Genesis 16-19

“So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city” (19:16).  The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was so terrible that God destroyed the city.  However, far from being eager to condemn, God would have saved them for the sake of ten righteous individuals, in response to Abraham’s prayer (ch 18).  In the same way, though Lot “lingered” and seemed reluctant to flee (19:16), God mercifully helped him escape.  

Lot’s terrible story shows us that “the Judge of all the earth” grieves over sin and makes every effort to save us (18:25).  His desire is our redemption.