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Patriarchs and Prophets
by their husbands. They were well enough off where they were. They
could see no evidence of danger. Everything was just as it had been.
They had great possessions, and they could not believe it possible that
beautiful Sodom would be destroyed.
Lot returned sorrowfully to his home and told the story of his
failure. Then the angels bade him arise and take his wife and the
two daughters who were yet in his house and leave the city. But
Lot delayed. Though daily distressed at beholding deeds of violence,
he had no true conception of the debasing and abominable 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 his wife refused to depart without them. 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 acquired by the labors of his whole life, to go forth a destitute
wanderer. Stupefied with sorrow, he lingered, loath to depart. But for
the angels of God, they would all have perished in the ruin of Sodom.
The heavenly messengers took him and his wife and daughters by the
hand and led them out of the city.
Here the angels left them, and turned back to Sodom to accomplish
their work of destruction. Another—He with whom Abraham had
pleaded—drew near to Lot. In all the cities of the plain, even ten
righteous persons had not been found; but in answer to the patriarch’s
prayer, the one man who feared God was snatched from destruction.
The command was given with startling vehemence: “Escape for thy
life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to
the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Hesitancy or delay now would
be fatal. To cast one lingering look upon the devoted city, to tarry for
one moment from regret to leave so beautiful a home, would have cost
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their life. The storm of divine judgment was only waiting that these
poor fugitives might make their escape.
But Lot, confused and terrified, pleaded that he could not do as he
was required lest some evil should overtake him and he should die.
Living in that wicked city, in the midst of unbelief, his faith had grown
dim. The Prince of heaven was by his side, yet he pleaded for his own
life as though God, who had manifested such care and love for him,
would not still preserve him. He should have trusted himself wholly to
the divine Messenger, giving his will and his life into the Lord’s hands