Lot returned sorrowfully to his home and told the story of his failure. Then the angels bade him arise and take his wife and the two daughters who were yet in his house and leave the city. But Lot delayed. Though daily distressed at beholding deeds of violence, he had no true conception of the debasing and abominable iniquity practiced in that vile city. He did not realize the terrible necessity for God's judgments to put a check on sin. Some of his children clung to Sodom, and his wife refused to depart without them. The thought of leaving those whom he held dearest on earth seemed more than he could bear. It was hard to forsake his luxurious home and all the wealth acquired by the labors of his whole life, to go forth a destitute wanderer. Stupefied with sorrow, he lingered, loath to depart. But for the angels of God, they would all have perished in the ruin of Sodom. The heavenly messengers took him and his wife and daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.

Lot gik bedrøvet tilbage til sit hjem og fortalte om sit mislykkede forsøg. Så bød englene ham stå op og tage sine hustru og sine to døtre, som endnu var hjemme, og forlade byen. Men Lot tøvede. Skønt han hver dag sørgede over at se voldshandlinger, havde han ingen virkelig opfattelse af de afskyelige, nedværdigende synder, der gik i svang i den onde by. Han indså ikke at det var tvingende nødvendigt, at Guds dom satte en stopper for synden. Nogle af hans børn hang ved Sodoma, og hans hustru nægtede at rejse uden dem. Tanken om at forlade dem, han holdt mest af på jorden, syntes at være mere, end han kunne bære. Det var svært for ham at forlade sit luksuriøse hjem og alle de rigdomme, han havde samlet igennem hele sit liv, og gå ud som en fattig vandringsmand. Knuget af sorg tøvede han uden ringeste lyst til at tage af sted. Havde Guds engle ikke været der, ville de alle sammen være omkommet i Sodomas ruiner. De himmelske budbærere tog ham, hans hustru og døtre og førte dem ud af byen.