Genesis 18:23
“Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”
“Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”
The Bible shows us how God can never be guilty of injustice. But how? How is that possible when we live in a world where injustice is at the forefront of our minds, our movements, our Instagram feeds, and even in our own homes?
There is a story found in Genesis 18. An angel of the Lord tells Abraham that God is going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (rough times for that city…). It turns out that Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lives in the city of Sodom. The two cities were notorious for their horrible behavior toward each other. We won’t dig into the details of these cities deeds, but just know that Sodom & Gomorrah were not good places to be.
When God reveals these plans to Abraham, we might expect Abraham to respond with relief and righteous indignation, since he is aware of Sodom and Gomorrah’s wickedness. But he doesn’t. He asks God a series of questions, probing God’s justice. He asks, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?” (Gen. 18:23–24).
Abraham is asking, “Is this right? Is this just? Yes, I know the wicked deserve to be punished, but it is right to punish the righteous along with them?”
I remember in high school my entire Waterpolo team was forced to stay late after practice and do more sprint swim sets because someone on the team was misbehaving when the coach’s back was turned. I recognize that coaching a sport to squirrely teens is most likely one of the hardest things to do… but I also remember thinking that the sweeping consequence didn’t seem right. One person was guilty—but we were all being punished.
This is Abraham’s point. He knows that God will not act unjustly. “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!” (Gen. 18:25a).
It is at this point that Abraham drives the truth home: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Gen. 18:25b). He asks a rhetorical question. Can the just judge act unjustly? The answer is, of course, no. The Judge of the entire earth cannot act unjustly, because He is righteous. He will never do anything that is not right, just, and holy.
How do this passage and reflection shape your prayers when you witness injustice and suffering?
Read Genesis 18:20-33 (MSG)
“God continued,
‘The cries of the victims in Sodom and Gomorrah are deafening; the sin of those cities is immense. I’m going down to see for myself, see if what they’re doing is as bad as it sounds. Then I’ll know.’
The men set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God’s path, blocking his way. Abraham confronted him,
‘Are you serious? Are you planning on getting rid of the good people right along with the bad? What if there are fifty decent people left in the city; will you lump the good with the bad and get rid of the lot? Wouldn’t you spare the city for the sake of those fifty innocents? I can’t believe you’d do that, kill off the good and the bad alike as if there were no difference between them. Doesn’t the Judge of all the Earth judge with justice?’
God said,
‘If I find fifty decent people in the city of Sodom, I’ll spare the place just for them.’
Abraham came back,
‘Do I, a mere mortal made from a handful of dirt, dare open my mouth again to my Master? What if the fifty fall short by five—would you destroy the city because of those missing five?’
He said,
‘I won’t destroy it if there are forty-five.’
Abraham spoke up again,
‘What if you only find forty?’
‘Neither will I destroy it if for forty.’
‘Neither will I destroy it if for forty.’
He said,
‘Master, don’t be irritated with me, but what if only thirty are found?’
‘No, I won’t do it if I find thirty.’
‘No, I won’t do it if I find thirty.’
He pushed on,
‘I know I’m trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?’
‘I won’t destroy it for twenty.’
He wouldn’t quit,
‘I won’t destroy it for twenty.’
He wouldn’t quit,
‘Don’t get angry, Master—this is the last time. What if you only come up with ten?’
‘For the sake of only ten, I won’t destroy the city.’
‘For the sake of only ten, I won’t destroy the city.’
When God finished talking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham went home.“