As Few as 10

The Scepter of Wickedness in the Kingdom of God

(Genesis 18:22-33, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, November 30, 2014)

[22] So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.

God sent agents of judgment against Sodom. When they went out toward that city, Abraham stayed with the great I-AM. Abraham cared about Sodom, and he prepared to make a plea for the city, despite the fact that it was a very wicked place.

[23] Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? [24] Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? [25] Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” [26] And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
[27] Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. [28] Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” [29] Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” [30] Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” [31] He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” [32] Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

Abraham grounded his intercession in the character of God. He looked for God to have a steadfast commitment to those who were righteous. God's determination to treat the righteous differently than the wicked was the only real hope for the entire city. The mercy of the Lord for as few as ten people of covenant faith would have stopped the destruction of Sodom.

[33] And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Abraham's unusual conversation with the Lord eventually came to an end. The Lord went His way and Abraham went home. We intercede, but only God can save.

Put the Word to Work: There is a difference between the righteous and the wicked. We cannot ask the Lord to pretend that the wicked are righteous. We can ask Him to preserve both the wicked and the righteous because of His steadfast love for the righteous. The church, as a humble people of faith, prayer, and obedience, is the salt of the earth, but what if the salt loses its flavor? God will not let a wicked land be preserved forever. A day of division is surely coming.

Our righteous Mediator, Jesus, has not only interceded for us. He died for our sins. May this same Jesus have mercy on us. May His steadfast love for the faithful make a substantial difference for a city that insists on keeping its distance from the Lord of love.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 125:3 – For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 16:5-12 – The leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees