Abraham Sees Smoke Rising

Genesis 18:16–19:29

The Big Idea

God is just and merciful. This scene reminds us that God remembered Abraham and rescued Lot from the destruction.

The Bible Story

Lot Is Rescued

Genesis 19:27–29 describes Abraham rising early and going to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looks toward Sodom and Gomorrah and sees smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. The passage then explains that God remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the destruction when the cities and surrounding plain were destroyed. This scene follows Abraham’s earlier conversation with the LORD, when Abraham asked whether the righteous would be swept away with the wicked and appealed to God’s mercy and fairness. The account presents both God’s justice and God’s mercy. The image focuses only on Abraham seeing the aftermath. It does not show Abraham meeting Lot, and it does not add a rescue scene. The destruction is described plainly but should be represented without graphic details. The passage does not explain more than it states, so the page should remain focused on Abraham’s view, God remembering Abraham, and Lot being brought out of the destruction.

Themes

God’s justice God’s mercy Intercession Obedience to God’s warning Rescue from judgment The seriousness of looking back after being told to flee

Bible moment

The Bible moment

Look closely

What children can notice

Abraham rises early and looks across the land toward smoke rising from the area of Sodom and Gomorrah. The image can place Abraham in the foreground with a quiet landscape and distant smoke, emphasizing the aftermath and the passage’s conclusion that God remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the destruction.

Talk together

Talk about it

What did Abraham see when he looked toward the land?
What does this passage say God did for Lot?

For families, church, and class

Use this page

Use this image after teaching Genesis 19:27–29. Invite children to describe the quiet early-morning setting and distant smoke, then read the passage together. Keep discussion focused on God’s justice, mercy, and rescue. For older children, connect Abraham’s earlier prayer with the statement that God remembered him. Avoid adding a meeting between Abraham and Lot or details not given in the passage.

Source note