In this portion, Abraham is informed by angels that he and Sarah will have a son and that the wicked cities of Sodom (where Lot lives) and Gomorrah are to be destroyed, Abraham argues with God about justice and God agrees to spare the cities if there are at least ten righteous men among them. Lot turns out to be the only righteous man and the cities are destroyed, but Lot and his families are saved. Sarah gives birth to the long-awaited son, Isaac, and demands that Abraham expel Hagar’s and her son, Ishmael. God further tests Abraham’s faith through the near sacrifice of Isaac. These incidents serve to illustrate Abraham’s expanding concept of God and also reveal his human failings.
