Both of these represent the world. Egypt, is the world in its oppression, in which man is treated as the slave of the enemy (Satan), represented by Pharaoh, its prince. Man may groan under it, as he will, when the light shines in, or he may be ignorant of the chains that bind him. In either case, he is but a helpless slave in this world.
Sodom, represents the world more in its friendly aspect. It is thus, not oppression, but patronage. It is that active side of the world's policy, which seeks to make me contented with the order of things here. It made a great man of Lot. Everything which has the tendency to make me satisfied with the present order of things, is Sodom.
The opposite of "Egypt," is Canaan, and the opposite of "Sodom," is the Wilderness, the pilgrim character seen in Abraham, in contrast to Lot. That is "going on," and not settling down, in things here.
If I accept Sodom, instead of the wilderness character, I forfeit communion with God. God declined friendly intercourse with Lot, but sought it with Abraham. To lose communion with God, is no small loss. Many Christians are living without present communion. H. C. Anstey.
To accept the truth, in the power of the Spirit, that the first man has passed away for ever from the eye of God, under judgment, is the way of deliverance (though to be experimentally learned) from sin, the law, and the world.