Introductory Thoughts
Abraham’s nephew Lot lived in the wicked city of Sodom. Because of its vile nature, God determined to pour out His wrath. Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare the city after the Lord told Abraham about the impending judgment. The conversation ended with God agreeing to spare the city if He found only ten righteous people within the city of Sodom. Interestingly, Abraham started with the number fifty but stopped when he reached ten. Why did Abraham not continue to go lower in number? Abraham thought surely Lot and his family (his wife, married daughters, sons-in-law and unmarried daughters) would provide the number necessary to escape God’s pronounced judgment. Abraham believed he could depend upon Lot to instruct his family in righteousness which would then prevent the impending doom. Surely God would find ten righteous, even if He looked no further than Lot’s family. In the end, the city of Sodom was destroyed and only Lot and two daughters escaped alive. The inhabitants of the city and the rest of Lot’s family were destroyed. Sin brought God’s attention upon Sodom, but an unreliable Lot sealed its fate.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): Have you ever felt uncomfortable when you were around new people? Imagine that a new family with children your age visits church. Would you smile at them, maybe shake hands and tell them your name? Could you invite them to come with you to your Sunday School and sit by them? Would this friendliness encourage them to feel welcome and maybe come back again?
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(For everyone): How would the Bible story of Sodom be different if Lot had been dependable? How would the fate of others be different if you were more dependable?
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Many people lost their lives in Sodom. How important was it for Lot to be dependable and to be a good witness for the Lord? What did Lots unfaithfulness cost him personally?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to help you value the importance of being dependable.
- Pray that the Lord will give you a burden to be able to help those who are counting on you.
Song
BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES
