God's Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah
(Genesis 18:16-19:29)
The Lord had a special plan for Abraham. He knew Abraham would teach his children and his household after him to follow God's way and do what is right and just. Because they were friends, God shared a secret with Abraham: the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great, and their sin so very grievous, that He was going to go down and see whether their actions were as bad as the outcry that had reached Him. Abraham's nephew Lot lived there, so Abraham drew near and began to plead with God on behalf of the city. He asked, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city?" God said He would spare the whole place for the sake of fifty. Abraham kept asking, first for forty-five, then forty, then thirty, then twenty, and finally for just ten. Each time, God was patient and promised to show mercy and not destroy the city if even ten righteous people could be found there.
That evening, two angels arrived at Sodom, and Lot was sitting at the gate of the city. He got up to meet them, bowed down with his face to the ground, and urged them to stay at his house for the night. But before they could lie down, the men of the city, both young and old, surrounded the house and demanded that Lot send the visitors out to them, for the wickedness of the city was exceedingly great. To protect his guests, the angels reached out, pulled Lot back inside, and struck the men at the door with blindness so they could not find the entrance. The angels then gave Lot an urgent warning, telling him to gather his family and leave at once, because the Lord was about to destroy the place.
As the sun was rising, the angels urged Lot to hurry, and when he hesitated, they took hold of his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and led them safely out of the city, because the Lord was merciful to them. "Flee for your lives," one of them said. "Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere in the plain. Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away." Even as they fled, God showed great mercy by allowing Lot to escape to a small town nearby instead of the mountains, since Lot was afraid of the distance.
Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur out of the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah, overthrowing those cities and the entire plain, destroying all the people living there and everything that grew on the ground. But Lot's wife, coming along behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. The next morning, Abraham got up early and went to the place where he had stood before the Lord, and as he looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, he saw dense smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. God's judgment was perfect and just, but when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the catastrophe, proving that our God is both a Just Judge and a Merciful Savior.
A Curious Question
If God already knew how wicked the city was, why do you think He allowed Abraham to keep asking to save it for fewer and fewer people?
Jesus Connection
This story shows us two things about God: He is a Fair Judge and a Merciful Savior. The sin in Sodom was so bad that God could not just "ignore" it. Because God is holy, He must punish sin. But God also showed incredible mercy by grabbing Lot’s hand and leading him to safety before the fire fell.
This points us straight to Jesus Christ. Just like the people in the valley, we have all sinned. Our sin is like a wall between us and God that we cannot cross on our own. But because God loves us, He sent Jesus to be our ultimate rescue. On the cross, Jesus took the punishment for our sin on Himself. He took the "fire" so that we could be safe. This story mattered so much to Jesus that He referred to it Himself. In Luke 17, Jesus warns His followers, "Remember Lot's wife," reminding them not to look back and cling to their old life once they have been rescued. While Lot's wife looked back at her old life, we are invited to look to Jesus and trust Him. He is our only way to be saved and our true place of safety.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the angels were so serious about the family not looking back as they escaped?
- What does this story teach us about the difference between God's perfect justice and His incredible mercy?
- How does the blindness of the men in Sodom help us understand what sin does to a person's heart and mind?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
Our faith is active, not passive. Here are three ways you can respond to God’s truth today:
- Listen to God’s Warnings: God’s Word is like a map that keeps us safe. Think of one thing the Bible tells us to stay away from (like lying or being unkind). How can you choose to obey that warning this week to stay on the narrow path?
- Be a Life-Saving Influence: Abraham prayed for others, and Lot tried to protect his guests. Think about your friends at school or sports. How can you be a good influence by showing them what it looks like to follow Jesus?
- Choose Your Surroundings Wisely: Lot chose to live in a place that made it hard to follow God. What are some things in your life, like certain shows, games, or habits, that make it harder to trust God? What is one choice you can make today to stay close to things that help your faith grow?
Memorize God's Word
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ~ Romans 5:8
Hand Motions:
- But God shows his love: Point up with both hands, then cross arms over chest to form a heart.
- for us: Hug yourself.
- in that while we were still sinners: Put both hands out in front of you, palms down, as if pushing away something bad.
- Christ died for us: Hold your hands out, palms up, as if holding something, then bring one hand across your chest and down to show sacrifice.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father,
Thank you for being a Just Judge and a Merciful Savior. Thank you for always keeping Your promises and for providing a way for us to be saved. We are sorry for the times we choose our own way instead of Yours. Thank you for sending Jesus to take the punishment for our sin so that we can be close to You. Please help us to listen to Your warnings in the Bible and to remember Your great love for us every day. Help us to follow You and to be a good example to our friends and family. Amen.
Craft or Activity
Salty Sodom & Sweet Salvation Scene
In this activity, kids create a tangible reminder of the contrast between God’s judgment and His mercy. This diorama helps kinesthetic learners visualize the importance of running toward the safety found in God's promises.
Materials Checklist:
- Set the Stage: Lay a shoebox on its side with the opening facing you. This creates a 3D stage for the story.
- The Place of Safety: Use dark construction paper to create a rugged, rocky mountain background on the right side. This represents the safety of God's mercy.
- The City of Sin: Use clay to build a small hill on the left side. Spread glue over it and sprinkle salt and glitter to show the fiery destruction falling from the sky.
- The Pillar of Salt: Create a small clay figure, coat it in glue, and roll it in salt until it is completely white. Place it near the city as a warning to obey God's word.
- Escape to Mercy: Use markers or clay to make a path leading from the city to the mountains. Add figures of Lot and his daughters running toward their ultimate rescue.
- Discuss the Truth: While they build, explain that the destroyed city shows God’s perfect justice, while the path shows the salvation found in following Him.
Effective Teaching Techniques
- Age-Appropriate Focus: For younger children, keep the focus on the rescue and the importance of obeying God's lead. For older students, dive deeper into God's patience with Abraham and why a holy God must judge sin.
- The "Sin" Visual: Before starting, have kids imagine a growing, stinky pile of garbage. Use this to explain that sin isn't just a mistake; it is something holy God cannot ignore. This makes the need for Jesus as our rescue very clear.
- Active Memorization: Use the hand motions for Romans 5:8 multiple times during the lesson. Physical movement helps kids lock the Gospel message into their long-term memory while keeping energy high.
- Prep for Success: To keep the craft stress-free, pre-cut the construction paper "mountains" and lay down newspaper. Using a tray or paper plate inside each shoebox will keep the salt and glitter contained.
- Point to the Gospel: Always conclude by reminding the class that Jesus is our True Mountain. Just as Lot ran to the mountains for safety, we "run" to Jesus by trusting in His finished work on the cross.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Abraham keep asking God to spare the city?
- Abraham cared about the people in Sodom, especially his nephew Lot, so he pleaded with God to show mercy, and God patiently agreed each time Abraham asked, all the way down to just ten righteous people.
- Why did Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt?
- The angels warned Lot's family not to look back as they escaped, but Lot's wife disobeyed that warning and looked back at the city, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
- Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
- The Bible tells us the sin in those cities was extremely great, and because God is holy and just, He could not ignore it, though He still showed mercy by rescuing Lot and his family first.