“Then he said, May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there? He answered, For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” Genesis 18:32
God had come down to meet with Abraham. After telling him that he would have a child, He revealed that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. These are the cities where his nephew Lot lived. Abraham called on God’s grace and mercy to save the people.
He starts off asking if God would destroy the city if fifty people could be found. Then Abraham keeps lowering that number down to a final number of ten people. Each time God agrees that if that number of people could be found who follow Him, He would not destroy the cities.
This shows the love and mercy of Abraham. These cities were full of extreme corruption and sin that it would have been easy to justify destroying the cities without question. In fact, God was already set to destroy those cities, and He is full of mercy and grace.
Looking around you can see places of extreme sin. It is easy to want to call judgment down upon them and allow God to destroy those places. Many Christians pray for God to destroy sinful cities, countries, and areas. They want to see sinners killed off or put away. However, Jesus did come to destroy, but to save.
When you see these places what does your heart feel? Is it anger against them, wanting to call down judgment on them?
Or is it compassion for their lost souls? People living in sin usually do not know anything different. It is what they were raised to do.
Your prayer should be that God would have mercy on them. You should be seeking God to find ways to be a light to them. Seek ways to show them who Jesus is. Pray that Jesus would be revealed to them, before it is too late and God destroys them. Do not just bring condemnation down on them. Have the heart that Abraham did.
I pray today that you will see people as God sees them; that you will have the love for all people as Jesus does; that you will seek ways to bring the gospel message to all people; that you will have love and compassion for all people; and that you will have the heart of Jesus in your heart.
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