GENESIS 18
27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 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.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
– Genesis 18:27-33
GENESIS 18 THE MERCY AND PATIENCE OF GOD
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
As Abraham continue to intercede for the fate of Sodom
We continue to witness the bond between them in their conversation
Like a child repeatedly bargaining with his parents for a request
Abraham was relentless for God to manifest his mercy.
He wanted to save those righteous people in Sodom
No matter how few they are, he thinks they deserve to be spared
So, God in his great mercy, proved that even ten upright men
Will spare the destruction of this city which thrived in wickedness.
In this account of the conversation of Abraham and God, we witness a very loving and close relationship between father and son. Just like a child persuades a parent from getting their wishes granted, Abraham’s love for the righteous stirred his heart to plead God to spare the destruction of Sodom. And once again, God manifests his mercy and compassion for those who are faithful to him. He would not want those saints to be in the midst of his wrath over those pervert and wicked Sodomites.
REFLECTION
- How can one develop a childlike relationship with God just like Abraham had?
