it.” The strangers whom Lot had endeavored to protect, now promised to protect him,
and to save also all the members of 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. He repeated the words of the angels, “Up, get you out of this place;
for the Lord will destroy this city.” But he seemed to them as one that mocked. They
laughed at what they called his superstitious fears. His daughters were influenced
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 beautif