Basic HTML Version
Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah
93
people by His providence, but the last ray of light was rejected, as
all before had been.
Now the last night of Sodom was approaching, but no one was
aware of it. While angels drew near on their mission of destruction,
people were dreaming of prosperity and pleasure. The last day was
[70]
like every other that had come and gone. A landscape of unsurpassed
beauty was bathed in the rays of the setting sun. Pleasure-seeking
crowds were going this way and that, intent on enjoying the hour.
In the twilight, two strangers approached the city gate. No one
saw them as the mighty heralds of divine judgment. The careless
multitude little dreamed that in mistreating these heavenly mes-
sengers, that very night they would reach the pinnacle of guilt that
doomed their city.
Lot Entertains Angels Unwittingly
But one man showed kindly attention toward the strangers and
invited them to his home. Lot did not know their true character,
but being polite and hospitable was a habit with him—a lesson
he had learned from Abraham. If he had not cultivated a spirit of
courtesy, he might have been left to perish with Sodom. Many a
home has closed its doors against a strange and so has shut out God’s
messenger who would have brought blessing. God smiles on the
humble, sincere acts of daily self-denial, performed with a cheerful,
willing heart.
Knowing how strangers were abused in Sodom, Lot made it one
of his duties to guard them by offering them room at his own house.
He was sitting at the gate as the travelers approached, and rose
from his place to meet them. Bowing courteously, he said, “Here
now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the
night.” They seemed to decline, saying, “No, but we will spend the
night in the open square.” They had two reasons for answering this
way—to test Lot’s sincerity and to appear ignorant of the character
of Sodom’s inhabitants, as if they supposed it was safe to stay in the
street at night. Lot urged his invitation until they yielded and went
with him to his house.
Their hesitation and his persistent urging drew attention, and be-
fore they went to bed for the night, a lawless crowd gathered around