What is the meaning of Genesis 18:20? Then the LORD said “Then the LORD said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great…’” (Genesis 18:20a) • The scene is intimate: the LORD speaks directly with Abraham, underscoring that God involves Himself personally in human affairs (Genesis 18:1–2; Exodus 33:11). • The wording reminds us that divine revelation is never guesswork; when God speaks, His words are final and authoritative (Genesis 15:1; Numbers 12:6–8). • Earlier, God had already promised to bless the nations through Abraham (Genesis 12:3). Now He reveals impending judgment, showing that blessing and judgment flow from the same holy character (Psalm 89:14; Romans 11:22). • This moment also sets the stage for Abraham’s intercession (Genesis 18:23–33), illustrating the balance between God’s sovereignty and human participation in prayer (Jeremiah 29:7; 1 Timothy 2:1). The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great • “Outcry” pictures a loud, anguished cry for justice, much like Abel’s blood crying from the ground (Genesis 4:10) or the enslaved Israelites groaning in Egypt (Exodus 3:7). • Scripture presents Sodom and Gomorrah as emblematic of extreme wickedness (Genesis 13:13; Isaiah 3:9; 2 Peter 2:6). Their reputation has reached heaven itself. • God hears and responds to oppression, injustice, and violence—nothing is hidden from His sight (Psalm 34:15–17; James 5:4). • The “great” nature of the outcry hints at widespread, systemic evil, not isolated acts. It invites reflection on societal sin that demands divine attention (Amos 5:12). Because their sin is so grievous “…because their sin is so grievous” (Genesis 18:20b) • “Grievous” conveys heaviness and weight; the cumulative sin of these cities has tipped God’s scales of patience (Genesis 15:16; Ezekiel 16:49–50). • Specific sins named elsewhere include sexual immorality (Jude 7), arrogance, neglect of the poor, and detestable practices (Ezekiel 16:49–50; Isaiah 1:10). • God’s standards are absolute—He judges sin wherever it is found (Romans 1:24–27; Hebrews 10:31). • Judgment, however, is never rash. In the next verse He says, “I will go down and see…” (Genesis 18:21), demonstrating careful investigation before executing justice (Deuteronomy 32:4; Jeremiah 17:10). • The passage challenges believers today to take sin seriously, both personally and corporately, knowing that God still judges nations (Proverbs 14:34) and disciplines His people (Hebrews 12:6). summary Genesis 18:20 reveals a God who hears the cries of injustice, investigates sin thoroughly, and acts decisively when wickedness reaches its limit. The verse underscores His holiness, His responsiveness to human suffering, and His commitment to righteous judgment. |
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