The Burning Cities and Lot's Escape

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.