In how wide contrast to the life of Abraham was that of Lot! Once they had been companions, worshiping at one altar, dwelling side by side in their pilgrim tents; but how widely separated now! Lot had chosen Sodom for its pleasure and profit. Leaving Abraham's altar and its daily sacrifice to the living God, he had permitted his children to mingle with a corrupt and idolatrous people; yet he had retained in his heart the fear of God, for he is declared in the Scriptures to have been a "just" man; his righteous soul was vexed with the vile conversation that greeted his ears daily and the violence and crime he was powerless to prevent. He was saved at last as "a brand plucked out of the fire" (Zechariah 3:2), yet stripped of his possessions, bereaved of his wife and children, dwelling in caves, like the wild beasts, covered with infamy in his old age; and he gave to the world, not a race of righteous men, but two idolatrous nations, at enmity with God and warring upon His people, until, their cup of iniquity being full, they were appointed to destruction. How terrible were the results that followed one unwise step!

Hvor var Lots liv en stor modsætning til Abrahams liv! Engang havde de været rejsefæller; de havde tilbedt ved samme alter og boet side om side i deres pilgrimstelte; men hvor var de langt fra hinanden nu! Lot havde valgt Sodoma for dens fornøjelsers og fordeles skyld. Da han forlod Abrahams alter, hvor der daglig blev bragt et offer til den levende Gud, lod han sine børn færdes sammen med et fordærvet og afgudsdyrkende folk; men han havde alligevel bevaret gudsfrygten i sit hjerte, for han omtales i skriften som en "retfærdig" man. Hans retfærdige sjæl plagedes af den slette tale, der hver dag lød i hans øren, og af de voldshandlinger og forbrydelser, som han ikke havde magt til at forhindre. Han blev til sidst "en brand, som er reddet ud af ilden" (Zak. 3, 2), men han havde mistet sine ejendele, sin hustru og sine børn og boede i huler som de vilde dyr ramt af skændsel på sine gamle dage. Han skænkede ikke verden en slægt af retfærdige mennesker, men to afguderiske folk, der var fjender af Gud og kæmpede mod hans folk, indtil deres uretfærdigheds bæger var fuldt, og de blev dømt til undergang. Hvilke frygtelige resultater af et eneste forkert skridt!