This week we come to one of the most tragic episodes in the story of Abraham- Sodom and Gomorrah. Science and archaeology are fascinated by the destruction of these cities. For years, the so-called experts regarded the biblical account as pure myth.
Then an amazing discovery was made. In 1975 an extensive library of clay tablets was found in the ruins of Ebla which confirmed much of the Bible’s account. It these tablets Sodom and Gomorrah are both mentioned with five cities of the plain with the exact same rulers in the exact same order as recorded in Genesis 14. Once again, we learn that God’s Word is trustworthy and true.
The discovery sparked a great interest in the area around the Dead Sea where Sodom was located. Extensive searches were undertaken to find these ancient cities and shed some light on what is recorded in the Bible.
The Dead Sea itself is one of the most unusual places on Earth. From its source, the Jordan River drops nearly 3,000 feet in only 90 miles to spill into the Dead Sea which is 1,300 feet below sea level. It’s shores are the lowest spot on planet that is not under water.
The Dead Sea has long been the home of mystery and curiosity. During the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Roman army commander condemned certain slaves to death. He tried to execute them by chaining them together and throwing them in the Dead Sea, but every time they were thrown in they floated to the surface like bobbers. He took this as a sign from the gods, and he pardoned all of them.
Greek writers told of poisonous gases around the sea and of the great slicks of tar that floated on the surface. Arabs told of how no bird could fly across the body of water, but instead dropped dead in the middle. Research has found that the air is filled with sulfur and petroleum, and that patches of asphalt do float on the surface of the water.
The water is 30% solids, consisting of magnesium, calcium, potassium, but mostly sodium chloride, or salt. By contrast, the ocean is only 3.3% to 4% solid. The Dead Sea lies in the depths of a deep fissure in the Earth’s crust. Abundant evidence shows that at one time this deep crack fully opened and the contents of the earth’s bowels spewed forth.
As the Israelis have pulled more water from the Jordan for irrigation, the water levels of the Dead Sea continue to fall. As this happened, the remains of ancient ruins were discovered. Among them are the remains of Sodom and Gomorrah.
However, this passage is in the Bible for more reasons than just to satisfy our curiosity. It is there to teach us something. Lot provides for us a picture of a person that tries to live a double life. He represents the person who tries to pursue God and the world at the same time. This Sunday we will ask several probing questions of Lot, and maybe ourselves.