Genesis 18:16-19:38 Sodom

It is one thing for individuals to act wickedly and do evil. It’s another for an entire culture to act wickedly and tolerate it. When that happens, God may intervene, bringing justice to the earth for the sake of the mistreated. But the critical issue about judging a culture gets surfaced by Abraham’s question to the Lord: “Why would you treat the righteous and the wicked exactly the same? Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” (18:25). Then Abraham negotiated with the Lord not to destroy the cities in the plain of Sodom if just ten righteous people could be found. The two angels only found four. But the angels urged Lot to warn not only his relatives, but also “anyone else” (19:12). Only four listened and left, even though one of those turned back.

This story reminds us how significant it is for a culture to stand against wickedness, evil, injustice, oppression, and abuse. We must always be a people who protect the weak and innocent and vulnerable. We must always stand for what is right and true and just. God will bless that kind of culture.