And Abraham came near and said, “Would YOU also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would YOU also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from YOU to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from YOU! Shall not the JUDGE of all the earth do right?” So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the LORD. Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would YOU destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So HE said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” And he spoke to HIM yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So HE said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” Then he said, “let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So HE said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the LORD: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So HE said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” Then he said, “let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And HE said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”
What a meal; what a meaty topic and subject the LORD GOD led me towards. This very same conversation can be and maybe still in effect today. Oh, I’m not saying that we are numbering the righteous versus the unrighteous because we have no ideawhat that number maybe. However, I know for certain that the LORD GOD has not come down and judged today’s earth because of the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous. As I was studying this verse of scripture in my Jewish Bible and my Young’s Literal Translation; I came across two separate words that made this conversation between Abraham and JESUS so direct. In the Jewish Bible, Abraham ask JESUS if HE would sweep away the righteous along with the wicked. And in the Young’s Literal Translation, Abraham ask JESUS if HE would consume the righteous with the wicked. Either way; this is a conversation between a man and his GOD; his LORD. JESUS did not hide from Abraham what HIS intentions were for being there. This gave Abraham a reason to be concerned. Maybe Abraham was not aware that the place where his nephew lived with his family was as bad off as it was. Or, maybe his reason for concern was that he did not want Lot and his family and servants to be destroyed. I don’t know but I do know that this conversation gave Abraham a justifiable reason for major concern. So when I looked at the conversation; JESUS said something that puzzled me all my CHRISTian life and that is; why did JESUS say “I will go down and see”? Well, after careful study and reading I found out my answer. This was the manner of conversation that was used at one time between males / men. It does not mean that the LORD GOD had to come see for HIMSELF if what HIS people were crying about was true. HE already knew it was true. Then I saw something that we all have missed I’m certain; and if I am mistaken please forgive my arrogance. But I think that we miss that the Word of GOD shows us that Abraham drew near to JESUS; meaning that he was not a far off but close to HIM. Maybe Abraham was so concerned or puzzled that he was nearly speaking in a whisper from shock. Or maybe he was just being close to HIM because they were friends and he knew that it was okay to be close in conversation with the LORD. I think this is pivotal in our understanding because most of us are so fearful of the LORD that we dare not come close to HIM. When this is what HE wants; HE wants to be close to us and HE wants us to be close to HIM. I also gleaned that here is where we learn how to intercede for one another. Abraham’s prayer was that of the upright according to Proverbs 15:8 and from this we find out that it is JESUS delight. Also Abraham instructs that we are to pray for one another that we may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. [James 5:16] Then I noticedthat because Abraham kept questioning JESUS about destroying the cities because he had to have it clear in his mind that JESUS would not wipe out the righteous along with the wicked. So what Abraham was doing is finding out if JESUS sees them as being equal. Or perchance if there were some who claim to be righteous but get caught up in the temptation of all that is around; will they too be destroyed.{Romans 3:5-6} Abraham left such a wonderful blue print as to how and what the children of GOD must do and because most of us have adhered to the guidelines America and many of the other nations have not been destroyed today. There are many righteous children of GOD praying and GOD is listening and because HE is a GOD that does not lie or change like man does. We see HIS Grace, Mercy and Truth in evidence now. JESUS calls us HIS salt in the earth and we are to be a seasoning; righteousness brings outthe flavor and attractiveness. Sin is bland. We are JESUS chosen elect and because of us we lengthen the days of HIS coming back to judge this world. This gives time for our loved ones to make a decision; this is why I don’t understand the selfishness of some saints that pray for JESUS expedience in returning. What if HE had come back before you made your decision to live for HIM; where would you be? 2 Chronicles 7:14 still rings true today; the LORD said “if MY people who are called by MY name will humble themselves, and pray and seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. You know if Abraham had not given up on 10 righteous people; I believe that the LORD GOD would have not destroyed those cities if there was just the 1 and that 1 was Lot. How do I know that the 1 was Lot; when the Angels told Lot to take his wife and two daughters and not look back. Mrs. Lot did look back and we know the history she became a pillar of salt as a reminder to this day of her love for Sodom and Gomorrah for this is where her heart was and her disobedience. Sometimes curiosity will destroy you. Then the daughters after the destruction devised a plan to have sex with their father so that they could have children. In the Lot family; I believe that Lot spent time praying and communing with the LORD because he recognized the angels immediately. Also he did not want the angels to hang around such great wickedness that was there. And he also told those wicked people that the men came there for the purpose of judging that place. How would he have known that unless he spent time with the LORD? Also take away this important piece of information; Abraham may have stopped with a count of 10 but is it not sad to know that JESUS could not find at least 10 righteous within 2 separate cities?