Genesis 18:22-33
God’s justice is perfect, yet He invites intercession that appeals to His righteous character.
22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
23 Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
25 May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26 Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.
28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”
30 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
32 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
33 Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
God’s justice is perfect, yet He invites intercession that appeals to His righteous character.
To display Abraham’s intercession before the LORD and reveal the righteousness and mercy of God in the face of impending judgment.
The LORD Visits Abraham, Reaffirms the Promised Son, and Reveals His Just Judgment on Sodom
The LORD confirms His promise to bring life where barrenness and impossibility remain, and He reveals Himself as the righteous Judge whose mercy and justice are both perfectly governed by His holy character.