DAY 22: For the Sake of Ten

After Lot went to live in the city of Sodom, the LORD appeared to Abraham in physical form (Genesis 18:1).  

In verse 20, the LORD said: “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

Then Abraham drew near to the LORD and asked: “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

You may remember how the conversation turned out.  Driven by bold curiosity and compassion, Abraham continued to question the LORD.  He asked God if he would destroy the city if there were 45 righteous people in it.  And then 40… 30… 20.  

Finally, Abraham said: “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.”

And the LORD answered: “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 

Of course there weren’t ten righteous people in Sodom, and the LORD annihilated it with fire and brimstone from heaven.

But how about Fresno?  I wonder how many righteous people live here?  

No matter how dark and bleak the world may become, the fact is God’s people are the salt of this city – we preserve it from destruction!  

It’s so encouraging to remember that God would have spared Sodom “for the sake of ten.”  How much more the city of Fresno?  Because we are blessed with thousands of God-honoring, committed followers of Christ who worship the Lord in Spirit and truth.

When I remember that God would spare a city for the sake of ten, it gives me boldness and confidence to pray for Fresno… and it makes me thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Suggested things to pray for:

• Thank God for the Church – because our presence helps avert the just judgment and wrath of a holy God.
• Keep praying for our city and our valley – that God would spare it from destruction and fill it with his righteousness.