Genesis 19:12-17: a reflection

12The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 13for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” 14Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. 15When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 16But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, the LORD being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 17It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!”

As judgment is about to fall on Sodom, the angels urge Lot to gather his family and flee. But Lot lingers. Even with the warning given and the danger real, he hesitates, slow to leave. And so the angels, we are told, because the LORD was merciful to him, seize Lot and his wife and daughters by the hand and bring them out of the city, all but dragging them to safety. Then comes the urgent word: Escape for your life; do not look back; do not linger.

Notice the mercy in this scene: God's mercy that acts even when we linger. Lot should have fled at once, but he hesitated, slow to leave the doomed city; and it was only God's mercy, through the angels who seized his hand, that brought him out in time. His deliverance was not owing to his own promptness, but to a mercy that took hold of him and pulled him to safety when he was too slow to save himself.

That mercy that lays hold of the lingering is one we often need. We too can linger, slow to leave what we know is under judgment, hesitating over sins or situations we should flee, reluctant to let go. And often it is only God's mercy, taking hold of us, that brings us out. Do not presume on that mercy by lingering; when God shows you what you must flee, do not hesitate as Lot did, but escape at once, and do not look back longingly at what you are leaving. And where you have lingered, be grateful for the mercy that takes hold of the hand and pulls the slow to safety. God's mercy is great toward the lingering; but do not test it by delay. When he says flee, flee, and do not look back.

Lord, as judgment neared Sodom, Lot lingered, slow to leave; and it was only your mercy, through the angels who seized his hand, that brought him and his family out in time, all but dragging them to safety. Show me the mercy in that: your mercy that acts even when I linger. I too can linger, slow to leave what I know is under judgment, hesitating over sins or situations I should flee, reluctant to let go. And often it is only your mercy, taking hold of me, that brings me out. Keep me from presuming on that mercy by lingering; when you show me what I must flee, keep me from hesitating as Lot did, and help me escape at once, not looking back longingly at what I am leaving. And where I have lingered, make me grateful for the mercy that takes hold of the hand and pulls the slow to safety. Your mercy is great toward the lingering; but do not let me test it by delay. When you say flee, help me flee, and not look back. Take hold of my hand, Lord, when I am too slow to save myself.