17th.: Abraham’s Countdown, Part II
In yesterday's discussion, we see that Abraham negotiates with
the Lord to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (S&G).
The Lord said he would not destroy these sinful cities if there were 50
righteous people in them. It is as if Abraham perceived from the tone
of the Lord's voice, that there were NOT 50 righteous people in those cities.
Abraham then talked God down to preserving those cities, even if only ten
righteous people could be found.
As Genesis 19 tells us, God removed Lot, and his family, from S&G, before its destruction.
Except that Abraham had asked, it is possible that God would have wiped out even Lot.
But Abraham asked, and God got Lot out.
A few extra years of life on this Earth, would not have changed the final destination of the righteous,
or the wicked, of S&G, per-se.
This made Abraham’s request all that more potent.
Even though Abraham came to God with incomplete knowledge, and perhaps his own sense of right and wrong,
God, nevertheless, granted his request - because He is easy to be entreated.
God might tell us 'No', in certain certain situations. But we should at least ask.
“And I sought for a man … that should … stand in the gap.” (Eze. 22:30)