Rain of Fire

Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah – from the LORD out of the heavens. – Genesis 19:24

There are only two stories in the book of Genesis where it “rained.” The first is in Genesis 6-9, which was the narrative of “The Flood,” where God caused it to “rain upon the land.” The second is “Sodom and Gomorrah,” when the Lord “rained down burning sulfur,” Genesis 19:24. The fact that these two stories use rain as judgment should reveal to the reader that they are supposed to be compared to one another. The idea of an unholy union between spiritual beings and humans has already been examined (here), but there are more links between Lot’s escape and Noah’s deliverance.

First, both include the deliverance of their families. Lot is told to take his wife, daughters, and their betrothed husbands in Genesis 19:12 and 15. Noah is told to enter the ark with his wife, sons, and their wives in Genesis 6:18.

Another interesting connection is the concept of “rest” and “mountains.” The name “Noah” means rest, and in Genesis 8:4 the text reads that the “ark rested on the mountains of Ararat revealing his deliverance from the judgment. Lot, in Genesis 19:16 tells us the angels “put him” outside of the city. The Hebrew word for that phrase is actually “rested.” The following verse records the angels telling Lot to “flee to the mountains.” Both Noah and Lot were “rested” and both ended up on a mountain.

Furthermore, in Genesis 6:8, Noah found “favor” in the eyes of the Lord. Lot mentions to the angels that he has found favor in their eyes. In both cases, that favor led to the Hebrew word for “kept alive.” Lot was kept alive in Genesis 19:19. Noah and all the animals in Genesis 6:19-20 and 7:3.

Lastly, in the midst of judgment, both stories tell us that God remembers His people. In Genesis 8:1, “God remembered Noah and all the living creatures…with him on the ark.” Noah, the righteous, was remembered.. This time, it is Abraham who is remembered in Genesis 19:29 as he intercedes for the city. Abraham and Noah are the only two people called righteous in Genesis so far. In an inversion, Lot is not “remembered” by God or called righteous, although he is saved from the judgment.

In Genesis, when God “rains” down judgment, it links the stories together.