God Knows and Protects His People
(Genesis 18:32) Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten [righteous] should be found there?”
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”
God has revealed to His servant Abraham that judgment is about to fall upon Sodom and her sister cities. Abe, no doubt concerned about his nephew Lot who has taken up residence in Sodom, begins to try to bargain with God: “What happens if you find fifty righteous people within the city…would You still destroy it?” The Lord responds that He would not destroy the entire city if there were 50 righteous people dwelling there. “What if there were 45?” Abraham inquires. “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it”, God replies. Abraham presses on, “Do I hear 40? 30? 20?” Finally, Abe asks about the ten. Each time the Lord commits that He would not destroy the entire community if there were righteous people within it. Far be it from God to slay the righteous with the wicked (Genesis 18:25). In fact, the one who trusted in God, Lot, was taken out of the city with his family before the judgment fell!
This brings me hope for my community. Though I can look around and observe great evil, and I see much that grieves the heart of God, I know that there are more than ten righteous in my city. I am certain that there are far more than fifty men and women where I live who have been declared righteous by faith in Jesus Christ. Does that mean that God will not ultimately bring judgment, even total destruction, to the cities around us due to their sin? No. The book of Revelation declares that He will. But I am confident that before He does so, the fifty-plus righteous in my town are going to be removed, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the trumpet, and thus we will ever be with the Lord!! (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”
God has revealed to His servant Abraham that judgment is about to fall upon Sodom and her sister cities. Abe, no doubt concerned about his nephew Lot who has taken up residence in Sodom, begins to try to bargain with God: “What happens if you find fifty righteous people within the city…would You still destroy it?” The Lord responds that He would not destroy the entire city if there were 50 righteous people dwelling there. “What if there were 45?” Abraham inquires. “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it”, God replies. Abraham presses on, “Do I hear 40? 30? 20?” Finally, Abe asks about the ten. Each time the Lord commits that He would not destroy the entire community if there were righteous people within it. Far be it from God to slay the righteous with the wicked (Genesis 18:25). In fact, the one who trusted in God, Lot, was taken out of the city with his family before the judgment fell!
This brings me hope for my community. Though I can look around and observe great evil, and I see much that grieves the heart of God, I know that there are more than ten righteous in my city. I am certain that there are far more than fifty men and women where I live who have been declared righteous by faith in Jesus Christ. Does that mean that God will not ultimately bring judgment, even total destruction, to the cities around us due to their sin? No. The book of Revelation declares that He will. But I am confident that before He does so, the fifty-plus righteous in my town are going to be removed, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the trumpet, and thus we will ever be with the Lord!! (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
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