Sodom and Gomorrah
Abraham bargains with God to spare Sodom, but the wicked cities are destroyed while Lot and his daughters escape.
Genesis 18:16-33, Genesis 19:1-29
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The Story
When the LORD revealed His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great wickedness, Abraham stood before Him and began one of Scripture's most remarkable prayers of intercession. 'Will You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?' Abraham asked boldly. He bargained with God, asking if fifty righteous people lived in the city, would He spare it? The LORD agreed. Abraham continued, reducing the number to forty-five, then forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten. Each time, God promised to spare the city for the sake of the righteous.
That evening, two angels arrived in Sodom and found Lot sitting in the city gate. Lot insisted they stay at his house rather than spend the night in the city square. Before they retired for the night, the men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house, demanding he bring out his guests so they could abuse them. The angels struck the mob with blindness and pulled Lot back inside.
The angels urged Lot to gather his family and flee, for the LORD was about to destroy the city. Lot warned his sons-in-law, but they thought he was joking. As dawn broke, the angels seized Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hands and led them out. 'Flee for your lives!' the angels commanded. 'Don't look back!'
As the sun rose and Lot reached Zoar, the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah. He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all who lived there. But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Early the next morning, Abraham looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. Though the cities were destroyed, God remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the catastrophe.
The Burning Cities and Lot's Escape
Kids Version
Abraham was talking with God one day when God told him something shocking: 'I'm going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because the people there are very wicked.' Abraham's nephew Lot lived in Sodom, so Abraham was worried. He asked God bravely, 'What if there are fifty good people in the city? Will you still destroy it?' God said no, He would spare it for fifty. Abraham kept asking—what about forty-five? Thirty? Twenty? Ten? Each time, God agreed He would save the city if that many good people lived there.
That same evening, two angels went to Sodom and met Lot at the city gate. Lot invited them to stay at his house. But the wicked men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house and wanted to hurt the angels! The angels struck the bad men with blindness so they couldn't find the door. Then the angels told Lot, 'Get your family and run! God is going to destroy this city tomorrow!'
When morning came, the angels grabbed Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hands and rushed them out of the city. 'Run for your lives!' the angels shouted. 'Don't look back!'
Just as the sun came up and Lot reached the small city of Zoar, fire and burning sulfur rained down from the sky onto Sodom and Gomorrah! The cities were completely destroyed. But here's the sad part—Lot's wife didn't obey. She looked back at the burning cities, even though the angels told her not to, and she turned into a pillar of salt right there!
This story teaches us important lessons. God always keeps His promises—both to punish wickedness and to save people who trust Him. We should obey God right away, even when it's hard. And prayer is powerful! Abraham's prayer helped save Lot.
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Scripture — Genesis 18:16-33 (KJV)
16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Memory Verse
“And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.”
— Genesis 18:16 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Sodom and Gomorrah” in the Bible?
Abraham bargains with God to spare Sodom, but the wicked cities are destroyed while Lot and his daughters escape. This story is found in Genesis 18:16-33, Genesis 19:1-29.
Where is “Sodom and Gomorrah” found in the Bible?
“Sodom and Gomorrah” is found in Genesis 18:16-33, Genesis 19:1-29, in the book of Genesis.
What can children learn from “Sodom and Gomorrah”?
This story teaches children about Divine justice and mercy, Intercessory prayer, Consequences of wickedness, God's faithfulness to the righteous. Abraham prays for the bad cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and angels help Lot's family escape before God destroys them. But Lot's wife looks back and turns into a pillar of salt!