Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
(Genesis 18:22-33)
The other two men then turned away and they
went towards Sodom. But Abraham stayed there to talk with the Lord.
Then
Abraham went near to the Lord and he asked, ‘Will you destroy the good people
as well as the bad people? There might be 50 people in the city who live in a
good way. Will you still destroy the whole city? Or will you leave it there,
because there are 50 good people in it? Will you kill them all, the good people
and the bad people? Surely you would not do anything like that! You would not
punish good people in the same way as bad people. You are the great judge of
everyone on the earth. You will surely do what is right!’
The
Lord replied, ‘If I see that there are 50 good people in the city of Sodom, I
will not destroy that place. Because of those 50 good people, I will leave the
city there.’
Then
Abraham spoke again. He said, ‘I have been brave enough to speak to the Lord. I
know that I am nothing more than dust and ashes. But let me ask you this. What
will you do if there are 45 good people in the city? Will you destroy the city,
because there are only 5 fewer good people there?’ The Lord replied, ‘If I see
that there are 45 good people in the city, I will not destroy it.’
Abraham
spoke to God again. He said, ‘What will you do if only 40 good people are
there?’ The Lord said, ‘Because of 40 good people, I will not destroy the
city.’
Then
Abraham said, ‘Please do not be angry, Lord. Let me speak again. What will you
do if there are only 30 good people there?’ The Lord answered, ‘I will not
destroy the city if I find 30 good people there.’
Abraham
said, ‘I have been brave to speak to you, Lord. What will you do if only 20
good people are there?’ The Lord said, ‘Because of 20 good people, I will not
destroy the city.’
After
all that, Abraham said, ‘Please do not be angry, Lord. Let me speak just one
more time. If there are only 10 good people there, what will you do?’ The Lord
replied, ‘Because of 10 good people, I will not destroy the city.’
The
Lord had finished speaking with Abraham. So, he continued on his journey.
Abraham returned home.
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