Connect Genesis 18:26 with other scriptures about God's mercy towards the righteous. Genesis 18:26 — Mercy for the Sake of the Righteous “So the LORD replied, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.’” Key Observations • God is willing to withhold deserved judgment when righteous people are present. • The offer is literal: an entire city would be spared because of a minority who honor Him. • Divine mercy is linked to intercession—Abraham’s plea draws it out. Old Testament Echoes of the Same Mercy • Genesis 6:8 – “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” One man’s righteousness preserved the human race. • Exodus 12:13 – The blood on the doorposts caused judgment to “pass over.” Righteous obedience shielded households. • Jeremiah 5:1 – “Roam the streets of Jerusalem… seek one who deals honestly… and I will forgive this city.” A single righteous person could stay judgment. • Ezekiel 22:30 – God sought “a man to stand in the gap” to spare the land. • Psalm 33:18-19 – “The LORD’s eye is on those who fear Him… to deliver their souls from death.” • Psalm 37:28 – “For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints.” • Psalm 145:17-19 – He “is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds… He will hear their cry and save them.” • Jonah 3:10 – When Nineveh repented, “God relented of the disaster.” Mercy came when righteousness replaced wickedness. New Testament Confirmation • Matthew 5:45 – The Father “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good.” Common grace flows because the righteous still live among the wicked. • 2 Peter 2:7-9 – God “rescued righteous Lot… then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment.” • 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – Believers pray for “all people,” and God delays judgment, “desiring all men to be saved.” • Revelation 7:3 – Judgment is held back until the servants of God are sealed. What These Passages Reveal about God’s Character • He is “compassionate and gracious… abounding in loving devotion” (Exodus 34:6-7). • He takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 18:23). • His justice is perfect, yet His mercy is vast; the presence of the righteous provides grounds for patience. • Intercession matters—God listens when His people stand in the gap. Living in the Light of This Mercy • Embrace the calling to be righteous influencers; our faithfulness can preserve those around us. • Persist in intercessory prayer; Abraham’s dialogue shows that bold, humble pleading is welcomed. • Walk confidently: God protects and honors those who fear Him, even in corrupt surroundings. • Share the gospel urgently—those spared today need the righteousness found only in Christ tomorrow. |
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