Read Through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 10; Genesis 18:16-19:38

“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?” … 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.'”

– Genesis 18:25, 32 ESV

A common argument against Christianity is that God is unfair, condemning good people to hell, yet here we read about God’s incredible mercy upon the people of Sodom. God would not unjustly wipe out even ten people. When not even ten people are found, God sends His messenger to rescue righteous Lot, his wife, and his daughters.

In case you have a hard time believing that there were no other righteous people found in that whole city, pay attention to the words of Genesis 19:4, “But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.”

I fear we humans are often prone to thinking too highly of ourselves, sure that we would be among those ten righteous residents of Sodom. Let’s not forget what we read in Genesis 15:6 that Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. This idea is repeated in many places in scripture, including Romans 3:10, “None is righteous, no, not one,” and Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Abraham was righteous because of his faith.

We must be careful not be like that Pharisee in the parable that Jesus told which is recorded in Luke 18.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!‘

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

– Luke 18:10-14 ESV

We all deserve death and condemnation for our sins – the Pharisee, the tax collector, Lot, Noah, Abraham, and every one of those wicked men of Sodom. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 ESV) But our just judge paid the price with His own blood.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You, for Your mercy toward me, a sinner. Apart from Your grace, I would be headed straight to destruction. Apart from Your gift of faith, I am no better than those men of Sodom. Let their destruction be an example to me of Your justice in rescuing the righteous and condemning the guilty.

Please use me to be a herald of good news. Please help my heart to break for the lost sinners of my city who need the good news of the gospel.

We pray for our husbands and children. Please, Father, protect them from that evil tempter, the devil. Show them the way of escape which You promise to provide. Open their ears to hear cloud and clear the warning bells crying “danger, danger” when they’re tempted. Help us to help them and to be faithful prayer warriors morning, noon, and night.

And, thank You for sending Your Son, Christ Jesus to earth to be my sin substitute, to die in my place. He died the death I know I deserved.

In the Mighty and Merciful Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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