Abraham and the Three Angels

Long ago in the days that Abraham and Lot lived in the land of Canaan, water wells were very important. Usually, in the land of Canaan, it only rains about half as much as it rains in the United States. So the people had to dig wells down in the earth to find enough water for their flocks (or animals).

Abraham and Lot both were very rich and had flocks. Abraham's and Lot's servants were kept very busy looking for new wells to get enough water for their cattle. These wells often caused trouble between the servants. So Abraham told Lot that it would be better if they moved to separate parts of the land so that their servants would not get at each other because of digging the wells. Abraham told Lot that he (Lot) could choose whatever part of the land that he wanted. Abraham would take what was left. Abraham was very kind to Lot. Lot was selfish and chose the very best part of the land for himself and left only the hilly and rocky parts for Abraham.

Lot chose the Jordan valley to live in. In this valley were many wicked cities. One city was named Sodom. It was in this city that Lot went to live.

One day while Abraham was in his tent door, three angels came to visit him. At first Abraham thought the angels were just three men who were passing by his way. But soon Abraham knew that they were three angels or messengers sent from God. One of the angels told Abraham and Sarah again that they would have a son. After Abraham and Sarah had given the three angels a nice dinner, the angels left and went on their way. Abraham walked a little ways with the angels and one of the angels told Abraham that God was going to destroy the wicked city of Sodom. Genesis 18:16-22
Abraham was told by the angels that Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed because the people in these two cities were very wicked. Abraham pleaded or asked the angels to save the cities because Lot, his nephew, lived there. God promised Abraham that if ten righteous people were found in the cities, He would save them. But, for Abraham's sake God did save Lot and his two daughters.

Lot was sitting at the gate of the city when two angels came to him. They came to warn Lot and tell him to leave the cities because God was going to destroy the two cities because of the wicked people. Lot invited the two angels into his home. Lot was friendly to the two angels just as Abraham had been friendly to the angles that visited him. There were some wicked men there in the city that wanted to hurt the strangers in Lot's house. Lot tried to make the people understand that these two men, the angels, were his friends. The crowd became angry at Lot and one of the angels had to save Lot and pull him into the house. The angels caused all the wicked people outside of the house to become blind so that they could not find Lot's house.

The next morning Lot tried to urge his daughters and their husbands to leave the city, too. They only laughed at Lot. The angels then took Lot by the hand and hurried him out of the city. (Genesis 19:15-17) Only Lot, his wife, and his two daughters left the city. They were told not to look back on the city. But, Lot's wife did look back and she died. She became a pillar of salt. As soon as Lot and his two daughters were on their way, God rained fire and brimstone. The two cities were completely destroyed. (Genesis 19:29)