The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off. Then the Lord said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham? Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him.” Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.”
The men turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who are in it? You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Then Abraham answered, “Since I have ventured to speak to my lord—even though I am dust and ashes— suppose the fifty righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Then he spoke to him again, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “I will not do it on account of forty.” Then he said, “Let my lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” Then he said, “Since I have ventured to speak to my lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it on account of twenty.” Then he said, “Let my lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose ten are found there?” He answered, “I will not destroy it on account of ten.” When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he departed, and Abraham returned to his place. —Genesis 18:16-33
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God is a gracious judge.
Before God judges, he
“The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.” —Genesis 18:20
“They connote the anguished cry of the oppressed, the agonized pleas of the victim for help in the face of some great injustice. In the Bible these terms are suffused with…moral outrage and soul-stirring passion…The sin of Sodom…is heinous moral and social corruption, an arrogant disregard of basic human rights, a cynical insensitivity to the sufferings of others.” —Nahum Sarna
“Rise up, O God, judge of the earth.” —Psalm 82:8
Judgement did not signify fear butBefore God judges, he
“I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.” —Genesis 18:21
“Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me…I cannot stand iniquity with a festival…They have become a burden to me. I am tired of putting up with them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.” —Isaiah 1:13-15
“Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable acts before me, so I removed them when I saw this.” —Ezekiel 16:49-50
God does not take his use of judgementBefore God judges, he
“Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who are in it? You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just? ” —Genesis 18:32-25
“I will not destroy it on account of ten.” —Genesis 18:32
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.” —Psalms 103:8
“God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.” —1 Peter 3:20
God is
“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” —Romans 10:9-13
“As I live…I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways!” —Ezekiel 33:11
How are we to reflect on God’s judgement
Judgement should lead us to reflect on our
Judgement should lead us to reflect on our
Judgement should lead us to
For further study:
Scripture: Genesis 18-19; Isaiah 1:10-15; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:17
Resources: “Skeletons in God’s Closet: The Mercy of Hell, the Surprise of Judgment, the Hope of Holy War” by Joshua Ryan Butler
Discussion questions:
How do you think about the judgment of God?
Hearing that God hears, examines, and delays judgement, how does that impact your thoughts about judgement?
How does reflecting on judgment now impact the way you see your life, the world, and God?
To prepare for next week: The Birth of Isaac; Genesis 21:1-7