God's Grace in Words

The Invitation of Grace

Genesis 18:16–19 (NIV)

When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”

God met Abraham at His tent, sat and broke bread, readies to depart but Abraham follows them. God invites Abraham into truth. He chose him.

The word right is the same word used in Genesis 15:6

Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Righteousness is not a product of what we do but rather of who we do it with.

The Grace of Relationship

Genesis 18:20–25 (NIV)

Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

The Lord invites us into authentic relationship. He desires our conversation and welcomes our questions. He does not shy away from our doubt for He is sufficient. The more we lean into Him, the more He will be revealed to us.

The difference of perspective. Man views the outer while the Lord knows the inner.

The Grace of Covenant

Genesis 18:26–33 (NIV)

The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”

“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”

Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”

Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”

He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”

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.”

When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

The mercy and grace of the Lord has been poured out on the whole earth. God is patient and slow to move in His judgment, longing for all to come to saving faith in Him. God’s justice though is always pure and just.

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God knew that there was not 10 righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah. 10 righteous people could transform those cities. God knew that there were none who were righteous, not even Lot.