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Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah
95
He had no true concept of the debasing sins practiced in that wicked
city, and he did not realize the terrible necessity for God’s judgments
to put a restraint on sin. Some of Lot’s children clung to Sodom, and
the thought of leaving those whom he held dearest on earth seemed
more than he could bear. It was hard to forsake his luxurious home
and all the wealth of his whole life, to go out as a poor, homeless
wanderer. Shocked with sorrow, he lingered. If it had not been for
the angels, all of them would have perished. The heavenly messen-
gers took him and his wife and daughters by the hand and led them
out of the city.
In all the cities of the plain, even ten righteous persons had not
been found. But in answer to Abraham’s prayer, the one man who
feared God was snatched from destruction. The command was given
with startling intensity: “Escape for your life! Do not look behind
you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest
you be destroyed.” To cast one lingering look on the city, to delay
for one moment from regret to leave so beautiful a home, would cost
their life. The storm of divine judgment was only waiting so that
these poor fugitives could escape.
But Lot, confused and terrified, pleaded that he could not do
what the two visitors had told him to do. Living in that wicked city,
his faith had grown weak. The Prince of heaven was by his side, yet
he pleaded for his own life as though God, who had shown such love
for him, would not still take care of him. He should have trusted
himself entirely to the divine Messenger. “See now, this city is near
enough to flee to, and it is a little one; Please let me escape there (is
[72]
it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” Zoar was only a few miles
from Sodom, and like it, was corrupt and doomed to destruction.
But Lot asked for it to be spared, urging that this was just a small
request. His desire was granted. The Lord assured him, “I have
favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow
this city for which you have spoken.”
Again the command was given to hurry, for the fiery storm would
be delayed only a little longer. But one of the fugitives took a look
backward to the doomed city, and she became a monument of God’s
judgment. If Lot himself had earnestly fled toward the mountains
without one word of objection, his wife would have made her escape
also. His example would have saved her from the sin that sealed her