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The Beginning of the End
the house, a huge company, young and old men alike inflamed by the
vilest passions. The strangers had been asking about the character
of the city, when the mob started hooting and jeering, demanding
that the men be brought out to them.
Lot went out to plead with them. “Please, my brethren,” he said,
“do not do so wickedly!” He used the term “brethren” in the sense
of neighbors, hoping to gain their goodwill. But their rage became
like the roaring of a hurricane. They mocked Lot and threatened to
deal worse with him than they had intended toward his guests. They
would have torn him in pieces if he had not been rescued by the
angels of God. The heavenly messengers “reached out their hands
and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door ... They
struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness,
both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the
door.” If they had not been afflicted with double blindness, being
given up to hardness of heart, the stroke of God on them would
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have caused them to stop trying to do their evil work. That last
night revealed no greater sins than many others before it, but mercy,
so long ignored, had finally stopped pleading. The fires of God’s
vengeance were about to be kindled.
The angels revealed to Lot the purpose of their mission: “We
will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown
great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy
it.” The strangers whom Lot had tried to protect now promised to
protect him and all his family who would flee with him from the
wicked city. The mob had worn themselves out and left, and Lot
went out to warn his children. “Get up, get out of this place; for the
Lord will destroy this city!” But they laughed at what they called his
superstitious fears. His daughters were influenced by their husbands
and they could see no sign of danger. They had great possessions
and could not believe it possible that beautiful Sodom would be
destroyed.
Lot Loses Everything Except His Life
Lot returned sorrowfully to his home and reported that his ap-
peal had failed. Then the angels told him to take his wife and two
daughters who were still in the house and leave. But Lot delayed.