Genesis 19 begins with a visit from two angels who appeared to Lot in Sodom. Lot invited them to his house to refresh, have a meal, and spend the night, but "before they lay down, the men of Sodom surrounded the house.. and called to Lot saying, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.' " Lot could not persuade them to leave and they threatened him, but the angels "reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them.. they struck the men who were at the doorway with blindness". Then the angels explained to Lot that they had been sent by God to destroy Sodom, so they told Lot to take his daughters and sons-in-law and leave immediately from the city. The sons-in-law didn't believe Lot, so Lot took his wife and daughters only. Lot hesitated before leaving, so the angels "seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them." The angels agreed to allow Lot and the women to stay in a small town nearby, and the angels said, "very well, I will not overthrow the town you speak of". Then the Lord "rained down fire and burning sulfur on Sodom ... utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and vegetation" . So, God justly destroyed the wicked cities where Lot had lived, but He remembered His promise to Abraham and showed mercy toward Lot and those with him, protecting them in the small town nearby.