This lesson is compatible with the "Abraham & Isaac" Flash-A-Cards from Abeka Books.
Scripture References: Genesis 18:18-33; Ezekiel 16: 48-50
“I will destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah” said God.
Abraham stood there thinking for a moment.
“Wait! What about Lot?! He was living with his family in Sodom! And God was about to destroy the whole city!”
Abraham knew why God was going to destroy it. There was no doubt. Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities nearby were very wicked places. The Bible does not tell us all of their wicked deeds, but it does tell us some things. Many people think that God destroyed Sodom just for one reason. Men were marrying men, and women were marrying women. The Bible tells us that God made a man and a woman to be married. This is God’s perfect plan for families. It was and is a sin for men to marry men, and women to marry women. That is definitely one reason God was angry with Sodom. But that is not the only reason God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. In the book of the Bible called Ezekiel, God tells us that the people there were full of pride, only thinking of themselves. They had even stopped giving to the poor people who were hungry and starving! They looked at other people like they were worse, and less deserving of good things. They thought they alone were the smartest, best, most deserving people, and they didn’t care what happened to anyone else! Even if those people were hurt or dying! I imagine if they saw someone lying in the middle of the road who was a bloody and crying out for help, they would have thought “Oh, I’m sure this guy deserved what he got! I hope he dies!” and just walked on without helping. I’m sure they saw hungry, homeless orphans in need of food and help. Did they help them? No. They thought things like “Oh, this little brat needs to learn her lesson. That’s why she’s homeless. I’m certainly not going to give her anything. She’ll just keep coming back for more money and food. What a little pest she will be! Ugh!”
And what’s worse, the people thought in their hearts things like this: “Who’s going to punish me? God?! There is no God that I care about. Let God take care of himself, and I will take care of me. I will decide what’s best for me. No one can tell me what’s right or wrong. I will decide that!” They decided not to care about God and thought God could not punish them.
In heaven, God had heard all the cries from the hurting people, and now it was time to do something about it. Abraham understood this. He had heard all about Sodom and Gomorrah. He knew what the people were like. They were even worse than we can imagine! But Abraham was worried.
He knew Lot was a believer who had put his faith in God, and God’s promise to send a Savior to die for the sins of the world. [Visual 1.5] He knew Lot wasn’t perfect, and was sometimes very selfish, but he didn’t want Lot to die. Not only that, Abraham didn’t want Lot’s neighbors and the people in the cities to die. What if there were more like Lot, too? Maybe there were more people who put their faith in God. Perhaps Lot was able to tell his friends about the promise! [Visual 2.3] So, Abraham decided to talk to God, while the two angels went on their way towards Sodom.
Abraham walked closer to where God stood. “God, will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked people? The ones who have put their faith in you? Suppose there are 50 people in the city who have place their trust in you. Will you destroy everyone, and not spare the city for the righteous people? I know that you will not do such a thing, to destroy the believers with the unbelievers! You are a Righteous Judge who makes good judgements, and You will always do right!”
God answered Abraham “If I find 50 righteous people in Sodom, I will not destroy the city for their sakes.”
Abraham thought about it for a little while. What if there were less than 50? He knew there couldn’t be very many believers, because the city was just too full of wicked people doing very wicked things every day. Abraham wanted to ask God again but was a little nervous. He was talking to God Himself! The Creator of everything! So, Abraham said “God, I know I’m nobody. I’m dust and ashes compared to You. I don’t really deserve to even ask you this, but what if there are only 45 righteous people in Sodom. Will you destroy it for 5 less people?”
God answered again “If I find 45 righteous people, I will not destroy it.”
Abraham must have sighed with relief. But the more he thought about it, the more sad he became. Surely there weren’t even 45 believers in Sodom. And Lot would be destroyed with everyone. So, he spoke again: “Maybe there are only 40 believers there.” God reassured Abraham: “I will not destroy it for 40 believer’s sake.”
Abraham said a little bit later “God, don’t be angry with me, and I will speak again. Suppose only 30 believers are in the city.” Again, God said “I will not do it if I find 30 there.”
The more Abraham thought, the more worried he became. So many people were going to die. He knew they were wicked, but he also understood what would happen to them. If they died rejecting God, they would go to hell forever. With no hope of ever having their sins forgiven. I’m sure Abraham was just hoping Lot had told the people around him about God. And he wanted Lot to have more time to tell them, too! So, Abraham said “I am not worthy, but I am going to pray to you, God, for them. What if 20 believers are there.” God once again answered. “I will not destroy everyone for the sake of 20 believers.” Still, Abraham was worried about Lot and the people of the city. “God, don’t be angry, and I will speak only one more time. What if ten believers are in the city?” God once again said “I will not destroy the city for their sake. For 10 believers.” God is so GOOD! He was willing to spare a whole city, and more, for the sake of only 10 people who put their faith in Him! Even though the city was so very, very bad.
After God finished speaking with Abraham, he walked off, and the Bible doesn’t tell us where He went. But we know Abraham had been speaking to God for quite some time, because it doesn’t seem God ever went to Sodom. Instead, Abraham spent the night asking for mercy for the believers and hoping for the wicked to become believers. This story is a great example of how we should pray! We should ask God to have mercy on others. Not just believers, but also those who don’t believe. If our friends, family, and neighbors die without ever accepting Jesus as the offering for our sins, they will die and go to hell. We should pray as Abraham prayed. He prayed with respect, but with urgency. He asked God 6 times what He would do if there were believers found in the city. He prayed almost all night it seems. Then Abraham went home after praying and waited. He waited to hear news of Lot and the city Lot called home. Come back next week to find out what happens to Lot.
Now, let’s pray and thank God for loving His children so much, that He is willing to spare a whole city full of wickedness just for a small number of believers. Let’s ask God to help us be better at praying for the lost, and for our brothers and sisters in the faith of Jesus.