Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorah

It is clear God was not pleased with the inhabitants of these ancient cities.  It is only in recent history that WHY he was not pleased and WHY he destroyed them has been questioned.  Since the event and all through Jewish, early Christan, and until modern church history it has been understood.  With changes in American culture and the church world wide the WHY has been questioned.  But the answer is clear with a simple look.

 Begins in Gen 18:20

²⁰ Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.

Right off the bat The Lord states that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are extremely sinful and their sin is serious.  What is so serious?  They are so enslaved by their sin, it has infected their bodies, souls, and minds to the point of absolute blind slavery.
It is also important to note the simple word usage as well.

²² The *men turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord

  *אֱנוֹשׁ

1. man, mortal man, person, mankind
   1. of an individual
   2. men (collective)
   3. man, mankind

It is made clear that the other persons with the Lord were male in their appearance and form because of the specific use of the word.  It was not used to generally speak of 'people' but specific of those two person.

Then chapter 19 starts.  These two 'men' are then called angels.  They make their way to the Gates of Sodom.  Lot is at the gate and sees them coming.  He "urges" them to come stay at his house instead of at the city square.

Gen 19:4 is when things get more clear:

⁴ Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house. ⁵ They called out to Lot and said, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can *have sex with them!” ⁶ Lot went out to them at the entrance and shut the door behind him. ⁷ He said, “Don’t do this evil, my brothers.

יָדַע*

 The same word used in Gen 1:4.  And what did it mean when Adam knew Eve? Physical intimacy.

What was Lot's response to this request of the men of Sodom?  Lot understood their request to physical intimacy with his male guests was "evil" or wrong.

Gen 19:8

Look, I’ve got two daughters who haven’t had sexual relations with a man. I’ll bring them out to you, and you can do whatever you want to them. However, don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the protection of my roof.”

Now Lot offers his virgin daughters!  The context of the whole issue here is sexual relations.  He even offered his own daughters to these men to do what ever sexual thing they want.  The continued words use and context shows that it is men asking Lot for sexual relations with men.

Gen 19:9

“Get out of the way! ” they said, adding, “This one came here as a foreigner, but he’s acting like a judge! Now we’ll do more harm to you than to them.” They put pressure on Lot and came up to break down the door.

These men not only rejected Lots offer of his virgin daughter but then essential tells him not to judge them.  Their request turns into forcefulness.  Lot does not accept their decision, speaks up against it, so they attempt to forcefully get their way.


Critics Objections:

"Rape was their sin"  This is not true do to the fact Lot states their request is evil before they try to use force.  Their request was evil not their action.

Matthew Vines has no valid or supported argument for Gen 19 because of the clarity of Scripture.

Summery:

1. The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah sins was "serious"
2. It was the MEN of Sodom that requested Lots guests
3. Lots guests were MEN
4. Lot offered his daughter 
5. The MEN rejected sexual relations with his daughter

 The MEN of Sodom sought sexual relations with Lot's guests who were MEN.  They rejected sexual relations with a FEMALE, Lot's daughter.  The sin The Lord deemed "serious" and Lot declared "evil".

Clearly Understood:

Through history it has been understood what happened and why.  

• Judges 19:22, “While they were making merry, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him.”
• 1 Kings 14:24, “And there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel.”
• Jude 1:7, “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”