“FLEE for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” said the Angels who was sent by Yahweh to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
However, Lot feared that the disaster will overtake them and get killed. He pleaded that the nearby town named Zoar be spared from his judgement. And Yahweh spared Zoar. Lot sought refuge in Zoar swiftly along with his family.
When they reached Zoar, Yahweh rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah from the heavens. Yahweh succeeded in destroying the cities, the entire plain, destroying and killing of those who were left including the vegetation of the land.
Unfortunately, Lot’s wife looked back. She was not spared. She became a pillar of salt. The next morning, dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.
What you have just read is a story about Sodom and Gomorrah from the book of Genesis in the Holy Bible. Children and adults find this story fascinating and morally acceptable since this is tough-guy Yahweh’s way of implementing his divine judgement and retribution.
Sodom and Gomorrah are described as sinful cities. Marawi City in Lanao del Sur is also a sinful city, like the rest of the cities in the Philippines. Recently, Marawi City was infested with about a hundred terrorist Maute group who is allegedly working with the Abu Sayyaf bandits. These group are linked with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
As a response, the Philippine Government sent his best, paid warriors to eradicate the terrorist organizations in the city. Bombs were dropped in the city, surgical airstrikes were conducted to flush out the terrorists.
About 200,000 civilian residents were in exodus to find refuge in nearby cities and towns. Those who have not yet left were warned to get out of the area. The Moros left their homes and livelihood, they scampered toward evacuation centers as Marawi City is being ripped and reduced to a wasteland. Some civilians were caught in the crossfire, an unfortunate outcome for those who did not heed the warning from the state army.
Martial Law was declared in the entire Mindanao to intensify the attacks against the terrorist organizations in the area. In some areas outside Marawi City, people were rounded up for failing to provide proper identification. During Martial Law, some civil and political rights were suspended.
Perhaps what is happening in Marawi City is akin to what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah. When tough, powerful leaders get too tired of the evils of our society, they just burn them all to allow rejuvenation and change. It is a divine intervention, a divine judgement and retribution necessary to save the rest of the peace-loving citizens against the evil of terrorism.
And if you find what is happening acceptable, you should remember that Lot and his two daughters settled in a cave. And his two daughters had committed incest with him to produce an offspring.