This morning I was reminded me of Abraham's negotiation with God over Sodom found in Genesis 18 - those are actually good verses to think on today - Genesis 18:22-32 NIV:
[22] "The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. [23] Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? [24] What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? [25] Far be it from you to do such a thing---to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
[26] The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake. ”
[27] Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, [28] what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
[29] Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
[30] Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
[31] Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
[32] Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
I find this discourse between the Lord and Abraham enlightening and comforting. At times our Christian brothers and sisters will be preaching judgement over a city, a region or even a nation because of their sins, and here we have a great example of God's heart. As scripture is meant to be understood as progressive revelation - God constantly revealing more about Himself to His people and those He loves - we must use this scripture as a foundational perspective on God's heart towards the righteous, and unrighteous alike. We do have the great flood and the story of Noah earlier, but in this case we see Abraham actually conversing with the Lord, working to understand His heart.
It would be very interesting if I were to chart out God's revelation of Himself in scripture - to see where He lays out His foundational characteristics. I am sure someone has already done that study, so I will need to do some research.
Anyway, back to the verses at hand. Working the numbers, it is estimated that there were between 600-1200 people in Sodom, although others estimate much higher numbers, so if we use the most conservative number of 600 - that means the 10 righteous would have equaled 1.7% of the population. In my mind that is a very low percentage of righteous people, however in God's mind, that constitutes a reason to not enact judgement. The way the Lord phrases His response is that it is "for the sake" of the righteous that He won't send judgement.
Somehow, some Christians have mistakenly thought their job was to call down and pray for judgment, when in reality it seems to me that they should be praying that their righteousness would be enough to avert judgment, either that or they should be working diligently to raise up enough righteous people in those locations to avert God's judgement. It is important to note that righteousness is only truly available to us in Christ Jesus, through faith. Thus, those who have responded to the Lord's invitation for salvation and relationship are righteous in God's eyes. Thus, we could say that if 1% of the people were Christian, that would be enough to avert God's judgment.
All this is based on just this revelation found in Genesis, but this is not the last word in scripture that reveals God's character and heart regarding the unrighteous or unsaved. Jesus provides a much clearer picture of the Father's heart, concerning the lost. Here are just a few examples of the Father's heart as described by Jesus.
John 3:16-17 NIV: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Matthew 5:43-48 NIV: “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? [47] And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 9:35-38 NIV: "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Luke 19:10 NIV: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV: "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Acts 1:7-8 NIV: "He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. [8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Even though in retrospect, it is quite clear that Jesus was referring to all the world, when He was speaking in John 3, the disciples were not tracking and didn't realize salvation was for Jew and Gentile alike until Peter's experience in Acts 10, when the Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles in Cornelius's house. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he was asked to explain himself for having gone to the house of a non-Jew (uncircumcised was how they were described). Here is the end of Peter's statement and their response - Acts 11:15-18 NIV:
[15] “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. [16] Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' [17] So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?”
[18] When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Thus, we see God's heart being revealed to the disciples again, to make sure they understood. God's salvation is for us all. His invitation is extended to all people. His desire is that all might be saved! Paul wrote something very similar in his first letter to - 1 Timothy 2:3-6 NIV: "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time."
So, rather than proclaiming and praying for judgment, let us pray for salvation and mercy! Let us pray that the knowledge of the truth would be presented to all people, to every nation! Let us pursue righteousness through faith, in Christ Jesus! Let us be grateful that mercy triumph's over judgment! (James 2:13)
Amen!
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