of a catastrophic flood.
• If God has proven that He will destroy entire cities in view of their moral corruption.

…then false teachers are facing a similar judgment from which they cannot escape unless they repent.

The next two verses will provide us with an opportunity to consider what happened to Lot after he left Sodom. But before we move on from our look at the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, one commentary leaves us with something to think about…

“Peter asks us to consider Sodom and Gomorrah, which God did not spare (2 Pet. 2:6; Gen. 19:24). This and fifty other biblical references to those twin cities make two things clear: they could have been saved in spite of their evil, and God wants future generations like ours to avoid their mistakes.” ₍₁₎

(1) Word in Life Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1996), 2 Pe 2:6–9.

“and if He reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to ruin, making them an example to those who were going to be ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6 HCSB).

Instead of fleeing the pending destruction of the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by heading to the mountains as he was told, Lot persuaded God’s angelic messengers to allow him to escape to a little town called Zoar instead…

“By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah–from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities–and also the vegetation in the land” (Genesis 19:23-25 NIV).

“Rained down” implies that fiery objects came from the sky and devastated everything in that area. That brings us to one of the most interesting verses in the Bible…

“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26 NIV).

Remember that God’s angelic investigators sent Lot and his family out of the city with specific instructions: “Run for your lives! Don’t even look back. And don’t stop in the valley. Run to the hills, where you’ll be safe” (Genesis 19:17 CEV). Yet, despite that clear and simple warning, Lot’s wife chose to disregard it.

Perhaps Mrs. Lot simply looked back at the city to see what had happened. However, one source tells us, “The word (for) ‘looked back’ has the connotation of ‘looking intently.’ It might possibly be rendered ‘lagged back,’ or maybe even ‘returned back.'” ₍₁₎ So Lot’s wife may have done more than cast a quick glance over her shoulder as she left the city. It’s possible that she actually stopped running or even began to return to Sodom.

While some may look at Mrs. Lot’s experience as nothing more than an interesting detail, Jesus used that historic event to illustrate one of His teachings…

“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:28-32).

It’s possible that the culture, society, and way of life in Sodom had become so intertwined with Mrs. Lot’s identity that she struggled to leave it behind. Perhaps Lot’s wife was so deeply entrenched in the godless culture of Sodom that she simply could not bear to part with it- and she paid for that decision with her life.

(1) Morris, H. M. (1976). The Genesis Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings. [pp 355-356]

“God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and destroyed them by burning them to ashes. He made those cities an example to ungodly people of what is going to happen to them” (2 Peter 2:6 GNB).

Genesis 19:4-11 chronicles an incident in which men from the town of Sodom attempted to commit a sexual assault against two angelic visitors who were conducting an investigative mission. That attempt (along with Sodom’s history of other criminal complaints) provided those angels with an opportunity to confirm the charges against the city and led to the following action…

“The two men said to Lot, ‘Do you have anyone else here–sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.’

So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, ‘Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!’ But his sons-in-law thought he was joking” (Genesis 19:12-14 NIV).

Unfortunately, Lot’s sons-in-law paid little attention to that message. Despite Lot’s efforts to warn them about their need to take God seriously, they opted to dismiss his warning as if it was a joke. But there was nothing funny about the events that were about to occur…

“With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.’ When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them” (Genesis 19:15-16 NIV).

Despite everything that had taken place, these angels had to take the members of Lot’s family by their hands and physically escort them out of town. Even though Sodom was about to become a giant smoking crater in the ground, it seems that Lot’s family had grown so attached to the city that they had trouble leaving it behind.

“As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!'” (Genesis 19:17-20 NIV).

So these angelic beings rushed Lot and his family out of town and left them with a specific directive: “Run for your lives or you’re going to get wiped out.”

“Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people” (2 Peter 2:6 NLT).

Following his attempt to reason with a group of sexual predators who were encamped outside his home, Lot made an offer that is nearly inconceivable…

“Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof” (Genesis 19:8 NIV).

How could Lot suggest something as horrific as this? Well, it’s possible that Lot’s prolonged stay in Sodom may have distorted his thinking to the point where he genuinely believed this offer was better than the alternative. Or perhaps Lot was so fearful that he said the first thing that came to mind without considering the unspeakable nature of this suggestion. It’s also possible that Lot had already discerned the true identity of his angelic visitors and felt compelled to protect them at any cost, even if it meant sacrificing his own daughters.

Nevertheless, Lot’s suggestion was clearly wrong and there is no way to justify or rationalize it. But as it turned out, these men rejected his offer anyway…

“‘Get out of our way,’ they replied. And they said, ‘This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.’ They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door” (Genesis 19:9 NIV).

The passage conveys a sense of violent intensity. These individuals essentially said to Lot, “Get out of our way so we can gang-rape your two houseguests. And when we get done with them, we’re going to do the same to you- only worse.” So Lot’s attempt to calm this situation was clearly not going well. Fortunately, a rescue party was close at hand…

“But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door” (Genesis 19:10-11).

To this point, the only action taken by these angels against the residents of Sodom involved this defensive act of self-protection. This was obviously necessary because the men of Sodom persisted in their efforts to find Lot’s door even after they lost their sight. This highlights the tenacity of these individuals as they sought to fulfill their insatiable lusts.