In the ancient times, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were infamous for their wickedness and corruption. The people living there had strayed far from righteousness, indulging in all sorts of evil deeds. The outcry against these cities had reached the heavens, and God decided to investigate the extent of their sinfulness.
Abraham, who was a righteous man, had relatives living in Sodom. When he heard that God was planning to visit the cities, he pleaded with Him, asking if the righteous would perish along with the wicked. Abraham bargained on behalf of the few righteous souls, hoping that the cities might be spared if there were enough good people within them. He pleaded, ¡°Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then wipe out the place and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?¡± God agreed to spare the cities if even ten righteous people could be found.
Meanwhile, two angels in the guise of men arrived in Sodom. They were met by Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who insisted they stay at his house for the night. However, the men of the city surrounded Lot’s house with malicious intent, demanding that Lot hand over the visitors. Lot tried to protect the angels, but the crowd grew more violent. The angels then revealed their true nature and struck the men with blindness, warning Lot to leave the city immediately, as it was about to be destroyed.
Lot hesitated, but the angels urged him and his family to flee without looking back. They were warned not to linger or look back, but Lot’s wife, in her reluctance to leave, turned back to gaze upon the city. As she did so, she was turned into a pillar of salt, a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience.
As dawn broke, fire and brimstone rained down from the heavens, reducing Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes. The cities were destroyed, and their memory became a symbol of divine judgment against sin. Abraham, standing far away, saw the smoke rising like the smoke of a furnace. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of righteousness and the consequences of unrepentant wickedness.