Destruction of Sodom
137
without a doubt or a question. But like so many others, he endeavored
to plan for himself: “Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it
is a little one: O, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my
soul shall live.” The city here mentioned was Bela, afterward called
Zoar. It was but a few miles from Sodom, and, like it, was corrupt and
doomed to destruction. But Lot asked that it might be spared, urging
that this was but a small request; and his desire was granted. The Lord
assured him, “I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I
will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.” Oh, how
great the mercy of God toward His erring creatures!
Again the solemn command was given to hasten, for the fiery storm
would be delayed but little longer. But one of the fugitives ventured to
cast a look backward to the doomed city, and she became a monument
of God’s judgment. If Lot himself had manifested no hesitancy to
obey the angels’ warning, but had earnestly fled toward the mountains,
without one word of pleading or remonstrance, his wife also would
have made her escape. The influence of his example would have saved
her from the sin that sealed her doom. But his hesitancy and delay
caused her to lightly regard the divine warning. While her body was
upon the plain, her heart clung to Sodom, and she perished with it. She
rebelled against God because His judgments involved her possessions
and her children in the ruin. Although so greatly favored in being
called out from the wicked city, she felt that she was severely dealt
with, because the wealth that it had taken years to accumulate must
be left to destruction. Instead of thankfully accepting deliverance,
she presumptuously looked back to desire the life of those who had
rejected the divine warning. Her sin showed her to be unworthy of life,
[162]
for the preservation of which she felt so little gratitude.
We should beware of treating lightly God’s gracious provisions
for our salvation. There are Christians who say, “I do not care to be
saved unless my companion and children are saved with me.” They
feel that heaven would not be heaven to them without the presence of
those who are so dear. But have those who cherish this feeling a right
conception of their own relation to God, in view of His great goodness
and mercy toward them? Have they forgotten that they are bound by
the strongest ties of love and honor and loyalty to the service of their
Creator and Redeemer? The invitations of mercy are addressed to all;
and because our friends reject the Saviour’s pleading love, shall we