Abraham, the Intercessor

Abraham, the Intercessor. 

Genesis 18:16-33

Bible Stories

 

Genesis 18:16 Therefore, when the men had risen up from there, they directed their eyes against Sodom. And Abraham traveled with them, leading them.

Genesis 18:17 And the Lord said: “How could I hide what I am about to do from Abraham,

Genesis 18:18 since he will become a great and very robust nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?

Genesis 18:19 For I know that he will instruct his sons, and his household after him, to keep to the way of the Lord, and to act with judgment and justice, so that, for the sake of Abraham, the Lord may bring about all the things that he has spoken to him.”

Genesis 18:20 And so the Lord said, “The outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah has been multiplied, and their sin has become exceedingly grievous.

Genesis 18:21 I will descend and see whether they have fulfilled the work of the outcry that has reached me, or whether it is not so, in order that I may know.”

Genesis 18:22 And they turned themselves from there, and they went toward Sodom. Yet in truth, Abraham still stood in the sight of the Lord.

Genesis 18:23 And as they drew near, he said: “Will you destroy the just with the impious?

Genesis 18:24 If there were fifty of the just in the city, will they perish with the rest? And will you not spare that place for the sake of fifty of the just, if they were in it?

Genesis 18:25 Far be it from you to do this thing, and to kill the just with the impious, and for the just to be treated like the impious. No, this is not like you. You judge all the earth; you would never make such a judgment.”

Genesis 18:26 And the Lord said to him, “If I find in Sodom fifty of the just in the midst of the city, I will release the entire place because of them.”

Genesis 18:27 And Abraham responded by saying: “Since now I have begun, I will speak to my Lord, though I am dust and ashes.

Genesis 18:28 What if there were five less than fifty of the just? Would you, despite the forty-five, eliminate the entire city?” And he said, “I will not eliminate it, if I find forty-five there.”

Genesis 18:29 And again he said to him, “But if forty were found there, what would you do?” He said, “I will not strike, for the sake of the forty.”

Genesis 18:30 “I ask you,” he said, “not to be angry, Lord, if I speak. What if thirty were found there?” He responded, “I will not act, if I find thirty there.”

Genesis 18:31 “Since now I have begun,” he said, “I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty were found there?” He said, “I will not put to death, for the sake of the twenty.”

Genesis 18:32 “I beg you,” he said, “not to be angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more. What if ten were found there?” And he said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

Genesis 18:33 And the Lord departed, after he had ceased speaking to Abraham, who then returned to his place.