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Abraham's unfaltering obedience。 All heaven applauded his fidelity。 Satan's
accusations were shown to be false。 God declared to His servant； 〃Now I know
that thou fearest God ＇notwithstanding Satan's charges＇； seeing thou hast
not withheld thy son； thine only son from Me。〃 God's covenant； confirmed to
Abraham by an oath before the intelligences of other worlds； testified that
obedience will be rewarded。
It had been difficult even for the angels to grasp the mystery of
redemptionto comprehend that the Commander of heaven； the Son of God； must
die for guilty man。 When the command was given to Abraham to offer up his
son； the interest of all heavenly beings was enlisted。 With intense
earnestness they watched each step in the fulfillment of this command。 When
to Isaac's question； 〃Where is the lamb for a burnt offering？〃 Abraham made
answer； 〃God will provide Himself a lamb；〃 and when the father's hand was
stayed as he was about to slay his son； and the ram which God had provided
was offered in the place of Isaac then light was shed upon the mystery of
redemption； and even the angels understood more clearly the wonderful
provision that God had made for man's salvation。 1 Peter 1：12。
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Chapter 14
Destruction of Sodom
Fairest among the cities of the Jordan Valley was Sodom； set in a plain
which was 〃as the garden of the Lord〃 in its fertility and beauty。 Here the
luxuriant vegetation of the tropics flourished。 Here was the home of the
palm tree； the olive； and the vine； and flowers shed their fragrance
throughout the year。 Rich harvests clothed the fields； and flocks and herds
covered the encircling hills。 Art and commerce contributed to enrich the
proud city of the plain。 The treasures of the East adorned her palaces； and
the caravans of the desert brought their stores of precious things to supply
her marts of trade。 With little thought or labor； every want of life could
be supplied； and the whole year seemed one round of festivity。
The profusion reigning everywhere gave birth to luxury and
pride。 Idleness and riches make the heart hard that has never been oppressed
by want or burdened by sorrow。 The love of pleasure was fostered by wealth
and leisure； and the people gave themselves up to sensual indulgence。
〃Behold；〃 says the prophet； 〃this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom；
pride； fullness of bread； and abundance of idleness was in her and in her
daughters； neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy。 And
they were haughty； and committed abomination before Me： therefore I took
them away as I saw good。〃 Ezekiel 16：49； 50。 There is nothing more desired
among men than riches and leisure； and yet these gave birth to the sins that
brought destruction upon the cities of the plain。 Their useless； idle life
made them a prey to Satan's temptations； and they defaced the image of God；
and became satanic rather than divine。 Idleness is the greatest curse that
can fall upon man； for vice and crime follow in its train。 It enfeebles the
mind； perverts the understanding； and debases the soul。 Satan lies in
ambush； ready to destroy those who are
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unguarded； whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under
some attractive disguise。 He is never more successful than when he comes to
men in their idle hours。
In Sodom there was mirth and revelry； feasting and drunkenness。 The vilest
and most brutal passions were unrestrained。 The people openly defied God and
His law and delighted in deeds of violence。 Though they had before them the
example of the antediluvian world； and knew how the wrath of God had been
manifested in their destruction； yet they followed the same course of
wickedness。
At the time of Lot's removal to Sodom； corruption had not become universal；
and God in His mercy permitted rays of light to shine amid the moral
darkness。 When Abraham rescued the captives from the Elamites； the attention
of the people was called to the true faith。 Abraham was not a stranger to
the people of Sodom； and his worship of the unseen God had been a matter of
ridicule among them； but his victory over greatly superior forces； and his
magnanimous disposition of the prisoners and spoil； excited wonder and
admiration。 While his skill and valor were extolled； none could avoid the
conviction that a divine power had made him conqueror。 And his noble and
unselfish spirit； so foreign to the self…seeking inhabitants of Sodom； was
another evidence of the superiority of the religion which he had honored by
his courage and fidelity。
Melchizedek； in bestowing the benediction upon Abraham； had acknowledged
Jehovah as the source of his strength and the author of the victory：
〃Blessed be Abram of the most high God； possessor of heaven and earth： and
blessed be the most high God； which hath delivered thine enemies into thy
hand。〃 Genesis 14：19； 20。 God was speaking to that people by His providence；
but the last ray of light was rejected as all before had been。
And now the last night of Sodom was approaching。 Already the clouds of
vengeance cast their shadows over the devoted city。 But men perceived it
not。 While angels drew near on their mission of destruction； men were
dreaming of prosperity and pleasure。 The last days was like every other that
had come and gone。 Evening fell upon a scene of loveliness and security。 A
landscape of unrivaled beauty was bathed in the rays of the declining sun。
The coolness of eventide had called forth the inhabitants of the
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city； and the pleasure…seeking throngs were passing to and fro； intent upon
the enjoyment of the hour。
In the twilight two strangers drew near to the city gate。 They were
apparently travelers coming in to tarry for the night。 None could discern in
those humble wayfarers the mighty heralds of divine judgment； and little
dreamed the gay； careless multitude that in their treatment of these
heavenly messengers that very night they would reach the climax of the guilt
which doomed their proud city。 But there was one man who manifested kindly
attention toward the strangers and invited them to his home。 Lot did not
know their true character； but politeness and hospitality were habitual with
him； they were a part of his religion lessons that he had learned from the
example of Abraham。 Had he not cultivated a spirit of courtesy； he might
have been left to perish with the rest of Sodom。 Many a household； in
closing its doors against a stranger； has shut out God's messenger； who
would have brought blessing and hope and peace。
Every act of life； however small； has its bearing for good or for evil。
Faithfulness or neglect in what are apparently the smallest duties may open
the door for life's richest blessings or its greatest calamities。 It is
little things that test the character。 It is the unpretending acts of daily
self…denial； performed with a cheerful； willing heart； that God smiles upon。
We are not to live for self； but for others。 And it is only by
self…forgetfulness； by cherishing a loving； helpful spirit； that we can ma