1 – Genesis 18:27-33 (ESV) ²⁷ Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. ²⁸ Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” ²⁹ Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” ³⁰ Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” ³¹ He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” ³² Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” ³³ And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

RAF: One’s mind almost instinctively runs to James 4:2c (“You do not have, because you do not ask”) when reading this extraordinary passage. Look at how much more willing God is to be gracious and merciful, than we venture to seek Him for at first. Abraham learns this great lesson for us – ask. Do not imagine the Lord to be stingy with His grace – ask. Do not assume Him unmerciful – ask. Do not fail to think of Him in terms of the mercy and grace you yourself have received – ask. There was no great labor in Abraham’s pleas. God was not reluctant or rigidly opposed. Look at how easily He is moved from 50 to 10. Ask!

Now it is certain too that God knows there are but few to be rescued. Lot and his daughters will finally escape. Lot’s wife, nearly. The pervasive fallenness of man is also revealed in the most startling clarity. As much as we come here to reckon with God’s great mercy and grace (we see that it is shown even when there were fewer than the numbers asked for) – nevertheless, see how wicked humanity is. Not 10 in all the numbers there. Not 5. And of those rescued – it is only due to grace. How fearful is mankind’s fallen condition. And how great is the mercy and grace of our God. The two seen here in the most dramatic contrast imaginable.

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