Having a close relationship with God allows you to pray boldly – that’s what Abraham shows us in this rather repetitive passage. Abraham knew God well, and had been walking with Him for years, so he was able to muster up the courage to pray for the righteous who may have still remained in Sodom. At the same time he never allowed his familiarity with God to degenerate into pride. Instead, he preserves an attitude of humility throughout the conversation, calling himself nothing more than dust and ashes (v. 27), and continually begging God not to be angry with his pleas.

But notice also that Abraham was careful to root his prayers in the will of God. In verses 23-25, he appeals to God’s justice, reminding God that it would not be in accordance with His nature to sweep away anyone who is righteous. We find this same certainty in the New Testament, with Peter affirming, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).

By the way, knowing that God is just, punishing the wicked but not the righteous, shows us how the story of Sodom is a foreshadowing of the great Day of Judgment. For this explains why the Revelation predicts a great apostasy before the return of Christ – as long as there is anyone left who can be saved, it would be inconsistent with God’s justice for Christ to return and forestall that possibility.

So, what does all that mean for us? Knowing that God is both just and merciful, we all need to get busy proclaiming the truth of His gracious pardon as well as His imminent judgment, calling everyone to surrender to Him and receive His sovereign grace – before it’s too late.

Genesis 18:23-33 (NAS)

23 And Abraham came near and said, “Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou 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 Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
26 So the LORD 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, wilt Thou destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 And 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 the LORD departed; and Abraham returned to his place.