Single lesson
Abraham Pleads for Sodom
Genesis 18:16–33
Abraham speaks with the Lord about justice and mercy for the city of Sodom.
Before you teach
As the men prepared to leave, they looked towards Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on their way. Then the Lord spoke about Abraham. Abraham would become a great nation, and his household was to keep the Lord’s way by doing righteousness and justice. The Lord said the cry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great, and their sin was very grievous. He said he would see whether their deeds matched the reports that had come to him. The men turned towards Sodom, but Abraham still stood before…
Explain the central teaching of Abraham Pleads for Sodom, using two details from the reading. Abraham speaks with the Lord about justice and mercy for the city of Sodom.
Welcome: Abraham Pleads for Sodom
5 minIntroduce “Abraham Pleads for Sodom” and locate Genesis 18:16–33. Abraham speaks with the Lord about justice and mercy for the city of Sodom. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Genesis 18:16, Genesis 18:25, Genesis 18:33
Read and explain the passage
12 minAs the men prepared to leave, they looked towards Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on their way. Then the Lord spoke about Abraham. Abraham would become a great nation, and his household was to keep the Lord’s way by doing righteousness and justice.
Abraham came near and asked if the righteous would be swept away with the wicked. What if there were fifty righteous people in the city? Would God spare the place for them? Abraham appealed to the Judge of all the earth to do what is right. The Lord answered that he would spare the whole place for fifty righteous people.
Abraham asked again about twenty, and then one last time about ten. The Lord said he would not destroy the city for the sake of ten righteous people. When their conversation ended, the Lord went his way, and Abraham returned to his place. The next part of the story shows what happened as danger drew near to Sodom and Lot.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Abraham Pleads for Sodom”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Genesis 18:19, Genesis 18:16, Genesis 18:18, Genesis 18:25, Genesis 18:24, Genesis 18:26, Genesis 18:33, Genesis 18:31
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““The Lord said the cry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great, and their sin was very grievous.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Abraham speaks with the Lord about justice and mercy for the city of Sodom. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Genesis 18:20, Genesis 18:22, Genesis 18:21, Genesis 18:25, Genesis 18:24, Genesis 18:26, Genesis 18:33, Genesis 18:31
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Abraham Pleads for Sodom: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Abraham Pleads for Sodom” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Genesis 18:16, Genesis 18:25, Genesis 18:33
Closing: return to Abraham Pleads for Sodom
3 minRevisit Genesis 18:16–33. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Abraham Pleads for Sodom and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Genesis 18:16, Genesis 18:25, Genesis 18:33
Questions to explore
“The Lord said the cry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great, and their sin was very grievous.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
The Lord said the cry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great, and their sin was very grievous. He said he would see whether their deeds matched the reports that had come to him. The men turned towards Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
Genesis 18:20, Genesis 18:22, Genesis 18:21
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “Abraham came near and asked if the righteous would be swept away with the wicked.”?
Abraham came near and asked if the righteous would be swept away with the wicked. What if there were fifty righteous people in the city? Would God spare the place for them? Abraham appealed to the Judge of all the earth to do what is right. The Lord answered that he would spare the whole place for fifty righteous people.
Genesis 18:25, Genesis 18:24, Genesis 18:26
“Abraham asked again about twenty, and then one last time about ten.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
Abraham asked again about twenty, and then one last time about ten. The Lord said he would not destroy the city for the sake of ten righteous people. When their conversation ended, the Lord went his way, and Abraham returned to his place. The next part of the story shows what happened as danger drew near to Sodom and Lot.
Genesis 18:26, Genesis 18:33, Genesis 18:31
Make, think or respond
Abraham Pleads for Sodom: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read Genesis 18:16–33. Use “Abraham Pleads for Sodom” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Abraham Pleads for Sodom connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Abraham Pleads for Sodom” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Genesis 18:16–33. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Genesis 18:16–33. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 18
16 The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17 Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
20 Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
23 Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
25 May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26 Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.
28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”
30 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
32 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.”
33 Yahweh went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.