LIFE SCRIPTS

Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
Genesis 18:23‭-‬33 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.18.23-33.NIV

As the ‘Men’ were departing, Abraham engaged them on their decision to destroy the city of Sodom. In the entire discussion, we see Abraham pleading with the Lord to reconsider His action in the event that a number of people are found to be righteous in the city of Sodom. He starts with a number of fifty as he lowers it further upto ten. It’s interesting that all this was taking place at the backdrop of God cementing His promise to Abraham about his offspring. The Lord had already promised Abraham a son in a years time. It must have been exciting news. However, as much as he had been chosen of God, he still had a cry for the lives of others. Abraham had a heart for people. His heart was so compassionate on others that he even interceded on their behalf before God. His ‘gain’ through God’s promise did not deter him from seeking for the welfare of others who were living righteously among sinners. God on His part, responded positively to his plea. It’s amazing that a single or a few people committed to righteousness can save a nation. Indeed even in the book of 2 Chronicles 7:14, scripture says that ,’…if My people who’re called by my name shall humble themselves, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I’ll heal their land’. God seeks for those who choose to obey Him in a wicked generation. He seeks for those who’ll intercede on behalf of a wicked generation. Abraham chose go stand in between God’s judgement and the ones to be judged. He chose to put his life on the line. He wasn’t sure about the outcome of questioning God? God had chosen to disclose to him His mind because He’s God and not because Abraham was His equal. Yet Abraham appeared stubborn. It appeared as if he was trying to convince God to do otherwise. God however, saw his heart instead. He saw how he desired the best for others. His heart was moved by people who had been created in God’s image. God’s heart is moved when we choose to do good on behalf of others. When we stand in their place and plead on their behalf God takes notice. He takes notice because His heart is moved by compassionate acts towards people. We see this even through the character of His Son, Jesus Christ. Scripture says on many occasions that when He saw people, He felt compassion for them for they looked like sheep without a shepherd. Abraham’s case is no different. He stood on behalf of the ones who chose to be righteous in a sinful generation. The ones who seemed bewildered and alienated in a society pervaded with wrongdoing. God took notice. Today, we can do the same. We can plead with God on behalf of the lives of the ones we see going astray but deep within their hearts, they have a desire to please God. We can stand in the gap for them. For the youth trapped in drug addiction yet desire to love the Lord in their lives, for the wayward men who desire to be true and present in their families, for the women trapped in prostitution seeking deliverance and an alternative source of income to feed their families. God seeks for those whose hearts genuinely cry out on behalf of others who seek Him in a violent and sinful generation. Those whose hearts are pure and desire purity for others. He is moved by such.