Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah
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flamed by the vilest passions. The strangers had been making inquiry
in regard to the character of the city, when the hooting and jeers of the
mob were heard, demanding that the men be brought out to them.
Lot went out to try persuasion on them. “I pray you, brethren,”
he said, “do not so wickedly,” using the term “brethren” in the sense
of neighbors and hoping to conciliate them. But their rage became
like the roaring of a tempest. They mocked Lot and threatened to deal
worse with him than they had purposed toward his guests. They would
have torn him in pieces had he not been rescued by the angels of God.
The heavenly messengers “put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the
house to them, and shut to the door.” “They smote the men that were
at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great; so that
they wearied themselves to find the door.” Had they not been visited
with double blindness, being given up to hardness of heart, the stroke
of God upon them would have caused them to desist from their evil
work. That last night was marked by no greater sins than many others
before it; but mercy, so long slighted, had at last ceased its pleading.
The fires of God’s vengeance were about to be kindled.
The angels revealed to Lot the object of their mission: “We will
destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the
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face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.” The strangers
whom Lot had endeavored to protect, now promised to protect him and
all his family who would flee with him from the wicked city. The mob
had wearied themselves out and departed, and Lot went out to warn
his children. “Up, get you 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. They could see no
evidence 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 told the story of his
failure. Then the angels bade him take his wife and two daughters
who were yet in the house and leave. But Lot delayed. He had no true
conception of the debasing iniquity practiced in that vile city. He did
not realize the terrible necessity for God’s judgments to put a check on
sin. Some of his children clung to Sodom, and the thought of leaving