Genesis 18:26-33

Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.” Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. 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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

If you are like me, you sometimes feel alone when you do what is right. Just driving on the freeway causes me to think this as I watch large numbers of speeding drivers pass me. God knows and sees everything that happens. He knows when we do what is right and when we do what is wrong, but in this passage we learn another important reason for Christians to do what is right especially when large numbers of others are doing what is wrong.

Notice that God clearly tells us in this record that for the sake of only ten righteous people, He would have not destroyed the whole city of Sodom! That tells me that, today, if only ten Christians in a city choose to live righteously, they can be responsible for saving the entire city from destruction. When I think this way, I automatically think differently about driving on the freeway. Instead of feeling angry, I am filled with joy because I am actually participating in the salvation of my city.

Isn’t it a wonderful thing to know that God is paying such close attention to the good that we do? Isn’t it amazing to know how hopeful and patient He is toward those who won’t love Him? Isn’t it horrible to discover how evil mankind can become? It’s impossible, now, for us to fully appreciate the wonder of God perfect righteousness. May the Holy Spirit give us more and more insight so that we can continue to discover how amazingly good God is.