“Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” (Gen 19,7-8)

When a person wants to go in a certain direction in his life but has inner doubts about it, he looks for arguments to justify his choice. The most popular and best-sounding argument was, is and always will be "family". I don't want anything for myself, you know, but for my loved ones. (In my country, at the time of communism, the people used to say: I would never have joined the communist party myself, of course, but for the sake of my children... And he who does not rob the state, robs the family! And in all times, if a motor fan gets excited by an advertisement for a new car, then of course he doesn't need it for himself, but mainly for his family.)

Similarly, when Lot decided where to go after his breakup with Abram and chose Sodom, he certainly wasn't thinking only of himself. On the contrary, he also wanted to give the best to his loved ones, his wife and children. Logically, they would find it where the standard of living was highest. And the decision was made.

All the time until that evening Lot had been unable to perceive reality, and when he saw it, it was too late. In an instant, all previous preferences were overturned. Lot's moral imperative that the guest is under the protection of his host and he has to comply with it was so strong that he dared not give his guests over to the orgy. He understood that the excited crowd standing outside his house, stripped of inhibitions, fortified by every kind of intoxicating drink of the day, whatever it was, was definitely decided, and he must arrange the entertainment for the evening. A sacrifice must be made to him, or they are finished. There was no time for reflection. Lot offered them his own daughters.

With what a heart he must have stood there when he spoke those words! At that moment he was broken, he knew all was lost. His whole life had collapsed, the future had lost all gloss, there remained an unspeakable misery which they would have to endure permanently, even after they were gone from here forever. At that moment nothing was clearer to him than this. If only he could get away for once... 

If only, at whatever cost.