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To Study: Genesis 13:1-13, 18:1-33,
19:1-29.
To Read in class: Genesis 13:6-10, 18:1-3, 16-23, 19:1, 12-17.
Memory Texts:
Younger: Hebrews 9:27 “It is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment.”
Older: Job 36:18 “Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee
away with his stroke:
then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.”
OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. Even though God is merciful and patient, He still must judge sin.
2. Intercession on behalf of others is very important and a great privilege
granted by God.
3. Certain decisions made by a person TODAY affect his/her future.
4. It is most important to believe and obey the Word of God.
5. To be “almost persuaded” is to be completely lost.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS: Figures of Abram
and Lot conversing beside their sheep on a hilltop where a green valley and
the city of Sodom can be seen in the distance. A sign saying: “Abram lets
Lot decide where he wants to live.”
DEVELOPMENT:
 -
Given the opportunity to choose by his uncle Abram, Lot saw the plains of
Jordan as “well watered … even as the garden of the Lord (Eden), like the
land of Egypt.”
Sug. Use this detail to emphasize that as a matter of courtesy, Lot should
have let Abram choose first since Abram was older than he. This type of
self-centredness and the lack of respect for elders are common today.
- When he saw the attractive qualities of the valley, Lot recalled the land
of Egypt where he had gone with his Uncle Abram at the time there was a
famine in Canaan (Genesis 12:10).
- Both men were rich in flocks and herds, animals that needed grass for food
and water to drink.
- The herdsmen of each of these men had begun fighting with each other, no
doubt looking for the best grazing areas for their animals.
- Because of this, Abram suggested to Lot that they separate in order to
avoid more conflicts between the two groups.
Apl. Abram wisely suggested a solution to the problem. In this, he shows the
quality of being a peacemaker.
The Lord Jesus promised a blessing for the peacemaker (Matthew 5:9). This is
an example worth
following.
Cmt. Rivalry among siblings, family violence, aggressive attitudes, and
selfish ambitions are only a few of the causes of arguments, abuse, and the
absence of peace in the lives of many children.
- Lot focused only on the potential material gain to be made in the valley
in front of him, making his decision based on what he saw (Genesis 13:10).
He did not take into account that there were five cities in the valley with
reputations for immorality. Among these cities were Sodom and Gomorrah.
Apl. It is very common for human beings to focus more on temporal benefits
that lead to personal gain. Taking God into account is far from their minds.
- When Lot made his decision based on what he saw, he was not thinking of
the evil influences that would affect him and his family while living so
close to the city of Sodom.
Apl. Emphasize the difference between temporal things that have little value
and eternal things that will never lose their value.
- Sodom was known for its sinful and immoral people. Their manner of life
was scandalous in the eyes of Jehovah.
Cns. Depending on the maturity of your students, the sin of Sodom (sodomy or
homosexuality), can be presented, communicating God’s attitude towards this
base manner of living.
- The term sodomy finds its roots in the name of the city, Sodom, where
these acts were taking place.
- Lot’s decision to live near Sodom almost cost him his life. It did cost
him all of his possessions and also his wife.
- Little by little, Lot moved closer to Sodom until at last he was living in
the city (Genesis 13:12).
Apl. The pathway of departure from God often happens gradually. At times,
those who are on this path don’t even realize what is happening as they
drift away.
Apl. Children start on this path away from God when they stop coming to
meetings, when they lose interest in the Bible, and when they make the
things of the world a priority instead of seeking God.
- While Lot sought residence in the cities of the plain, Abram continued
living in tents, moving from one place to another and seeking to live for
the glory of God. He was focused on another city “whose builder and maker is
God” (Hebrews 11:10).
- In keeping with His promises, God blessed Abram. Later on, He changed
Abram’s name to Abraham as an indication of what He was going to do in his
life (Genesis.17:5).
- The name Abram means “exalted father”. The name Abraham means “father of
multitudes.”
Cns. The teacher has the responsibility of presenting the truth that the
Christian life is an attractive one.
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS: Figures of
Abraham talking with Jehovah, while two angels make their way towards Sodom
to warn Lot’s family of the coming judgment. A sign saying: “Abraham
interceding before Jehovah on behalf of the righteous in Sodom.” Another
sign saying “If there were 50, 45, 40 30 20 10 righteous people”.
Inset: Abraham showing hospitality to three angels while they talk with him
in his tent. A small sign saying: “The angels reveal to Abraham that he will
have a son.”
DEVELOPMENT:
 -
Abraham received a surprise visit from three angels sent from heaven with
two messages.
- The first message was of blessing; a child that was to be born.
- The second message was the opposite; judgment was to fall on Sodom and
Gomorrah. Abraham had friends and relatives living in these cities.
Apl. God has sent messages of blessing and judgment to the world. The
message of blessing
is about salvation in His Son, sent from heaven. The message of coming
judgment is that which is to come upon unbelievers. In the world we have
friend and relatives who could be affected.
- Although Abraham did not know the identity of the visitors, he
nevertheless invited them to eat with him (Hebrews 13:2).
- After eating, two of the angels set out for Sodom. The Lord and Abraham
continued their conversation, and Jehovah revealed His displeasure over the
sin in Sodom.
- Through this divine revelation, Abraham learns of pending judgment upon
the city.
Lsn. God reveals His thoughts and purposes for the future to those who live
in fellowship with Him.
- Abraham understood that a city in such a terrible condition deserved
judgment, and he was concerned about his relatives living in Sodom.
- Abraham, beseeching the Lord on behalf of Sodom, requested that judgment
be withheld if fifty righteous people were found in the city. He continued
to lower this number until he arrived at the number ten. He left off asking
at this point, thinking that perhaps there would be this number of righteous
persons in the city.
- God in his mercy agreed with each petition that Abraham made.
Prc. The effectual fervent prayers of the righteous accomplish much (James
5:16). The primary application is to Elijah, but the same principle is at
work in God’s response to each of Abraham’s petitions.
Lsn. God is rich in mercy, as His interchange with Abraham demonstrates.
Lsn. Abraham’s communication with God reveals a God who is rich in mercy.
(Ephesians 2:4.)
- God would have pardoned Sodom if there had been 10 righteous persons. This
shows how highly God values those who trust in Him.
Cns. How many righteous persons would God find in a large city today?
SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS: The house of Lot
in Sodom with figures of the two angels, Lot’s wife and his two daughters. A
sign saying: “The angels announce the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.”
DEVELOPMENT:
 -
The two angels reluctantly accepted Lot’s invitation to stay in his home.
- Lot and his family listened to their message telling them that God was
going to destroy Sodom.
- While this was happening, a group of wicked men gathered outside the
closed door of Lot’s home, with evil intentions in mind for the two
visitors.
- It became very evident that the only thing the angels had to do in this
city was to save Lot and his family, the very people for whom Abraham had
prayed.
Cmt. Neither Lot nor his family were conscious of the great privilege of
having a relative like Abraham, one who knew God and interceded on behalf of
others.
Cns. Sunday school teachers should have a concern to pray for the children
in their classes. If the children are aware of this interest in them, they
will feel loved and cared for.
- The angels insisted that Lot and his family leave the city in order to
escape the coming destruction. Lot left to speak with his sons-in-law, but
he seemed to them as one who was jesting (Genesis 19:14).
Cns. Christians who have lived a lack-luster testimony before their
neighbours are often not taken seriously when they try to be serious about
eternal matters.
- The angels had to urge Lot and his family to depart, for they seemed not
to have much desire to leave Sodom.
Cmt. When someone lives in a sinful environment, that individual comes to
accept sin as a normal
occurrence. This produces insensitivity to the seriousness of the sin
around. At the same time, the person loses the perspective that God hates
sin.
- Finally, the angels take Lot, his wife and his two daughters out of the
city of Sodom by force. The Lord had mercy on them because they, and no one
else, had paid any attention to the warning given by the angels.
SCENE No. 4. VISUAL AIDS: In the distance,
a split figure showing the city of Sodom intact on one side and enveloped in
smoke on the other. Figures of Lot fleeing towards Zoar with his two
daughters, and near the entrance to the city, a figure of his wife turned
into a pillar of salt. In one corner, the figure of Lot’s wife with the
printed words, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
A sign saying: “Lot flees with his two daughters while his wife is changed
into a pillar of salt.”
DEVELOPMENT:
 -
Taken out of the city by the angels, Lot and his family receive precise
instructions from the angels so that they will not be destroyed.
- They are warned to escape for their lives and not to look behind. The
angel’s message is clear.
Sug. Apply the five points to the class:
1) ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE. They must escape from the judgment that is
about to fall.
2) LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE. Conversion to Christ means separation from
sin and all that is condemned to destruction.
3) NEITHER STAY THOU IN ALL THE PLAIN. Salvation is not a matter of
leaving sin a little at a
time, but rather of making a complete break with it.
4) ESCAPE TO THE MOUNT. In the mountains, there was safety. At
Calvary, there is refuge and safety from judgment.
5) LEST THOU BE CONSUMED. A warning with a clear message to escape
the judgment. If they did not obey, they would perish.
- Lot begged God to let him take refuge in a small city. In His mercy, God
granted him his petition (Genesis 19:19-21).
- Lot’s wife had been taken from the city but lost her life because she did
not believe the warning and disobeyed the clear instruction not to look
behind.
- As the morning dawned the following day, Lot was safe inside Zoar, saved
from the judgment about to fall.
- Unable to delay judgment any longer, God caused the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah to be destroyed, according to what had been prophesied by the
angels (Genesis 19:23-24).
Sug. Use this opportunity to mention the warnings God gives us in His Word,
for they will most certainly be fulfilled (Hebrews 10:31; Acts 17:31).
Apl. The Lord Jesus referred to Lot’s wife as a warning to us today (Luke
17:32).
1. Lot’s wife died knowing a place of refuge existed.
2. She died even though she saw the obedience of her husband and daughters.
3. She died even though someone prayed for her.
4. She was lost even though her hand had been held by the hand of an angel.
5. Her heart was still in Sodom, and she did not want a new way of life.
Cmt. All the privileges she had did not protect her.
Cns. Just as statues are built to remind us of the achievements of this
world’s heroes, the statue of salt made with the body of Lot’s wife reminds
us of how privileged she was and how, in spite of it all, she lost
everything.
Apl. There are many students in the Sunday School that are just as
privileged, but will be lost eternally if they do not obey the gospel. See
Acts 17:30-31.
- In the end, there were only three righteous persons and the judgment on
Sodom revealed who they were.
Apl. Before judgment comes upon this world, the Lord will return for His
own. Only those who have heard and obeyed the message of salvation will be
taken to Heaven. |
