Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 37
18:27–19:9
G enesis
25
Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further
to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only
forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole
city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous
people there.”
Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only
forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me s peak—
suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me
continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the
twenty.”
Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak
one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went
on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.
That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom.
Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them.
Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. “My
lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests
for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your
way again.”
“Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city
square.”
But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a
feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they
ate. But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and
old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted
to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring
them out to us so we can have sex with them!”
So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.
“Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing. Look, I
have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do
with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my
guests and are under my protection.”
“Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider,
