Beginning of the End

Lot Entertains Angels Unwittingly

But one man showed kindly attention toward the strangers and invited them to his home. Lot did not know their true character, but being polite and hospitable was a habit with him—a lesson he had learned from Abraham. If he had not cultivated a spirit of courtesy, he might have been left to perish with Sodom. Many a home has closed its doors against a strange and so has shut out God’s messenger who would have brought blessing. God smiles on the humble, sincere acts of daily self-denial, performed with a cheerful, willing heart. BOE 70.2

Knowing how strangers were abused in Sodom, Lot made it one of his duties to guard them by offering them room at his own house. He was sitting at the gate as the travelers approached, and rose from his place to meet them. Bowing courteously, he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night.” They seemed to decline, saying, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” They had two reasons for answering this way—to test Lot’s sincerity and to appear ignorant of the character of Sodom’s inhabitants, as if they supposed it was safe to stay in the street at night. Lot urged his invitation until they yielded and went with him to his house. BOE 70.3

Their hesitation and his persistent urging drew attention, and before they went to bed for the night, a lawless crowd gathered around the house, a huge company, young and old men alike inflamed by the vilest passions. The strangers had been asking about the character of the city, when the mob started hooting and jeering, demanding that the men be brought out to them. BOE 70.4

Lot went out to plead with them. “Please, my brethren,” he said, “do not do so wickedly!” He used the term “brethren” in the sense of neighbors, hoping to gain their goodwill. But their rage became like the roaring of a hurricane. They mocked Lot and threatened to deal worse with him than they had intended toward his guests. They would have torn him in pieces if he had not been rescued by the angels of God. The heavenly messengers “reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door ... They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.” If they had not been afflicted with double blindness, being given up to hardness of heart, the stroke of God on them would have caused them to stop trying to do their evil work. That last night revealed no greater sins than many others before it, but mercy, so long ignored, had finally stopped pleading. The fires of God’s vengeance were about to be kindled. BOE 70.5

The angels revealed to Lot the purpose of their mission: “We will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” The strangers whom Lot had tried to protect now promised to protect him and all his family who would flee with him from the wicked city. The mob had worn themselves out and left, and Lot went out to warn his children. “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But they laughed at what they called his superstitious fears. His daughters were influenced by their husbands and they could see no sign of danger. They had great possessions and could not believe it possible that beautiful Sodom would be destroyed. BOE 71.1