How Sin Destroys Whole Societies

Apart from God’s “saving grace” (found only in Christ), all people have embraced their own rebellion by casting off the righteous rule of God and his Law. Therefore, on one level, Romans 1:24-32 applies to each and every individual who has been born. However, on another level, Romans 1:24-32 also applies to collective societies and cultures down through human history. At the Tower of Babel, arrogant sinners defied God and incurred his just judgment. At Sodom and Gomorrah, the people were so corrupt that God rained down fire and consumed their cities. Furthermore, when God told Moses and Joshua to utterly destroy the Canaanites, it was because these wicked and godless people had filled up the full measure of God’s wrath by committing heinous acts of rebellion for over 400 years (Genesis 15:13-16). In short, when a society abandons God, God will abandon them.