How close to sin do you want to live? When Abraham gave nephew Lot a choice, Lot voted with his presence to live in Sodom. When two angelic visitors visit Sodom intending to stay overnight in the town square, Lot insisted they come into his house. Before the evening’s over, the men of Sodom surrounded the house and demanded the two visitors be given to the townsmen to be sexually abused. That was the nature of Sodom. Lot tried to placate the mob by offering his two daughters up to their abuse. The ‘visitors’ prevented the mob action but urged Lot and his family to flee because the Lᴏʀᴅ had sent the visitors to destroy the cities involved. Even then, Lot was hesitant to flee promptly. “But he lingered” until the angels “seized” and brought them out. How far did Lot want to go to get away? “Behold, this city is near enough to flee to… let me escape there.”
In all of the account, the phrase that rings out is, “the Lᴏʀᴅ being merciful to him.” It becomes clear that he liked where he was and that it was not merit that ‘saved’ him. Yes, Abraham had been interceding with the Lᴏʀᴅ on Lot’s behalf but it is the Lᴏʀᴅ who demonstrates His mercy. In the midst of sin, God shows up trying to save. How often does the Lord try to rescue us while we resist. Lot did. But mercy is not to be presumed upon—sadly, even rescued, Lot continued downward, away from God. But that’s another story.