HOW MANY?

“Avraham approached and said, ‘Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked?’”
Genesis 18:23

This portion of reading from the Torah today is one that we probably all know. It is in this section that we find Avraham in many ways pleading for the life of Lot. Not long ago we read of Lot being carried off by the kings as a prisoner of war. As a result, Avraham chased after the forces and took Lot back, in addition to the others that had been kidnapped. Here again, though, we see Avraham saving his nephew once again. Although not kidnapped, Lot still faced the destruction that was to come to S’dom. Adonai’s mind was made up and fire was about to fall on the city.
Being told this truth, Avraham began to barter for the sake of the city, questioning, “Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” In the account of Noach, Adonai had spared Noach’s family because they were righteous. And once again Adonai was bringing judgment. This time Avraham was not in danger of being swallowed up, but Lot was. Because of this a plea was made which started at fifty and ended at ten. Adonai agreed that if ten righteous people were found He would not destroy the city. But as we will see tomorrow, finding even ten was a chore.
I have often read this story and thought, “Would I be one of those found righteous?” In order to answer that I think we need to look at the word righteous used here in the Hebrew. The term is TSADDIYQ (tsad-deek). This word is heard often around the time of Yom Kippur as the believer takes the time to ask forgiveness from Adonai so that he may be presented as clean and righteous. Its actual meaning in the Hebrew is just and lawful in affairs or cause or character. It also means to be justified and vindicated by Adonai. In essence, Avraham was asking Adonai if He would still destroy the city if only ten people whose character reflected the ways of Adonai could be found.
It is no surprise that our own country has slipped away from following Adonai. It is because of this fact that I wonder – if Avraham was to plead for our city, how many would Adonai actually find? Surly ten, right? Maybe one hundred? A thousand? At what point would the line be drawn and destruction come? I am not asking because I think we should live dangerously close to that line, but rather I am asking because I want to stay very far from that line. But it starts with me, and with you. Will Adonai find us righteous? Would the destruction of many come because of my actions, or would my actions bring about salvation from the judgment?

Genesis 18:15-33