Yaweh's Code of Ethics II

Genesis 18:16-33

Genesis 18:16–33 (LSB)

16 Then the men rose up from there and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.

17 Now Yahweh said, “Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am about to do,

18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?

19 “For I have known him, so that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of Yahweh to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

20 So Yahweh said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

21 “I will go down now and see whether they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before Yahweh.

23 Then Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24 “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?

25 “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?”

26 So Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”

27 And Abraham answered and said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

28 “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

29 Then he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”

30 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”

32 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”

33 And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham, Yahweh departed, and Abraham returned to his place.

Warning of Judgment

1. Investigating the evidence

2. Outcry

Who is doing the out-crying

What is doing the out-crying

3. Separation of the “innocent” from the guilty

Hamartiology

1. The study of sin

Missing the mark

Conscientious decision to rebel against the established order of God

Defying the laws of nature

2. The study of transgressions or trespasses

The treatment towards our brothers

The treatment towards our neighbors

The treatment towards our enemies

3. Iniquities

Our responses to evil or wickedness

Injustice/Unjust

Cross Examination

1. If God is truly just, then how can He destroy the righteous with wicked?

2. If God is merciful, how can He destroy the righteous with the wicked?

3. If God does not destroy the cities than the righteous and the wicked are treated the same, no justice.

4. If God does destroy the cities than the righteous and the wicked are treated the same, no justice.

5. Unless? There is a point of no return or reformation. The righteous are just as guilty as the wicked. The “motives” of the righteous are judged by the same manner as the “actions” of the wicked.