“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;”
Wherein we see God’s provident care in preserving his: albeit he revealeth not himself to all alike: for Lot had but two Angels, and Abraham three.
“And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.”
Not for that they had necessity, but because the time was not yet come that they would reveal themselves. That is, he prayed them so instantly.
“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:”
Nothing is more dangerous than to dwell where sin reigneth: for it corrupteth all.
“Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing ; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.”
That I should preserve them from all injury. He deserveth praise in defending his guests, but he is to be blamed in seeking unlawful means.
“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.”
Gen. 18:20 This proveth that the Angels are ministers, as well to execute God’s wrath, as to declare his favor.
“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.”
The mercy of God striveth to overcome man’s slowness in following God’s calling.
“And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.”
He willed him to flee from God’s judgments, and not to be sorry to depart from that rich country, and full of vain pleasures.
“Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, ( is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”
Though it be little, yet it is great enough to save my life: wherein he offendeth in choosing another place than the Angel had appointed him.
“Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Zoar: that is, Little”
Which before was called Bela, Gen. 14:2 . Because God’s commandment was to destroy the city, and to save Lot.
“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;”
Deut. 29:23 ; Isa. 13:19 ; Jer. 50:40 ; Ezek. 16:49 ; Hos. 11:8 ; Amos 4:11 ; Luke 17:29 ; Jude 7
“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
As touching the body only: and this is a notable monument of God’s vengeance to all them that passed that way.
“And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.”
Having before felt God’s mercy, he durst not provoke him again by continuing among the wicked.
“And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:”
Meaning in the country, which the Lord had now destroyed.
“Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.”
For except he had been overcome with wine, he would never have done that abominable act.
“Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.”
Thus God permitted him to fall most horribly in the solitary mountains, whom the wickedness of Sodom could not overcome.
“And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.”
Who as they were born in most horrible incest, so were they and their posterity vile and wicked.
“And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.”
That is, son of my people: signifying that they rather rejoiced in their sin, than repented for the same.