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God/Father of Those Who Fear Him.
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Lesson Ten: by turtle
When we think of God holiness, one can not escape God's judgment. Because of God
s holiness, His perfection, and mercy we must note God is a God of judgment as well. I
made a comment a few weeks back around lesson nine when talking about God
s love that one would also need to talk about God's judgment to understand his love, but
it was not a subject to talk about that particular week. We also in that lesson talked of
the choice of love and God being a merciful God. Today is the day we talk about God's
judgment. When talking about God's judgment we got to remember God's love and
mercy for each of us.
It seems to me people for some reason have a hard time dealing with the fact Sodom and
Gomorrah was destroyed. That God showed judgment to a wicked city. I seen online
people wondering why is our country still standing, when our sin seems to be much more
grievous then the time of Sodom and Gomorrah. I actually think the answer is there in
scripture to why God is still merciful to our nation. So lets begin to look at the story of
the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the discussion God had with Abraham.
Genesis 18:17-23 KJV
(17) And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
(18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
(19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him,
and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD
may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
(20) And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because
their sin is very grievous;
(21) I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry
of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
(22) And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham
stood yet before the LORD.
(23) And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the
wicked?
God speaks to Abraham about what he hears coming from Sodom and Gomorrah. Their
sin was very grievous against God. Sin had become so prevalent in that city that God
need to take action. Every time sin becomes huge punishment seems to prevail. Abraham
just like us wonder what about those that are righteous. We must understand
righteousness is by faith. Abraham at the time was made righteous by faith. Our faith in
Jesus Christ makes us righteous. I righteousness does not come from good works but by
faith in God. Abraham’s question was more on the lines of those who believed in
God would they be condemn as well.
What does God tell Abraham.
Genesis 18:24-33 KJV
(24) Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not
spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
(25) That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked:
and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge
of all the earth do right?
(26) And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will
spare all the place for their sakes.
(27) And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto
the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
(28) Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city
for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
(29) And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found
there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
(30) And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure
there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
(31) And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord:
Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for
twenty's sake.
(32) And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once:
Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
(33) And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and
Abraham returned unto his place.
God tells Abraham even with all his questions that not if there is fifty, forty, twenty, or
ten he would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was worried about his nephew
and his family that lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. His questions of how many it would
take before God’s judgment would be shown.
Knowing the rest of the story that Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed makes one think
how wicked this city must be. But one can not forget God 's rescue of Lot, the nephew of
Abraham. Lot and his family were taken out of Sodom because of their righteousness.
They believed in God and feared God. Though perhaps their life was not perfect and Lot
wanted to linger at the house almost to long. God still showed mercy to the righteous.
God also took Noah and his family out of harms way when he destroyed the earth by
flood. God will take believers out of harms way when the earth is destroyed once again,
when Christ returns. The subtle point that is being made though one might have to think
about it, is God’s judgment is not for the righteous but for the wicked. Though God
corrects and chasten the righteous, His judgment of doom is for the wicked. The gift of
everlasting life with Him is for the believer.
John 3:16 KJV
(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Some read this verse and wonder about those in old testament times. Forgetting the
sacrificial law as well as the knowledge of a Messiah. We must remember God does not
forsake His people. He set the captives free when Christ died on the cross.
Ephesians 4:8-10 KJV
(8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave
gifts unto men.
(9) (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts
of the earth?
(10) He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he
might fill all things.)
The captives God set free were the ones that believed in God that had already died. Godâ
€™s salvation was for all men of the earth, but one had to have faith. God’s mercy is
shown to all that will believe and repent and turn from their sins. Though we are living in
a time of much disasters and no one is exempt from these disasters. God is still a merciful
God. For all that call upon His name will be saved. Jesus came to die for you and for me.
It does not mean we would not die in a car wreck or a natural disaster, but it means God
will show us mercy if we believe in Him. He will forgive us of our sins, if we have faith
and repent.
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