John Calvin Commentary Genesis 19:18

"And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my lord:" — Genesis 19:18 (ASV)

And Lot said unto them. Here another fault of Lot is censured, because he does not simply obey God, nor allow himself to be preserved according to His will, but devises some new method of his own. God assigns him a mountain as his future place of refuge; he rather chooses for himself a city.

They are therefore mistaken, who so highly praise his faith as to consider this a perfect example of suitable prayer; for the design of Moses is rather to teach that the faith of Lot was not entirely pure and free from all defects. For it must be held as an axiom that our prayers are faulty, insofar as they are not founded on the word.

Lot, however, not only departs from the word, but absurdly indulges himself in opposition to the word; such insistence certainly has no affinity with faith. Afterwards, a sudden change of mind was the punishment of his foolish cupidity. For thus do all necessarily waver, who do not submit to God.

As soon as they attain one wish, a new uneasiness immediately arises, which compels them to change their opinion. In short, it must then be maintained that Lot is by no means free from blame in wishing for a city as his residence; for he both sets himself in opposition to the command of God, which it was his duty to obey, and desires to remain among those pleasures from which it was beneficial for him to be removed.

He, therefore, acts just as a sick person would, who might decline an operation or a bitter medicine which his physician had prescribed.

Nevertheless, I do not suppose that Lot’s prayer was altogether lacking in faith. I rather think that, though he strayed from the right way, he not only did not depart far from it, but was even fully resolved in his mind to keep to it. For he always depended upon the word of God, but in one particular he fell from it by imploring that a place be given to him which had been denied. Thus, with the pious desires of holy men, some defiled and murky mixture is often found.

However, I am not ignorant that sometimes they are compelled, by a remarkable impulse of the Spirit, to depart in appearance from the word, yet without really transgressing its limits. But Lot’s immoderate carnal affection reveals itself, in that he is held entangled by those very delights which he ought to have shunned. Moreover, his instability is a proof of his rashness, because he is soon displeased with himself for what he has done.