Genesis 18: 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?

Abraham was a friend of God. How amazing is that? But how did that come about?  It was God who first chose Abraham.  “Abraham shall surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised.” (Genesis 18: 18-19). Abraham’s obedience to God is legendary because of his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Here in Genesis 18 we see the friendship playing out. God visited Abraham and shared his plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. Abraham took it upon himself to challenge God about the fairness of his decision and asked God if he would save the cities if there were 50 righteous people in them. God said he would spare the whole place for their sake. Abraham then proceeded to whittle down the number from 50 all the way to 10. The Lord agreed not to destroy the cities if 10 righteous people could be found, and then departed.

Since we know from Genesis 19 that Sodom and Gomorrah were eventually destroyed, it is safe to conclude that the 10 righteous people were not found. What a verdict? What is the state of America’s cities today, or any city anywhere in the world for that matter?  What an awesome responsibility we as believers have to constantly call people to repentance? God is love but, as Abraham recognized, he is also the Judge of all the earth. God’s righteousness is about the defense of his own name so he had to act in accordance with his word. The Holy Spirit is quick to remind us:

“It is the Lord of Glory who has been calling all men to himself throughout the ages. The time is now approaching that I will stretch out my right arm to judge the earth. Those who are mine need not fear for I am their God. It is I who will protect them but those who have despised me should fear for I am a consuming fire. It is I who will do the separation. There will be no place to hide from my wrath for those who have disobeyed and ignored me.”