Lesson 10: Lot's Escape from Sodom - Obeying God's Warning and Never Looking Back

1. Key Bible Reading

Passage: Genesis 18:16 – 19:29 (also referencing Luke 17:32 and 2 Peter 2:6–9, World English Bible – WEB).
Teachers and parents: Read the story from Genesis 18:20–33 and Genesis 19:1–3, 12–29 in a gentle, age-appropriate way, focusing on Abraham’s prayer of intercession, the angels’ merciful rescue, and the importance of complete obedience to God.

2. Memory Verse to Learn by Heart

“It came to pass, when they had brought them out, that he said, ‘Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain! Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!’”
— Genesis 19:17 (WEB)

3. What We Will Learn Today

• How Abraham prayed (interceded) to Yahweh for the righteous people in Sodom, asking if God would spare the city for fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, or even ten righteous people.
• How two angels arrived at the gate of Sodom at evening, and how Lot welcomed them into his house and baked unleavened bread for them.
• How the angels warned Lot to bring his family out of Sodom, yet his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
• How Yahweh was merciful to Lot: when Lot lingered, the angels took Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and led them safely outside the city to flee to Zoar.
• Why Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt when she disobeyed the command “Don’t look behind you!” (Genesis 19:17, 26).

4. The Complete Story of Lot’s Escape from Sodom

Part A: Abraham’s Prayer & the Two Angels in Sodom (Genesis 18:16–19:3)

After the three visitors had eaten under the oak tree at Mamre and promised Abraham and Sarah a son named Isaac, the men rose up and looked towards Sodom. Yahweh shared with Abraham what He was about to do:

“Yahweh said, ‘Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me.’” — Genesis 18:20–21 (WEB)

While the two angels walked on towards Sodom, Abraham stood before Yahweh and prayed with all his heart for his nephew Lot and anyone else who might be righteous in that city. Abraham asked humbly if God would spare the city if there were fifty righteous people, then forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten:

“He said, ‘Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?’ He said, ‘I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.’” — Genesis 18:32 (WEB)

Sadly, there were not even ten righteous people in all of Sodom! When the two angels arrived at the gate of Sodom that evening, Lot saw them, rose up to meet them, bowed respectfully, and insisted that they stay safely inside his house rather than in the wicked city streets. Lot made them a feast and baked unleavened bread for them (Genesis 19:1–3).

Part B: The Urgent Warning & God’s Merciful Rescue (Genesis 19:12–22)

The wicked people of Sodom showed how evil their hearts were, and the angels struck the troublemakers outside Lot’s door with blindness so they could not harm Lot. Then the angels gave Lot an urgent warning:

“The men said to Lot, ‘Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before Yahweh that Yahweh has sent us to destroy it.’” — Genesis 19:12–13 (WEB)

Lot hurried to warn his future sons-in-law (who were pledged to marry his daughters), saying: “Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city!” But they refused to listen—“he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking” (Genesis 19:14, WEB). How sad when people laugh at God’s Word instead of obeying it!

At dawn the next morning, the angels urged Lot to hurry. Even then, Lot lingered (hesitated to leave his house and possessions behind). So what did the angels do?

“When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, ‘Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.’ But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.” — Genesis 19:15–16 (WEB)

Once outside the city, the angel gave them a clear, life-saving command:

“Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain! Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” — Genesis 19:17 (WEB)

When Lot was afraid he could not reach the mountains in time and asked permission to flee to a nearby small town, God mercifully allowed him to run into the little city of Zoar (which means “Little”, Genesis 19:20–22).

Part C: Safe in Zoar — Why We Must Never Look Back at Sin (Genesis 19:23–29)

As the morning sun rose over the earth, Lot and his two daughters reached the safety of Zoar:

“The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulphur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky. He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” — Genesis 19:23–26 (WEB)

Why did Lot’s wife become a pillar of salt? Because she disobeyed God’s clear command: “Don’t look behind you!” Her body was outside Sodom, but her heart was still longing for the worldly things of Sodom behind her. Even Jesus reminded His disciples: “Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32, WEB).

And why did God rescue Lot from the destruction? The Bible tells us:

“When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.” — Genesis 19:29 (WEB)

God heard Uncle Abraham’s faithful prayers and rescued Lot! Never forget how powerful it is when we pray for our family members and friends.

5. Quick Revision Table: Key Facts of Lot’s Escape from Sodom (WEB)

6. Class Discussion Questions

1. How did Abraham show his love for Lot and the people of Sodom in Genesis 18:23–32? Who are the family members and friends we should pray for every day?
2. Why did Lot’s sons-in-law refuse to leave Sodom when Lot warned them? Why is it dangerous to treat God’s warnings as a joke?
3. Why did the angels have to grab Lot and his family by the hand to lead them out? What does this teach us about Yahweh’s mercy?
4. Why did Lot’s wife look back at Sodom, and what happened to her? When God saves us from sin, why should we keep our eyes fixed forward on Jesus and never look back?

7. Fun Children’s Activity

8. Closing Prayer

“Merciful Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing Abraham’s prayer and sending Your angels to rescue Lot out of Sodom. Help us never to linger near sin or treat Your Word lightly. Hold us by Your hand, keep our eyes looking straight ahead towards Your kingdom, and bless all our families as we pray for one another. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.”