Inspire Praise Bible: The Bible for Coloring & Creative Journaling - Flipbook - Page 22
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gENESIS 18:16
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Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16 Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As
they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18 “For Abra
ham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations
of the earth will be blessed through him. 19 I have singled him out so that he
will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing
what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom
and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if
their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord
remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you
sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty
righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and
not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the
righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that!
Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will
spare the entire city for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further
to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. 28 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.”
29 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.”
30 “Please d
on’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—
suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
31 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.”
32 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.”
33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went
on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
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. 2“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.”
3 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. 4 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. 5 They shouted
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NLT Praise.indb 20
2017/07/27 10:29 AM
