Twin Cities Destroyed!

The Power of Sin

God is angry with Sodom and Gomorrah–twin cities. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lives there and Genesis 18 is about Abraham praying that God will not destroy the cities. However, the sin is so bad in Sodom and Gomorrah that ten righteous people cannot even be found there. Consider this:

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door. (Genesis 19:1-11 ESV)

Note the power of sin. (And be careful how you talk with your children about this!) These men are so overcome by their lust that they can’t help themselves. They “wore themselves out” groping for the door all night.

Discussion: What kinds of sin are “dangerous” for you or your children. (This is a great opportunity to talk about technology and boundaries for it.)

The Power of God

Morning comes and the angels urge Lot to get his wife and daughters out because God is about to destroy the cities.

The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived. (Genesis 19:23-29 ESV)

Discussion: Why did Lot’s wife die? (Because she looked back and longed for the sinful place God was destroying.) What does this say about sin’s power that Lot’s wife would risk everything? What does this say about God’s power that he would destroy those cities? How seriously does God take sin?

Talking Points: Why was Lot not killed? (Because Abraham prayed for him.) What role can you have in praying for family members and friends who go on in sin? How might God use you to pray? Who should be on your prayer list? What does this say about God’s grace and love that he would go to the trouble to rescue Lot?