Chapter 13. Genesis 19. Sodom Destroyed.
IT was evening when the two angels came to Sodom. They did not find ten righteous people there and the city could not be saved. But the Lord remembered Abraham’s prayer, and for his sake He sent down His angel’s to warn Lot who, although righteous, should not have been found, in company with wicked people, for the Lord is not pleased to see His people seek their pleasure among those who do not love Him. he says to such, “Come out front among them; and be ye separate.”
When the angels arrived at Sodom; Lot, who was sitting in the gate, saw them, and rose up, bowing to the ground, and invited them to his house, to spend the night there. They would have preferred to remain in the street all night, for they knew that Lot had displeased God, and they had not come to visit him, but to save him. However he pressed them greatly, and they entered into, his, house and he made them a feast, and based bread, and they ate. But before they laid down, the men of Sodom surrounded the house, and called to Lot to bring out the men. He went out to them, shutting the door behind him, and begged them not to ill-treat his guests. They only told him to stand back, saying: “This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: Now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. They pressed him sorely and would have broken the door, but the angels pulled Lot into the house, and shut the door, and struck the men outside with blindness, so they could not find the door. Then the angels said to Lot: “Hast thou here any, besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out, of this place, . .the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, saying: “Up, get you out of, this place for the Lord will destroy this city.” But they did not believe him.
When the morning came, he angels hurried Lot, and said: “Take thy wife, and two daughters, lest thou; be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” But as he lingered, they took him by the hand and brought him and his family out of the city. How hard it was for the poor man to leave all his goods, all he possessed, behind him! His heart was there, and not with the Lord, whom he had set aside for riches of this life. But he must leave them, for the angels said: Escape for they life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain, escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. But Lot begged to be allowed to go to a little city nearby, called Zoar, and he was permitted. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah a shower of fire and brimstone from heaven, and the cities, and all that grew in the plain was destroyed. But Lot’s wife looked behind her, in disobedience to the angels command, and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Soon Lot went out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountain, in a cave with his two daughters, for he was afraid to remain longer there.
In the morning, Abraham rose very early, and went to look toward Sodom. No beautiful city was there, now; it was all black with smoke; the houses destroyed, the people killed. All was gone, swept away by the judgment of God! Consumed by His fire and brimstone! His judgment hangs now over this wicked world! The day is very near and the cry is now: “Escape for thy life:” Escape to the mountain which is Christ! He is the “Rock of salvation.” Happy they who hear and believe the story of grace which is now told in many an ear! Happy they who flee to the mountain of God’s salvation!
ML 04/04/1909