The Lord’s actions, including the sending of two angels to Sodom as recorded in Genesis 19, are multi-faceted and demonstrate His justice, mercy, and the fulfillment of His divine plans in ways that humans can witness and from which they can learn. While it is true that God is all-knowing and was fully aware of the wickedness in Sodom, the sending of angels served several purposes beyond the mere assessment of the city’s moral state.

First, it was a tangible demonstration of God’s patience and His willingness to investigate and confirm the cries against Sodom and Gomorrah before executing judgment. This act underscores a key aspect of God’s character—that He is just and thorough in His judgment. As Genesis 18:20-21 says, “Then the Lord said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.’”

Second, the visitation of the angels to Sodom served to rescue Lot and his family, demonstrating God’s mercy and His covenant faithfulness. God remembered Abraham’s plea for the righteous not to be destroyed along with the wicked, showing that He listens to the intercessions of His people and acts in mercy when possible.

Finally, these events are recorded for our instruction, serving as a warning of the consequences of sin and the certainty of God’s judgment, while also highlighting the importance of righteousness and intercessory prayer. In 2 Peter 2:6-9, the apostle uses the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example to show that “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.”

Thus, while God’s omniscience meant He did not need to send angels to learn about Sodom’s condition, He chose this method as part of His divine plan to demonstrate His character and to provide lessons for humanity about His justice, mercy, and the way of salvation for the righteous.