It Was Jesus Who Destroyed Sodom And Gomorrah

One of the chief difficulties that are found in the text of the Old Testament today are the portions of scripture which describe the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Many in the LGBTQ community allege that these two cites were not destroyed because of homosexual sin but for their inhospitality to the two angels. In the following comment we see just how complex this issue has become as Homosexual men gain degrees in Theology and then set out to reinterpret the text of the Hebrew scriptures for their own agenda: to validate  the sexual relationships of same-sex men and women.

Although a man may gained a Phd in Theology and ancient biblical languages, he may not know that it was Jesus who came to Sodom to destroy the city for their sexual perversion.

“To many anti-gay Christians, I’m nothing more than a “sodomite” who is damned for all eternity…To me, it is clear that the real sin of Sodom is radical inhospitality, or turning one’s back upon the strangers and the neediest in our midst. Rather than welcoming traveling sojourners into their homes and feeding them, the men of Sodom wanted to gang rape them and exert their power over them. (In fact, gang rape is precisely what happens to the unnamed concubine in Judges 19, which is the parallel story to Sodom and Gomorrah in the Hebrew Bible.)”  — By Rev. Patrick S. Cheng, Ph.D., Article in the Huffington Post, “What Was The Real Sin of Sodom?,” June 20, 2010.

The reason that this is important is that many today are claiming that Jesus never said anything negative about two gay men living in a loving, heterosexual relationship. When we actually do our own investigation we find just the opposite. It was the LORD Jesus who went with the two angels to see Abraham in Genesis 18. After His visit with Abraham, the preincarnate Jesus send the two angels on to Sodom for a personal examination, while Jesus remains behind.

What Jesus Said About Same-Sex Relationships

Our investigation begins with Jesus in the New Testament where He validates His past appearances in the Old Testament, during the days of Abraham.

Jesus: The “I AM,” Of The Old Testament

In the New Testament, we see a stunning conversation between Jesus and the leaders of Israel. In John, chapter 8, Jesus has come to the temple at Jerusalem. While He is teaching there, the scribes and the Pharisees brought Him a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. These men wanted to trap Jesus by His response to their question over the correct procedure from Moses law, regarding those who were guilty of committing adultery. Jesus acknowledges the Law of Moses that both the man and woman are guilty and could be put to death by stoning. Then Jesus gives these men permission to stone the woman, if they themselves are also without sin. Otherwise, the judgement of this woman will reside with God, who will decide her ultimate fate.

After each man, from the oldest to the youngest, drop the stones that were in their hands and walk away; Jesus tells the woman that there is no one remaining to condemn her. Jesus can apparently see her sincere heart of repentance and tells her that He will also not condemn her; but to make certain that she does not commit adultery again.

Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:9-11

Jesus informs these leaders of Israel that He has the authority to judge all sins because He is God, who is the author of every law. In verse 24, Jesus informs these men that they, and all people, will die in their sins unless they all repent and turn to Him for their salvation.

These men reject Jesus claim to be God and accuse Him of blasphemy. Finally, Jesus tells these leaders of Israel that any person who keeps His word, will never see eternal death.

Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’  —John 8:51-52

This conversation continues with Jesus statement that Abraham had seen Jesus day and he was glad. The Jews reject Jesus declaration that Abraham had seen Jesus because Abraham lived upon the earth more than 1,400 years before Jesus was born. Jesus finishes His conversation with these men by informing them that before Abraham existed, Jesus was alive. Finally He identifies Himself as the Great I AM, of the Old Testament.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. —John 8:56-59

Here, Jesus makes it clear that He was on the earth during the time that Abraham was alive, speaking to him. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” If there was any doubt about what Jesus is really saying, the statement “before Abraham was, I AM,” makes Jesus statement absolutely clear.

In exodus chapter 3, Moses asks the Lord what his name is. his reply? “I AM.”

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Exodus 3:13-14

I AM is the name that Jesus called Himself by when He spoke to the Pharisees, describing His existence before Abraham: “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” ~John 8:56-59

This means that in the book of Exodus, it was Jesus who is the voice from the burning bush which spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. Jesus appears to Moses as “The Angel of the Lord.”

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.  —Exodus 3:1-2

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”  —Exodus 3:13-14

The words I AM are the eternal name for God, as established by the Old Testament. In the Hebrew language, I AM is Ehyeh asher ehyeh. This term is usually translated into English as  I am that I am, but it can also be translated as I-shall-be that I-shall-be. The idea behind this name is that the Lord will become whatever you need. I AM… whatever you need in your life… I will become… whatever you need in your life…

In the name I AM, God is stating that He has no beginning and no end; He simply exists and always has existed. The Bible describes God as everlasting. There was no point in time when God came into existence. God is the only self-existent, transcendent, sentient Being in existence. He is perfect and complete in every way. His intelligence and knowledge are unlimited. He is perfect in righteousness and can never do anything wrong. His very nature is Love and all that flows out from Him are: goodness, kindness, faithfulness, mercy, grace, and extreme patience. God is also Just and will not permit evil to continue forever. God is firm in establishing a set-time to punish evil, unrighteousness, and rebellion against His laws. God is transcendent of time, space, and matter. He is the Creator of all that exists and He made the universe by simply speaking.

The Koine-Greek is clear that the usage of “Lord, kurios, in the New Testament, is a direct attribution to Yahweh (Lord), in the Old Testament

The New Testament Greek translation of Jesus as Lord, was understood by those who translated the Greek text into English, as the same person referred to in the Old Testament as Yahweh, or Jehovah, the LORD. Clearly, it was the intent of the translators to convey to their readers that Jesus as the Christ, or Messiah, as the Jehovah God, and Yahweh of the Old Testament.

Further evidence of this fact is observed by the Apostle Paul when he speaks of Jesus as “God” while taking the form of a man to become a bondservant and dying for the sins the world. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness and great sacrifice, His name has been exalted above all other names on earth and in heaven (Philippians 2:6-7).

“Though Jesus was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.…”

Jesus took the form of a servant, and completed the sacrifice required for all of man’s sin. After Jesus rose from the dead, He was restored to His former place of honor as God, and took again, all of the rights as God. The complete fulfillment of this prophecy from Psalm 97:9, will occur when Jesus is established as ruler of the earth during His one-thousand-year reign. All those who inhabit His kingdom will bow their knees in submission to Jesus’ authority—if not willingly, by force (Philippians 2:10-11).

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

According to Psalms 97:9, the LORD (Jehovah) will be exalted above all gods.

  • Jesus is also called LORD and God (Philippians 2:6-8).
  • Jesus will be exalted above all other gods (Philippians 2:9-11).
  • Therefore, Jesus is the same as Jehovah of the Old Testament.

Following this line of deduction—if both the Messiah (in Psalms 97:9) and Jesus (in the Book of Philippians) are called God (there is only one) and both are exalted above all other gods, then they are logically one and the same.

Jude confirms that it was Jesus who brought judgment to the rebellious Hebrews in Exodus, the angels who disobeyed God, and the men of Sodom and Gomorrah who were “filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion.”

So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment. ~Jude 1:5-7

Jude states that it was Jesus who went to Sodom and Gomorrah with the two angels. It was Jesus, the Lord-Yahweh, who brought down fire from heaven and destroyed all the men of these two cities for their immorality and sexula perversion.

Then the Lord (Yahweh) rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. ~Genesis 19:24-25

Jesus stated He was Yahweh when He took the name “I AM,” for Himself.

The great I AM, is who Jesus is claiming to be, there is no mistake.

Jesus is asserting that He has visited the earth before His birth at Bethlehem; possessing the ability to pierce linear time at any point in history that He chooses.

When we examine the Old Testament book of Genesis, chapter 17, we see that the LORD appeared to Abram when he was ninety-nine years old. Jesus is saying that He is the LORD (Jehovah) who met Abraham while He was on his way to Sodom and Gomorrah.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him…  —Genesis 17:1-3

Let us notice that the LORD who is talking to Abram, the same LORD that Jesus claimed to be in John, chapter 8, is also described here as “God,” “and God talked with him…”

Jesus is appearing to Abram and Sarai to tell them that in their old age, they will have a son who will be the beginning of a long line of descendants that will lead to the promised Messiah.

This is a truly incredible text from the Old Testament. Jesus, in pre-incarnate form as a man, appears to Abraham to inform Him that He is going to have a son, who will bring Jesus the Messiah into the world.[1] Jesus is announcing His own arrival to Abraham, 1,400 years before it will take place

As we begin chapter 18 of Genesis, we find Jesus, the LORD, once again appearing before Abram at Mamre.

Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground. —Genesis 18:1-2

Abraham quickly asks his wife, Sarah, to make a meal for the Lord and two angels who are accompanying him.

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.  —Genesis 18:6-8

The purpose of this visit to Abraham and Sarah, is to confirm the earlier promise of the Lord to give this aging couple a son that will come from their own bodies.

And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” Genesis 18:10

Now, we begin to see the purpose of second part of this journey that the LORD has made with two of His angels. The LORD, the pre-incarnate Jesus, and two angels; are going to go to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing.  —Genesis 18:16-17

Because Abraham has believed what God has told him, regarding the birth of a son in his old age, the LORD views Abraham as a righteous man. He asks: “shall I hide what I am going to do from Abraham?”

And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”  —Genesis 18:20-21

This is Jesus, before He came to earth and took the permanent body of a man as the Messiah, appearing to Abraham. Jesus is on His way to Sodom and Gomorrah to see if the evil that has been taking place there, is really happening. As the LORD tells Abraham what He is about to do, Abraham thinks of his nephew, Lot, who lives in Sodom. There is great concern that the LORD is going to these two cities because of the great sin that has been taking place, and destroy all those who live there. Abraham is worried that his nephew will be destroyed along with all the evil people who reside in Sodom and Gomorrah. In response to this realization, Abraham begins to question the Lord regarding what will happen when He arrives at Sodom and Gomorrah.

Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”  —Genesis 18:23-25

Abraham does not ask the LORD for mercy for these two cities; he already knows what has been taking place there and that the evil alleged, is true. Abraham appeals to the justice of God. Yes the LORD does have a right to destroy these two cities for their unrepentant sin, but would the justice of a righteous and Holy God, also destroy those who are not guilty of these sins and believe in God?

So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”  —Genesis 18:26

This debate continues until Abraham asks the LORD a hypothetical question: “what if there is only ten righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah, would the LORD destroy these persons along with the guilty-wicked?

Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”  —Genesis 18:32

Here is our point, up to this place in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah: This is not an allegory or parable, it is a real story about real people, who are in real danger of destruction. Jesus is the one who is the primary character that is bringing this judgement and destruction to these two cities. He is coming with two angels who will destroy Sodom and Gomorrah in a short time.

We know that this is true because of the clear language of Jesus in John chapter 8, where He calls Himself “I AM, and the name “LORD” that is given to the man who is with the two angels that comes to Abraham’s home. When Jesus spoke to the leaders of Israel He called Himself by the name “I AM,” and these men knew what Jesus was affirming; He claimed to be the Eternal God. We see further evidence of this fact in John chapter 10, where Jesus tells the leaders of Israel that He and the Father are one and the same.

Jesus tells the Pharisees:

I and My Father are one.”Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”  —John 10:30-33

Jesus was not simply stating that He was one with the Father, in the way that we are seeking to be one with the Lord; in unity. Jesus was saying emphatically that He and the Father were One and the Same. Jesus uses the Greek neuter pronoun “hen,” signifying a unity of nature or equality.[2] Whatever the Father is, Jesus is. Whatever the Father has done, Jesus will do. Whatever God has promised, Jesus will bring it to completion. The Pharisees understood Jesus claim; this is why the took up stones to kill him. They believed that Jesus was just a man, while He claimed to be God. This was grounds to stone Him to death, according to the law of blasphemy. The only problem was, Jesus is God; the I AM, but these men did not believe Jesus.

Jesus now continues on His journey with the two angels, to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have sex with them.” So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!  —Genesis 19:1-7

The stories of wickedness that warranted the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are found to be true as the angels arrive inside the gates of these cities. The men who live here demand that the angels be brought out into the city center so that they can have sex with them.

The angels have seen enough. They instruct Lot to gather his family and leave the city immediately. The LORD has determined that these men will all fall under judgement on this very night. If there was any doubt about whether same-sex relationships are approved by God, what happens here is a clear revelation regarding this issue. This story is made increasingly important by the presence of Jesus Himself as the one who is bringing this judgement by His two angels.

Many of those in the LGBT community have made the claim that there is no place in the New Testament where Jesus openly condemned same-sex relationships.

This view is maintained due to a lack of knowledge of the Biblical text. As we read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, with the knowledge that this judgement came directly by the pre-incarnate Jesus, there is no doubt regarding His view on homosexual or lesbian relationships.

We must remember Abraham’s insistence that God would not destroy the righteous with the wicked. Those who are in a relationship with God whereby they have repented of their sins and have believed upon Jesus as their Savior; are considered the “righteous.” We are made righteous by Jesus death for our sins, not by our own righteousness.

For He made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  —2 Corinthians 5:21

Abraham’s insistence to the LORD was clear; If the men of Sodom and Gomorrah are wicked, then judgment should come. If, however, there are at least ten who are righteous, then those ten should be spared from God’s judgment.

Peter later commented that when the angels arrive at Sodom and Gomorrah, they find only four that are righteous; Lot, his wife and their two daughters. Even though there were less than ten as God promised Abraham, God spares the four of Lot’s family.

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. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. ~2 Peter 2:6-8

Peter was referencing the text from Genesis 19 where Jesus, Yahweh, the Lord, destroyed the men of Sodom and Gomorrah:

When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.”  —Genesis 19:15

Notice that the angels declare that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a punishment from God for their sin of sodomy.

For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD (Jesus) has sent us to destroy it.”  —Genesis 19:13

What Was The Sin Of Sodom?

We have not seen or heard from Jesus during the time that the angels are in the cities to gather Lot and his daughters. As the time arrives for the men of these cities to meet their judgment, we see that Jesus, the LORD is the one who personally inflicts judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah and they all perish.

Then the LORD (Jesus) rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.  —Genesis 19:24-25

Later, Peter in his second epistle, described this event amongst others that were a part of God’s judgement for sin. The angels were cast into hell for their sin. The entire population of the earth during the time of Noah, perished. Sodom and Gomorrah; turned into ashes for the purpose of making an example of what God will do to those who live their lives, unrepentant, in a same-sex relationships; described by Peter as: “filthy conduct” (V.7).

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.  —2 Peter 2:4-9

This was not a day in which Jesus was pleased. It has never been the desire of God that any of us should perish. To ensure that not one person would be lost, Jesus came into the world as was born as a human being. He lived a perfect and sinless life for thirty-three and one-half years. Presenting His life as the payment for all of our sins on the cross, God accepted Jesus death as the resolution of all our sins and showed the world that He has accepted Jesus death for us, by raising Him from the dead.

No person has to be lost, but every one of us must repent from our sins and turn to Jesus, if we will be saved. Same-sex sin is no different from any other sin. All sin keeps us from eternal life. All sins must be repented from in order to find salvation. It is a grave error to believe that God will not judge the sins of same-sex couples, nor to believe that He accepts those who are in these relationships because they love each other. Here, we see clear evidence that Jesus Himself was actively involved in the complete destruction of the men who lived in homosexual relationships in Sodom and Gomorrah. He left us an example so that no one would ever be confused about this issue.

Say to them: “As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!  —Ezekiel 33:11

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9

Although critics of the Bible constantly highlight moments in the history of man when God brought judgement, there are far more examples of His grace and mercy and constant provision and care for all people. In reality, God is always far more patient with us than we would ever be with anyone, ourselves. Our sense of justice in punishing evil, provokes us to vengeance; while God waits for the guilty, giving as much time as possible for the hard and obstinate hearts of people to change.

Say to them: “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die…”  —Ezekiel 33:11

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient…”  —Isaiah 1:18 (UKJV)

The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty. Numbers 14:18

What took place in Sodom and Gomorrah, like all of the stories from the Old Testament, are preserved for us so that we might learn.

Now all these things (from the O/T) happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come…  —1 Corinthians 10:11

God has spoke to us and established what His law is concerning what we may do with our body and what we shall not do. The purpose of all of God’s laws are to preserve and protect our lives and make it possible for each one of to experience a full and abundance during our time here on earth.

Although Sodom and Gomorrah would not repent so that the LORD could withhold His judgment, in the next chapter; we see that the citizens of Nineveh heard the Lord, responded, and turned from their sins. As a result, the LORD spared their city and not one person perished.

NOTES:
[1] From the Expositors Bible Commentary: “One question remains, however. If the three men left Abraham, why did only “two messengers” (shene hammal’akim 19:1) arrive in Sodom? It seems reasonably clear that the two messengers who visited Lot are two of the “three men” who visited Abraham, especially in light of the fact that in chapter 19 the “messengers” are subsequently referred to simply as “the men” (ha’anashim). But what happened to the other “man”? This question has given rise to several speculations about the identity of the one man who does not visit Sodom. The most common explanation is that the “man” is a “christophany,” that is, an appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity in human form, before the Incarnation. Thus when the text says that “the men [ha’anashim] turned away and went toward Sodom” and that the Lord remained with Abraham, and then further that only “two messengers” (19:1) came to Sodom, it seems to follow that one of the men must have stayed behind with Abraham. Since we know that the Lord stayed behind, that man must have been the Lord. Abraham was then visited by the preincarnate Christ who was accompanied by two “angels” (19:1)
[2] “I and the Father” preserves the separate individuality of the two Persons in the Godhead; the neuter pronoun “one” (hen) asserts unity of nature or equality. Source: The Expositors Bible Commentary on Jon 10:30.

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