Genesis 18:32

My Notes

What Does Genesis 18:32 Mean?

"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." Abraham's NEGOTIATION with God reaches its final number: TEN. Starting from fifty (verse 24), Abraham bargained down through forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty — and now TEN. If ten righteous can be found in Sodom, God will spare the city. God agrees: for ten's sake, I will not destroy. The negotiation is FINISHED. Abraham doesn't go below ten. The bargaining stops at the number that becomes the Jewish quorum (minyan) for community worship.

The phrase "oh let not the Lord be angry" (al na yichar laAdonai — please let not the Lord burn/be angry) is Abraham's REPEATED DISCLAIMER (appearing at each stage of the bargaining): Abraham KNOWS he's pushing the limits. The disclaimer acknowledges the AUDACITY of the negotiation — a human bargaining with the Judge of the earth (verse 25). The 'let not be angry' is the recognition that the asking could be PRESUMPTUOUS. Abraham pushes anyway.

The "I will not destroy it for ten's sake" (lo ashchit ba'avur ha'asarah — I will not destroy for the sake of the ten) is God's FINAL agreement: TEN righteous people would SAVE the city. The 'for ten's sake' means the righteous would PROTECT the wicked — the presence of ten good people shields the entire population from destruction. The few would save the many. The righteous remnant would be the city's umbrella.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Are you one of the righteous whose presence protects the community?
• 2.What does Abraham's negotiation (starting at fifty, ending at ten) teach about bold, persistent prayer?
• 3.What does God agreeing at EVERY level teach about His willingness to spare for the sake of the few?
• 4.Why does Abraham STOP at ten — and what does the stopping reveal?

Devotional

Just TEN. If ten righteous can be found — You won't destroy? God says: I won't destroy for ten's sake. Abraham's negotiation reaches its final number. The bargaining that started at fifty ends at ten. And God agrees at EVERY level. The negotiation reveals God's WILLINGNESS to spare for the sake of the few.

The 'oh let not the Lord be angry' is Abraham's AWARENESS of his audacity: at every stage of the negotiation (fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, ten), Abraham adds the disclaimer: don't be angry. The disclaimer says: I KNOW I'm pushing limits. I KNOW this is bold. But I'm asking ANYWAY. The awareness of audacity doesn't PREVENT the asking. It ACCOMPANIES it. Abraham is simultaneously humble (don't be angry) and persistent (but I'm asking again).

The 'peradventure ten' is the FINAL number — and Abraham stops: why TEN? Why not five? Why not one? Abraham STOPS at ten. He doesn't go lower. The stopping may reflect Abraham's assessment of how many righteous SHOULD exist in a city (if there aren't even ten, the city is beyond saving). Or it may reflect the limit of Abraham's courage. Either way: the negotiation ENDS at ten.

The 'I will not destroy for ten's sake' reveals the PRINCIPLE: the righteous PROTECT the community. TEN righteous people would have saved THOUSANDS of wicked ones. The presence of the few shields the many. The righteous remnant is the city's protection. The principle runs throughout Scripture: the faithful few preserve the unfaithful many. The righteous are the umbrella under which the unrighteous survive.

Are you one of the 'ten' — and is your presence protecting the community around you?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture