John Calvin Commentary Genesis 19:10

"But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door." — Genesis 19:10 (ASV)

But the men put forth their hand. Moses again gives the name "men" to those who were not truly so, but who had appeared as such; for although they begin to exert their heavenly power, they do not yet reveal that they are angels divinely sent from heaven. But here Moses teaches that the Lord, although he may for a time seem unconcerned while the faithful are engaged in conflict, yet never deserts his own, but stretches out his hand, so to speak, at the critical moment.

Thus, in preserving Lot, he delays his aid until the utmost extremity. Let us, therefore, with calm minds, wait on his providence; and let us fearlessly follow what belongs to our calling, and what he commands. For although he may allow us to be exposed to dangers, he will still show that he has never been unmindful of us.

For we see that, just as Lot had shut the door of his house for the protection of his guests, so he is repaid when the angels not only receive him again through the opened door, but also, by setting up barriers of divine power, prevent the wicked men from approaching it.

For, as I have indicated before, they offer him not merely human help, but they come to bring him assistance, armed with divine power. When Moses says that the men were struck with blindness, we are not to understand it as if they had been deprived of eyesight, but rather that their vision was made so dim that they could distinguish nothing.

This miracle was more remarkable than if their eyes had been put out or entirely blinded, because with their eyes open, they grope about just like blind men and, though seeing, do not see. At the same time, Moses wishes to describe their iron obstinacy: they do not find Lot’s door. It follows, then, that they had struggled in searching for it; but, in this way, they furiously wage war with God.

This, however, has happened not only once, and not with the men of Sodom alone. It is daily fulfilled in the reprobate, whom Satan bewitches with such madness that, when struck by the mighty hand of God, they proceed with foolish obstinacy to advance against him.

We do not need to look far for an example of such conduct. We see with what tremendous punishments God punishes wandering lusts; and yet the world does not cease, with desperate audacity, to rush into the certain destruction that is set before its eyes.