But Lot, confused and terrified, pleaded that he could not do as he was required lest some evil should overtake him and he should die. Living in that wicked city, in the midst of unbelief, his faith had grown dim. The Prince of heaven was by his side, yet he pleaded for his own life as though God, who had manifested such care and love for him, would not still preserve him. He should have trusted himself wholly to the divine Messenger, giving his will and his life into the Lord's hands without a doubt or a question. But like so many others, he endeavored to plan for himself: "Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: O, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live." The city here mentioned was Bela, afterward called Zoar. It was but a few miles from Sodom, and, like it, was corrupt and doomed to destruction. But Lot asked that it might be spared, urging that this was but a small request; and his desire was granted. The Lord assured him, "I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken." Oh, how great the mercy of God toward His erring creatures!

Men Lot var forvirret og rædselsslagen og hævdede, at han ikke kunne gøre, som der blev sagt, for så kunne ulykken indhente ham, og han ville miste livet. Mens han boede i den onde by, midt i vantro, var hans tro blevet svækket. Himmelens fyrste stod ved hans side, og dog bad han for sit liv, som om Gud, der havde vist ham en sådan omsorg og kærlighed, ikke stadig ville bevare ham. Han skulle helt have overgivet sig til det himmelske sendebud og givet sin vilje og sit liv i Herrens hånd uden at tvivle eller stille spørgsmål. Men som så mange andre prøvede han at lægge planer selv og sagde; "Se, den by der er nær nok til, at jeg kan flygte derhen; den betyder jo ikke stort, lad mig redde mig derhen, den betyder jo ikke stort, og mit liv er frelst!" Den by, der omtales her, var Bela, der senere kaldtes Zoar. Den lå kun nogle få kilometer fra Sodoma og var også fordærvet og dømt til undergang. Men Lot bad om, at den måtte blive sparet, idet han hævdede, at det jo kun var en lille bøn, og han fik sit ønske opfyldt. Herren forsikrede ham: "Også i det stykke har jeg bønhørt dig; jeg vil ikke ødelægge den by, du nævner." Hvor er Guds hjertelighed over for hans fejlende skabninger dog stor!