To live just and righteous lives, one must know and understand God’s judgment, which He has graciously revealed to us through His Word and ultimately through Christ crucified. God chose to reveal His coming judgment to Abraham so that he and his descendants would learn to live righteously and justly, serving as an example for all nations. In the same way, God reveals His judgment to us so that we may walk in His ways, avoid the fate of the unrighteous, and teach others to do the same. The knowledge of God’s judgment is not meant to condemn us, but to cleanse and purify us, drawing us closer to Him and shaping us into people who reflect His justice and righteousness in the world. [01:11:23]
Genesis 18:17-19 (ESV)
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to let the knowledge of God’s coming judgment shape your choices and actions today, so that you might walk more righteously and justly before Him?
God’s judgment is not rash or arbitrary; He discerns the truth of every situation, responding both to sin against Himself and to the cries of those who suffer injustice. He is patient, not wanting any to perish, and He investigates thoroughly before acting, ensuring that His judgment is perfectly just. Even when the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was immense, God declared that He would “go down to see” if the situation was as grave as reported, teaching us that His justice is both compassionate and exacting. We are called to reflect this same discernment and patience in our own judgments, seeking truth and justice in all our dealings. [01:17:23]
Genesis 18:20-21 (ESV)
Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
Reflection: Is there a situation where you are tempted to judge quickly or harshly? How can you pause today to seek God’s discernment and patience before responding?
The presence of the righteous in a community preserves it from judgment, but there comes a time when, if righteousness is no longer found, judgment will fall. Abraham’s intercession for Sodom shows God’s willingness to spare even the wicked for the sake of a few righteous, yet also reveals that there is a limit—when righteousness is absent, there is nothing left to preserve. As followers of Christ, we are called to be salt and light, preserving the world by proclaiming the gospel and living righteously, knowing that our presence matters, but also that a day is coming when God’s perfect judgment will be executed. [01:25:44]
Genesis 18:22-32 (ESV)
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 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? 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?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 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.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 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.” 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.” 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.”
Reflection: Who in your life or community needs your prayers and your witness today, knowing that your presence and intercession can make a difference in God’s mercy toward them?
God’s way of salvation is to provide an escape for the righteous when judgment falls, and this is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the one truly righteous man. Just as Lot and his family were rescued from Sodom on account of Lot’s righteousness, so we are rescued from the coming judgment on account of Christ’s righteousness, not our own. We are called to flee from the wickedness of this world and find refuge in Jesus, who alone can save us from God’s wrath. The call is urgent: repent, trust in Christ, and be assured that God will preserve you when judgment comes. [01:37:05]
2 Peter 2:7-9 (ESV)
And if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to flee from sin and more fully trust in the righteousness of Christ as your only hope of salvation?
A day is coming when God will judge the whole earth, exposing every deed and motivation, and making a final, perfect distinction between the righteous and the wicked. This judgment will be universal and inescapable, and only those who have found forgiveness and righteousness in Christ will be saved. The reality of this coming judgment calls us to examine ourselves, repent, and cling to the gospel, so that we may stand secure when all is brought into the light. God’s justice will prevail, and His people will rejoice in His salvation. [01:38:59]
Matthew 13:47-50 (ESV)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Reflection: If you knew that today your heart and deeds would be brought into the light before God, what would you want to confess and bring to Him for forgiveness and cleansing right now?
Today’s focus is on the profound questions Abraham asks God as he intercedes for Sodom: How does God preserve the righteous when judgment falls on the wicked, and will God spare the wicked for the sake of the righteous among them? These questions are not just ancient curiosities but are deeply relevant for us as we consider the nature of God’s justice, mercy, and the role of righteousness in a decaying world.
Abraham’s dialogue with God reveals the heart of intercession and the seriousness with which God regards both sin and righteousness. God’s willingness to spare an entire city for the sake of a few righteous people shows the preserving power of righteousness in a community. Yet, the story also makes clear that there comes a point when wickedness is so pervasive that judgment is inevitable, and only the righteous are preserved—not because of their own merit, but because of God’s grace and provision.
The imagery of fruit and salt helps us understand our role in the world. Just as salt preserves meat for a time, the presence of God’s people preserves the world, holding back decay and giving space for repentance and new life. But there is a limit; when righteousness no longer has an effect, judgment comes. This is not arbitrary or capricious, but the outworking of God’s justice and patience.
Righteousness, as seen in Abraham and ultimately in Jesus, is both a state of being—made right with God through faith—and a way of living—acting justly and doing what is right in God’s eyes. Justice is not just a divine attribute but a calling for God’s people: to discern rightly, to correct what is wrong, and to reflect God’s heart in a broken world.
The account of Sodom and Gomorrah is a sobering reminder of the depth of human depravity apart from God, but also of the hope and escape provided through the one truly righteous man, Jesus Christ. Just as Lot and his family were rescued on account of righteousness, so too are we offered salvation through Christ. The call is clear: repent, trust in the righteousness of Jesus, and live as those who preserve and point others to the hope of God’s coming kingdom.
Genesis 18:16-33 (ESV) — > Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
>
> So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 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? 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?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 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.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 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.” 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.” 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.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
2 Peter 2:7-9 (ESV) — > ...and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment...
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