When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” Genesis 19:15-17
Nevertheless, Lot still hesitated. It was difficult for him to leave the city. But at dawn the angels themselves took them by the hands so they would not suffer eternal punishment.
A very clear instruction was given to Lot and his family. “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” However, Lot and his family were lacking in faith.
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 their life. The storm of divine judgment was only waiting that these poor fugitives might make their escape. *1
They were fleeing for their lives! All they needed to do was leave without looking back. Why was this so difficult?
Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” Genesis 19:18-20
Angels of heaven had come to warn them. They protected Lot from the mob. The angels took them by the hand out of the city. God had delayed His judgment just for them, but Lot was still afraid of losing his life. Was it logical? Would God have brought them out of the city so they could perish anyway?
But why should Lot not have trusted the mercy of the angels in directing him to escape to the mountains, since he ascribed to them the saving of his life? Lot's stay in Sodom had not tended to increase his faith in God, nor had his intercourse with those who knew not God tended to convert them from the error of their way. He had pleaded that the angels permit him to take up his abode in the city of Zoar, saying, "Is it not a little one? and my soul shall live," as though the God who had directed his escape from Sodom did not understand how to preserve the life he had saved. But what mercy and condescension are manifested by the God of heaven! His request is heard, and his plea granted; yet how much better would it have been to heed the angel's voice, and go to the mountains, as far as possible from the wicked city. The angel bids him to hasten, because the fiery storm would be widespread and terrible. *2
And he said, Behold, I have also received your petition on this, and not overthrow the city of which you spoke. Hurry, escape there, for I can do until you arrive there. That's why he called the name of the city, Zoar. The sun rose over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Genesis 19:21-23
This appeal was to the Lord. He was with Lot but Lot still feared for his life.
But Lot, confused and terrified, he protested that he could do what was asked, for fear that some evil will happen that will cause death. While living in this wicked city in the midst of unbelief, his faith had diminished. The Prince of heaven was at his side, yet he begged for his life as if God had said as much care and love for him was not prepared to continue protecting him. There should be fully trusted in the divine messenger, putting his will and his life in the hands of the Lord, without doubt, no questions asked. But like so many others, tried to make plans for himself: "Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is small, let me escape there (is not she small?) And my soul shall live." The city here mentioned was Bela, who later called Zoar. It was a few miles of Sodom, was as corrupt as this, And doomed to destruction. But Lot asked that be kept insisting that there was little she asked, and what he wanted was granted. The Lord said "Behold I have given thee concerning this thing also, and not overthrow the city of which you spoke." How much is the mercy of God for their missing children! * 1
How Great is God's mercy! Oh how the Lord contends with our disbelief, with our lack of faith! Perhaps you may wonder how Lot could have doubted despite being guided and protected by Jehovah himself. But before you do, ask yourself, what would you have done?
Lot went away a poor man, leaving behind everything he had including his daughters. How would you have reacted? Have you stopped to think that we will soon be called to do the same, to leave everything behind, including our family members who disbelieve? Are you ready? Will you remain faithful to the Lord? How far will your faith go?
This time God forgives the city of Zoar evenit was doomed to destruction as well. But such a case will not occur again. When probation closes there will be no more opportunities. And those who have not been sealed "shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation."
Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. Genesis 19:24-25
The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar." The bright rays of the morning seemed to speak only prosperity and peace to the cities of the plain. The stir of active life began in the streets; men were going their various ways, intent on the business or the pleasures of the day. The sons-in-law of Lot were making merry at the fears and warnings of the weak-minded old man. *1
Suddenly and unexpectedly as would be a thunder peal from an unclouded sky, the tempest broke. The Lord rained brimstone and fire out of heaven upon the cities and the fruitful plain; its palaces and temples, costly dwellings, gardens and vineyards, and the gay, pleasure-seeking throngs that only the night before had insulted the messengers of heaven--all were consumed. The smoke of the conflagration went up like the smoke of a great furnace. And the fair vale of Siddim became a desolation, a place never to be built up or inhabited--a witness to all generations of the certainty of God's judgments upon transgression. *1
Finally, God’s judgment of fell upon those cities in which not even 10 righteous had been found. Nevertheless, overwhelmed by their doubts, Lot and his family still remained very close.
In the end our condition will be the same as was in the days of Sodom.
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3
The story does not end here. While Lot and his fleeing towards Zoar, tragedy struck.
But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26
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, for the preservation of which she felt so little gratitude. *1
She looked back to Sodom, murmuring against the dealings of God, and was changed to a pillar of salt, that she might stand as a warning to all those who disregard the special mercies and providences of Heaven. After this terrible retribution, Lot no longer dared to linger by the way... *3
What a great lesson we learn from Lot's wife. Our hearts, our minds should be directed toward God and the eternal things. It is the only way to reach heaven. Will the Lord save someone and take them to the heavenly mansions if that person prefers to live in this world?
We should beware of treating lightly God's gracious provisions for our salvation. *1
Have we removed from our hearts the things that bind us to this world? Do we want the mansions of heaven and the eternal rather than the earthly? The great day of the Lord is coming, are you ready?
1 * Patriarchs and Prophets, "14. The Destruction of Sodom ", Ellen White
2 * Signs Of The Times, "The Doom Of Sodom A Warning for the Last Days", October 16, 1893 Ellen White
3 * The Review and Herald, "Separation from the World", November 14, 1882 Ellen G White
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