Genesis 19:29: “So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.”
After spending most of the day in Hebron, the three visitors departed and Abraham decided to join them. They no longer headed south, but turned and walked east, towards the cities of the plain – specifically the Jordan Valley where Lot had moved with his family. Abraham wondered what business God had with Sodom. The Lord happens to be a mind-reader and so He answered his unspoken question, saying: “Why should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” He nodded towards His two attendants, and they continued walking while Abraham and the Lord stopped to have a conversation.
“What is going on?” Abraham asked and the Lord replied, “We have come to issue a warning. Earth will be hit by a meteorite. This will affect all the cities of the plain. They must evacuate or they will perish.” Dismayed, Abraham objected: “But the Sodomites won’t listen. I know them – my nephew Lot lives there.” The Lord replied: “That is why I have sent my angels to Sodom. They will try to get the message across. Sadly, if people refuse to accept it they will perish.
“But you can stop this!” Abraham protested. “Why don’t you prevent this disaster from happening in the first place?” The Lord paused and said, “I would, if there were enough people in the valley who stood up for Me.” Abraham proposed: “How many righteous people does it take, Lord? 50? 45? 40? 30? Maybe 10? Please Lord, have mercy! None of us is perfect. We are nothing but dust and ashes – here today and gone tomorrow.” And the Lord replied: “Your request is granted. If 10 people accept the angel’s message, the valley will be spared.” Then the Lord left while Abraham returned home to his wife.
The sun set as the angels arrived at the city gates of Sodom. Lot sat in the gateway of the city, and he noticed the Lord’s messengers right away. Respectfully, he stood up to greet them, and in middle-eastern fashion invited them to his home. The angels however shook their heads and said: “Thank you, but we have important business to see through here in Sodom. We need to warn the population about an impending catastrophe. We will spend the night in the city square to let everybody know. Aware of Sodom’s infamous nightlife, Lot pleaded with them: “No, no! Please my lords, come to my house. My family would be honored to share a meal with you.” He insisted so strongly that the angels did go with him. And so Lot hurried to prepare a feast for the angels. As they reclined around the dinner table there was a sudden commotion outside and people began knocking at the door.
Lot stepped outside and quickly closed the door. “What seems to be the problem?” he asked as he looked around and recognized some of his neighbors. There were exclusively men in the crowd, men of all ages, young and old, and he quickly realized what that meant. The answer to his question was straightforward and confirmed his worst fears. “Don’t be selfish and claim the two visitors only for your own pleasure! We too want to meet them and have sex with them.” Lot raised his hands to quiet down the mob and said, “These visitors are my guests and under the protection of my roof.” – “Get out of our way!” someone yelled. The crowd pressed against Lot when the door behind him quickly opened and closed. The angels had pulled Lot inside and struck the mob with a brilliant light. Instantly blinded the crowd was thrown into a great confusion.
“What are we going to do?” Lot asked, “Is it true that disaster will strike this city?” The angels grimly nodded. “I’m afraid so”, one of them said. “Unfortunately nobody in this town listens. We have to get ready to leave or else you too will be dead in the morning.” Lot blanched. “That includes my sons-in-law too, doesn’t it? Can I please notify at least the rest of my family?” The angels nodded. “Be quick. We cannot wait much longer.” And so Lot left using the backdoor and rushed to his two eldest daughters’ estates. There he was met with ridicule and scorn. “We have known that you are quirky, but today you have convinced us that you’re a lunatic. Go home old man!” And the door closed right in his face. Out of nowhere the angels appeared and grabbed his hand. They already had taken his wife and his remaining two daughters under their wing and off they went, into the night until they were south of Sodom in Siddim Valley by the Dead Sea.
“Quick! Run for your lives!” the angels urged. “Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains and you will be safe.” The family was terrified and Lot trembled at the thought of what was to come. “My lords,” he ventured to say, “please leave us at least one tiny little town to live in.” He remembered a village further south. “How about Zoar? Can we go there? Please let us live in a human community, or else we will die!” The angels looked at each other and one of them finally nodded. “Request granted. But please hurry. We cannot protect you unless you reach it.”
Immediately, the angels left while Lot’s family continued south. By the time Zoar was in plain sight, the sun had risen over the land. All of a sudden behind them the sky was split in two and a ball of fire appeared. The fire was brighter than the rising sun. The family could feel a heat wave coming on and terrified they picked up the pace. But the sky closed again and immediately afterward there was a bang in the sky and a mighty crash, followed by the noise of stones raining from the sky. The earth trembled and the family ran even faster while keeping their heads down. All the while Lot’s wife mourned over the loss of her two eldest daughters who had stayed behind with their husbands. Why hadn’t they listened to Lot when he warned them? Brokenhearted she looked back – and what she saw was sheer hell. Burning sulfur rained from the skies destroying everything as far as the eye could see. “Oh! This must be the end of the world,” she muttered breathlessly. That’s when her heart stopped beating. On the shores of the Dead Sea Lot’s wife died on the spot and turned into a pillar of salt. The rest of the family ran and ran until they reached safety.
The rising sun revealed an inferno that would be recorded in the annals of human history. What had once been “the proud and shining cities of the plain” was now a smoldering heap of ashes – except a small settlement at the foot of the southern mountains. Zoar alone was spared – just as the angels had promised. God’s heart always has room for mercy.