Genesis 19:11-16 " And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. And the men said unto 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: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city."
We read in the eighteenth chapter of Genesis how Abraham was sitting in his tent door looking for an opportunity to show hospitality. Apparently, his nephew Lot had learned this trait as well. In the beginning of this nineteenth chapter, we find Lot sitting in the gate of Sodom in the late afternoon looking for any travelers that might need a place to rest and refresh. Lot was about to come face to face with the judgement of God.
Lot saw two men (he did not yet recognize them as angels) approaching the city. He rose up, went to them, and offered the hospitality of his home. It is likely that Lot knew the strangers would not be safe from the wickedness of his neighbors. After he had persuaded them to come into his home, Lot’s neighbors showed up and demanded that the strangers be brought out to them so that they might have carnal enjoyment of them. This was so heinous in Lot’s eyes that he even offered his neighbors his two remaining virgin daughters.
Most of us have heard the expression “fight fire with fire.” That might work with fire, but I assure you, you cannot fight sin with sin. This was what Lot was attempting to do. The mob that had gathered at Lot’s door was so incensed against him that they determined to take Lot as well as the strangers he had invited into his home.
It is at this point that our scriptures begin today. The men whom Lot had invited to his house began to display before Lot and his family the righteous judgement of God. They caused the mob at Lot’s door to be smitten with a blindness so great that they could not even find the door to Lot’s house, much less come in. Even though the city was exceedingly sinful, and Lot and his family dwelled in this city, God still showed mercy to Lot as he was trying still to live a righteous life.
Lot was given the opportunity to gather his family living in the city. He had other daughters besides the two who were still at home. He went to his sons-in-law and told them to take their families and get out of the city because God was going to surely destroy it. However, they loved their city life because they refused Lot’s instruction.
The next day, Lot was told to take his immediate household and get out. Otherwise, they would be consumed with the iniquity of the city. Lot was still reluctant to leave his home. However, the angels of the LORD forced Lot, his wife, and his two daughters living at home to get out.
Dear ones, it is never safe to abide in iniquity even if we are not directly participating. Eventually, it will come to our door and make demands we will not be willing to meet. We will never be able to resist greater sin by compromising with something we might deem to be a “lesser” sin. When the LORD delivers you out of compromising situations, go! Be thankful instead of having to be forced out.