Sodom is Destroyed
Abram took his wife, Sara, and his tents, sheep, cattle, and servants, and left his home in Ur. His nephew Lot, who also had animals and tents, went with them. They crossed rivers and climbed hills until at last they came into the land of Canaan. This was the land God had told Abram about.
They set up their tents and prepared to live there. Every morning, the herdsmen took the livestock out to pasture, but they soon ran into a problem. There was not enough land for all the animals. Abram and Lot would have to separate.
“You may choose whether to go or stay,” Abram told Lot.
Lot looked toward the city of Sodom. The land around it was beautiful with green grass and plenty of water. He chose the best land and moved his animals and possessions to Sodom.
One day, a while later, three men came to Abram and told him that God was going to destroy Sodom because the people were so wicked. These men were angels from God. One big sin of Sodom was that men married men and women married women. God wants one man to marry one woman. But the people of Sodom did not care about God’s law.
Abram pleaded with God to spare Sodom. God agreed that if ten righteous people could be found in Sodom, He would not destroy the city. But not even ten people loved God.
Lot was sitting in the city gate when the angels arrived in Sodom. He welcomed the visitors and took them home with him for the night. The angels warned Lot that God would destroy the city. The next morning they said, “Hurry, take your wife and your daughters, and get out of the city.” They quickly led Lot and his wife and daughters out of the city, warning the small group not to look back.
Then the Lord sent fire and brimstone out of heaven and burned up the city of Sodom and the land around it. Lot’s wife could not resist looking back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
What a sad story. Lot selfishly chose the most beautiful land and ended up losing his wife and home. God wants us to stay away from evil. It is His will that one man marries one woman. God will judge people who do not do right. But those who obey God, like Abram did, will be blessed.
Genesis 12; 13; 18; 19
Faithful Abram takes his family to the land of Canaan.
Parents:
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)
Children:
1. To what land did Abram take his wife and Lot?
2. Who chose the best land? Where was it?
3. Why did God destroy Sodom?