Genesis 19:22

can not do anything till thou be come thither.

These heavenly messengers had, then, strict charge to insure the safety of Lot, probably on account of the prayers of Abraham more than his own deserts, and the purposes of divine judgment were necessarily delayed until he had found refuge. The very presence of good men in. place helps to keep off judgments. In Revelation 7:3 we are told that the four winds of destruction were held until God's servants were sealed.