Ask God!

Genesis 18: 20-33 v 32b “And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know. Abraham approached the Lord and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city- will you sweep it away and not spear it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the wicked and the righteous exactly the same! Should not the judge of all the earth do what is right? And the Lord replied, “if I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.” Abraham then goes on to ask if the Lord would do the same for forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten. And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

Have you ever sold an item, and someone has agreed instantly on the price, and you wondered if you could have asked more? Been deciding on a vacation and booking the days you want to go and then when you are there wondering why you didn’t stay longer? I remember taking my daughter to a surgeon asking to remove her tonsils. He asked how many infections she had in a year? I could not remember but I thought quickly maybe five? He said he would only do surgery if she had seven!  Boy did I wish I had picked a different number! Abraham, is going through the same scenario with God. Starting with one number then thinking maybe, he should change his mind and ask the same question using a different number. Patiently God answered his questions and lovingly showed us He would save the entire city if there were ten righteous people in it. We need to trust God, to do what is right whatever question we ask, lovingly and patiently He will answer.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your patience when we pray, to trust you will have the right answer. Amen.