This morning we're continuing on in our series in the life of Abraham.
This morning we come to a really hard part of Abraham's life.
! Not hard because it is tough on Abraham,
! But hard because of the topics that are set before us.
So if you have a Bible or a bulletin, turn with me to Genesis 18.
And we're studying the life of Abraham.
I'm sure as Matthew has told us,
because where does the first place that Paul looks to
when he needs an example?
An example of faithfulness to God?
An example of a well-ordered life?
A striving after holiness?
He looks to Abraham.
So this morning we look to Abraham in Genesis 18.
Starting in verse 16.
I will bless her.
Oh, excuse me.
Started in 18.
There we go.
Or 1816.
Goodness.
Then the men set out from there, and they looked down towards Sodom.
And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.
And the Lord said,
Shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do?
And seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation,
and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.
For I've chosen him that he might command his children and his household after him
to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice,
so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.
And then the Lord said,
Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great,
and their sin is very grave,
I will go down and see whether they have done altogether,
and according to the outcry that has come to me.
And if not, I will know.
So the men turned from there and went towards Sodom,
but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
Then Abraham drew near and said,
Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city.
Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?
Far be it from you to do such a thing,
to put the righteous to death with the wicked,
so that the righteous fare as the wicked.
Far be that from you.
Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?
And the Lord said,
If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the city,
I will spare the whole place for their sake.
And Abraham answered and said,
Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord.
I who am but dust and ashes,
suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking.
Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?
And he said,
I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.
Again, he spoke to him and said,
Suppose forty are found there.
And he answered,
For the sake of forty,
I will not do it.
And then he said,
Oh, let not the Lord be angry,
and I will speak.
Suppose thirty are found there.
And he answered,
I will not do it if I find thirty there.
And he said,
Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord.
Suppose twenty are found there.
And he answered,
For the sake of twenty,
I will not destroy it.
And then he said,
Oh, let not the Lord be angry,
and I will speak again but this once.
Suppose ten are found there.
And he answered,
For the sake of ten,
I will not destroy it.
And the Lord went his way,
and he had finished speaking to Abraham,
and Abraham returned to his place.
Let's pray.
Lord, we're thankful for your word.
We ask that you might use it in our lives
to show us your glory,
to show us more of yourself
and more of who you are.
We ask that you might use it in this way.
And Father,
that you might use your spirit
to show us our need of Christ.
And we pray this in his name.
Amen.
During college,
I worked odd jobs.
I worked in construction.
I'm not very skilled in construction,
even to this day.
Well, maybe more skilled than most,
but not compared to my college roommate.
In summer,
during the summers of college,
he worked at NASA
on the Hubble telescope.
I work construction,
and he worked at NASA.
And it was during this time period,
he came to visit me
at my home in North Carolina
from Washington, D.C.
And when he did,
he told me this story
about how he went out
with all his new work friends,
scientists,
engineers,
summer interns,
all went out to eat dinner,
or what he thought.
They were going out
to a restaurant to eat dinner.
In fact,
where they ended up
was at a nightclub.
He was shocked.
That's not his scene.
That's not necessarily
what you think of the scene
for NASA employees.
My friend was out of place.
He might be a good dancer.
I'm not going to give him
that credit publicly.
But he's a rural kid
from South Georgia,
living in Washington, D.C.,
working at NASA,
doing these very important
engineering projects,
and here he is
at a nightclub.
He felt really out of place
until a song came on.
And everyone in the nightclub
set up in a frenzy,
in a terror,
and they all started
doing this coordinated dance.
And my roommate
had no idea
what the song was
and still doesn't know
to this day,
but he knew the dance.
And the dance was
the Father Abraham dance.
I'm sure there are many
in here by Chuckles.
You're familiar
with the song,
you know,
the hit song
surrounding our main character
today where kids
are reminded
of the promises of God.
And that song
has an accompanying dance.
So not only
does the title
betray the great
theological truth
of Abraham
that he is the father
of many nations,
but this dance
helped kids remember
and adults
to this day
remember what the dance is.
And so I didn't learn it
as a kid
so I'm not going
to do it for you
because I can't.
Ha, gotcha.
But here is my friend
as a college student
working at the pinnacle
of engineering
with a bunch
of NASA scientists
doing the
Father Abraham dance.
He's dancing
his heart out
to the promises
that God made
to Abraham
in the midst
of a nightclub,
in the midst
of everything
the world
could display.
Success,
fame,
fortune,
scientific achievement,
opulence
of a nightclub
all while doing
the picture
of the Father Abraham dance.
What a picture
of contrast.
God's promises
against the world
and in many respects
at the same time
in this nightclub.
A picture of contrast.
A similar contrast
occurs to us
when we read
this story today.
Immediately our minds
will bypass
this story
and go straight
to what we know
or what we know of
of Sodom
in chapter 19.
We think of judgment.
We think of the sin
of people of Sodom.
And yes,
we're going to get there.
We're going to do it
next week.
But this week,
we know it's bad.
We know it's so bad
that Sodom and Gomorrah,
that term
has even carried through
to our modern day
of their great sin.
But that's not
the only picture
that we have
in Genesis 18.
And if we go
too quickly
by Genesis 18,
we miss this contrast
that we see.
This contrast
of judgment
against sin
and God's mercy
in the process.
It's a picture
of God's judgment,
yes.
It is not less than that,
but it's so much more.
It's God's promises
on display.
Promises of mercy.
So the story
of Sodom this morning
is a story
of judgment
and mercy.
But it's done
in contrast.
And as we look
at that this morning,
we're going to see this
in two kind of chunks.
They're two conversations.
Really,
they're really
just two more rounds
of the same conversation
that we heard
last week.
But they're very
different topics
and they're very
different takeaways.
Instead of being
about Abraham
and Sarah
and this promise
of a child
or disbelief
or unbelief,
this morning,
it's about
those people
over there.
Those people
down the road.
So this morning,
let's turn our attention
to verse 16
and that first conversation
or that first rounds
of conversation.
As we look at that,
let's look at those characters
and then what they
actually talk about
and then how do we feel
walking away
from overhearing
this conversation.
First,
the characters.
The characters
are the same
in many respects
as what we heard
last week.
Again,
it's another round
of this continuing
conversation.
We've just kind of
shifted topics
and as they do so,
we're met again
with a little bit
of clarity
of who these
shadowy,
otherworldly
figures are.
We know that we
have Abraham
talking or listening
and asking questions
later and we know
that we have the Lord
talking but there
is still some mystery
about who they are
and that's intentional.
So those are the
characters that we
see this morning
and then we get
a little interesting
insight into their
conversation.
Look at verses 17
and following with me.
the Lord said,
shall I hide from
Abraham what I'm
about to do
and continuing in 18
seeing that Abraham
shall surely become
a great and mighty
nation and all the
nations of the earth
shall be blessed
in him.
That's kind of the
start of the content
of this conversation.
they look down
towards Sodom
and 16
and there's this
promise that they're
going to set out
from there
and they're going
to go down.
But then
as those figures
kind of separate
we get the content
of this conversation
and the content
starts with this
promise to Abraham.
It's that promise
that you dance
around to
in the song
Father Abraham
that God
has promised
even against
the backdrop
of God's
justice
towards Sodom
to be faithful
to Abraham
and in doing so
he's going to
make him great.
That's where
we're going.
But you say
how do we know
that this conversation
though is about
judgment
because he hasn't
come out and said
it yet
but we can almost
feel this like
weighty cloud
about what's going
on.
It's ominous
just like these
rain clouds
that we see
come across
the mountains.
We know
that it's coming
we can feel it
but the rain
hasn't fallen yet.
We can feel
something
is casting
a shadow
over it
or as the kids
say
there's a vibe
about it.
There's a vibe
that's not
really good
and we know
that from
that early
conversation
there's this
discussion
among these
characters
that they're
counseling
together.
We have
these shadowy
otherworldly
figures
angelic
than the
Lord
and they're
talking
Abraham
doesn't know
yet.
We see that
from 17.
The Lord
says
he's talking
about Abraham
and Abraham
isn't party
to this.
We see
other relationships
like this
right before
God's about
to do something
big in terms
of justice.
Think about
Abraham
or Jeremiah
we have that
same scene
so that's
what sets
up the
vibe
of judgment.
Now this
backdrop
of judgment
isn't
actually
in the
content
of the
conversation
yet
but it
will be
but we
have this
promise
it's a
reiteration
of the
promises
that we
already
have heard
about
in the
life of
Abraham
promises
that God
is going
to lavish
his love
upon him
not because
Abraham's
that great
in fact
he's at
this point
and in
many points
thereafter
he's kind
of a
knucklehead
Abraham
is loved
by God
is given
these promises
not because
he's smart
not because
he's important
not even
because he
does the
right thing
he's given
these promises
because of
God's love
that should
be an
encouragement
to us
against the
backdrop
of this
world
we can
see the
ominous
judgment
that's
coming
for in
this
world
we see
things
that
aren't
right
we know
that they're
wrong
we know
that they're
sin
we might
feel like
we're in
the modern
day
Sodom
but God
has promised
to lavish
love on
us
the promises
of God
are held
forth to
us
not because
of who
we are
not because
we're smart
not because
we're important
and not
even because
we do
the right
thing
but because
of God
just like
Abraham
now if that
idea sounds
quaint
like a
platitude
like kind
of bless
your heart
I'll pray
for you
kind of
attitude
you could
walk away
from that
and think
that
until
you hear
how God
reiterates
these promises
we have
this promise
from Genesis
17
but here
it seems
very similar
but there's
some reordering
of words
to emphasize
the power
God makes
these promises
and doesn't
say
take that
and walk
away
he says
I'm going
to give
you this
and I'm
going to
bring it
about
and he's
going to
do that
mightily
this promise
comes with
power
how do we
see that
it's because
the reorientation
of this
promise
of 17
what does
he promise
back then
descendants
his family
is going
to be
great
and do
this
do
circumcision
all the
families
of the
earth
would be
blessed
but here
unlike
in chapter
12
he says
all the
nations
of this
earth
are going
to be
blessed
through
you
God
is saying
lest you
be confused
I'm
coming
with
power
not
just
bless
your
heart
I'm
going
to
pray
for
you
but
I
am
going
to
bring
this
about
and so
as we
survey
all this
opulence
of all
these
nations
who are
doing
wrong
things
I'm
going
to
come
with
power
and
I'm
going
to
judge
them
now
you
might
be
saying
smarty
pants
families
nations
that's
kind
of
the
same
thing
it
is
and
it
isn't
especially
in
context
of
this
where
earlier
he's
held up
all
these
kings
especially
that of
Sodom
and said
I'm
going
to
use
Abraham
a
nobody
and
I'm
going
to
display
my
power
but
why
now
what
has
happened
why
is
he
doing
this
right
now
why
is
he
reorienting
this
promise
and
smashing
up
this
other
promise
of
Genesis
17
that
you're
going
to
have
all
these
descendants
and
you're
going
to
give
them
my
sign
that
is
circumcision
he
doesn't
say
that
here
in
terms
of
sign
he
says
something
different
he
says
it
in
verse
19
for
I've
chosen
him
that
he
may
command
his
children
and
his
household
after
him
to
keep
the
way
of
the
Lord
by
doing
righteousness
and
justice
so
that
Lord
may
bring
to
Abraham
what
he
has
promised
him
not
do
the
sign
yes
that
is
a
sign
of
obedience
he's
pulling
forth
and
saying
walk
in
holiness
because
in
contrast
to
Sodom
Abraham's
family
as he
instructs
them
and points
them back
to these
promises
of God
are to
be
faithful
and to
strive
after
holiness
and he's
going to
do it
in these
huge
two
huge
big
promises
to
Abraham
one
that
comes
with
power
to
make
him
rule
over
nations
that
his
family
is
going
to
bless
these
other
families
of the
earth
and
rule
over
these
nations
and
to
give
them
his
family
the
sign
of
circumcision
and
to
walk
in
obedience
that's
a
promise
but
it's
not
even
new
to
Abraham
at
this
point
you
might
be
thinking
I
thought
this
was
about
judgment
it
is
about
judgment
we're
getting
there
but
we're
beginning
where
God
begins
!
He
begins
with
the
promise
and
then
goes
to
judgment
it's
a
preface
of
what
will
to
come
if
we're
thinking
about
where's
the
happy
ending
to
the
story
we're
going to
be
left
wanting
because
the
happiness
and
joy
and
comfort
we've
already
gone
over
it's
God's
power
in
walking
in
holiness
and
then
it
just
goes
bad
from
there
read
with
me
in
verses
20
through
22
then
the
Lord
said
because
the
outcry
against
Sodom
and
Gomorrah
is
great
their
sin
is
very
grave
I
will
go
down
to
see
whether
they
have
done
all
together
according
to
the
outcry
that
has
come
to
me
and
if
not
I
will
know
go
to
verse
22
in
a
second
their
sin
is
great
it's
so
great
that
it
must
be
dealt
with
in
that
moment
just
like
when
the
Lord
said
to
Cain
after
he
asked
where
his
brother
was
and
he
had
murdered
him
what
the
rocks
cry
out
the
blood
is
crying
out
to
me
from
the
ground
the
rocks
cry
out
in
Israel
testifying
the
picture
is
here
that
the
Lord
must
do
something
their
wickedness
had
grown
to
a
level
that
he
can't
do
anything
it
was
required
now
the
time
is
now
but
even
in
that
there's
a
certain
degree
of
forbearance
a
certain
degree
of
patience
because
what
is
the
response
in
verses
21
I
will
go
down
and
see
whether
they
have
done
all
together
according
to
the
outcry
he
already
knows
but
he
says
I'm
going
to
go
down
it's
part
of
his
nature
to
be
slow
to
anger
now
does
God
need
to
see
did
he
not
already
know
of
course
he
did
but
it's
part
of
his
nature
and
if
he
didn't
he
would
cease
to
be
God
if
he
didn't
hold
them
accountable
for
his
sin
and
he
also
wasn't
slow
to
anger
as
we
were
reminded
this
in
his
justice
he
shows
patience
there's
a very
famous
theologian
that said
God
likes
to
wait
until
sinners
are
mature
in
their
crime
Sodom
is
mature
in
their
crime
because
we
know
this
isn't
the
first
place
this
has
happened
and
we'll
see
that
in
a
minute
this
is
a
story
though
that
might
sound
familiar
this
theme
of
great
wickedness
God
judging
and
then
holding
forth
promises
it's
a
story
that we
know
from
the
rest
of
scripture
it's
a
story
that
we
can
see
in
the
image
of
something
called
a
Russian
doll
does
anybody
know
what
those
are
those
wooden
dolls
or
stacking
dolls
those
little
guys
or
they're
gals
most
of
the
time
they
fit
inside
each
other
and
they're
kind
of
egg
shaped
or
almost
figure
eight
shaped
and
you
twist
them
apart
and
there's
one
inside
of
that
times
they
can
all
be
uniform
or
they
can
all
be
kind
of
slightly
different
going
all
the
way
down
to
a
little
baby
and
in
those
stacking
dolls
they're
all
in
the
same
form
even
when
they're
painted
a
little
differently
they're
the
same
design
the
same
style
and
as
you
unlock
them
they
look
the
same
in
the
shape
and
form
this
story
has
variations
but
it's
in
the
same
form
it's
in
the
same
design
it's
in
the
same
shape
of
stories
that
we
know
already
think
of
Noah
what's
held
forth
in
the
flood
God
brings
judgment
universal
destruction
almost
except
for
one
guy
who
holds
who
clings
to
God's
promises
a
picture
of
faithfulness
and
as
he
does
that
we
see
God's
judgment
against
sin
but
we
see
the
reminder
of
the
rainbow
of
God's
deliverance
against
judgment
against
sin
it's
the
same
shape
it's
the
same
design
as
what
we
see
in
this
story
God's
judgment
against
sin
one
man
in
his
faithfulness
Abraham
and
one
person
will
see
in
a
second
his
faithfulness
at
the
same
time
God's
judgment
is
on
display
and
is
preserving
his
people
and
holding
forth
the
promises
that
God
has
made
it's
a
different
scale
yes
but
that
promise
of
redemption
!
His
covenant
to his
people
are
still
there
it's
ominous
because
we
know
what
happens
in the
flood
that's
the
value
in
having
the
same
design
now
critical
come
and
say
hey
look
it's
just
the
same
story
some
editor
came
back
and
added
this
in
changed
the
characters
around
and see
it's
just
the
same
story
but
instead
when the
author
does
this
he's
communicating
the meaning
of the
story
he's
saying
you know
the story
of the
flood
and what
will
come
look what's
about to
happen to
Sodom
look at
Abraham
that's what
he's using
and that's
what he's
communicating
now
you might
be
thinking
why
in the
whole
life
of
Abraham
are
we
focusing
so
much
on
what
this
24
hour
period
after
all
one
commentator
wrote
this
there's
no
other
24
hour
period
in
Abraham's
life
that
is
related
more
fully
than
what's
described
in
Genesis
18
got
it
yeah
a
midday
lunch
with
angels
transitions
into
the
destruction
of a
full
city
the
next
morning
that's
pretty
action
packed
zeroing
in
because
it
mirrors
what
happens
in
Noah
to
communicate
God's
judgment
against
sin
and
his
faithfulness
to
his
promises
even
in
one
man
even
in
one
family
so
what
are
we
to
make
of
this
story
we
can't
bypass
the
signal
back
to
Noah
the
serious
nature
of
sin
that
when
we
sin
it
pervades
all
of
life
whether
it's
all
of
humanity
and
God
destroys
humanity
through
the flood
except for
one
family
or
God
destroys
all
one
city
all
one
town
because
their
sin
is
great
in
that
we
see
that
God
desires
and
demands
holiness
you
might
be
thinking
phew
I
know
that
Sodom
still
exists
because
I
can
look
out
the
window
and
see
it
outside
my
door
and
thankfully
that's
them
and not
me
I
know
this
story
is
true
because
I
can
watch
the
news
and
I
interact
with
my
neighbor
that's
out
there
but
the
reality
is
all
those
things
of
Sodom
are
also
in
here
the
pervasive
nature
of sin
goes
on
in our
own
hearts
that
it
goes
in
every
direction
and
it
goes
finally
completely
and
it
goes
all
the
way
down
to
even
my
own
core
and
that
we
should
feel
the
weight
of
that
Ezekiel
warns
Israel
later
that
Sodom
just
didn't
end
up
in
chapter
19
that
there
were
baby
steps
all
along
the
way
little
things
led
to
bigger
things
and
behold
he
says
your
sister
Sodom
she
and
her
daughters
had
pride
excess
of
food
ease
they
didn't
aid
the
poor
and
needy
sin
starts
small
and
then
grows
and
festers
and
then
we
get
the
Sodom
where
God
can
do
only
but
one
thing
and
that's
judge
but
if
that
lives
not
just
out
there
but
also
in
here
we
should
be
warned
with
that
internally
that
first
conversation
is
about
judgment
God
holds
forth
these
promises
and
reminds
his
people
of
these
promises
but
then
says
hey
this
is
coming
judgment
is
coming
to
Sodom
but
that
third
round
of
that
conversation
or
the
second
round
this
morning
is
one
about
mercy
look
with
me
at
verse
22
so
the
men
turned
from
there
and
went
towards
Sodom
and
Abraham
stood
before
the
Lord
there's
some
clarity
as
these
shadowy
figures
depart
we
know
that
they're
going
about
their
business
or
angelic
business
because
of
Sodom's
sin
and
Abraham
is
left
before
the
Lord
and
now
begins
this
conversation
that
Abraham
and
the
Lord
have
and
what
does
he
do
he
pleads
on
behalf
of
Sodom
now
let's
pause
there
for
a
second
why
in
the
world
is
Abraham
pleading
for
Sodom
they're
not
his
people
he
doesn't
live
there
why
does
he
care
about
Sodom
now
if
you
remember
as
Abraham
and
Lot
depart
who
goes
to
Sodom
Lot
Abraham's
family
his
blood
that's
his
connection
he's
pleading
for
Sodom
because
that's
where
Lot
is
and
if
you
remember
they've
taken
different
paths
and
as
they
did
so
even
back
when
they
departed
from
each
other
we
knew
Sodom
was
bad
Genesis
13
reminds
us
of
this
the
men
of
Sodom
were
wicked
great
sinners
against
the
Lord
Abraham
cares
because
Lot
is
there
and
this
is
why
he
asked
in
verse
23
Abraham
draws
near
and
says
will
you
indeed
sweep
away
the
righteous
with
the
wicked
he
appeals
to
the
very
nature
of
God
saying
hey
you
are
merciful
and
slow
to
anger
abounding
in
steadfast
love
as
Moses
will
plead
later
why
are
you
going
to
wipe
away
Lot
and
his
family
he
never
says
Lot's
name
and
he
never
makes
that
request
but
that's
what's
going
on
and
then
we
have
these
cycles
starts
with
50
and
he
goes
all
the
way
down
to
10
and
he
keeps
!
and
he's
pleading
for
it
and
we
see
little
glimpses
of
Abraham
being
very
sure
and
then
less
sure
because
he
doesn't
want
to
be
annoying
it's
not
like
Job's
friends
that
say
these
things
but
they're
actually
wrong
Abraham
stands
before
God
and
pleads
for
another
because
he
knows
God
is
merciful
this
conversation
is
about
mercy
it's
not
necessarily
about
saving
Sodom
it's
saving
Lot
look
with
me
at
the
end
of
verse
25
far
be it
from
you
to
do
such
a
thing
to
put
righteous
to
death
with
the
wicked
so
that
the
righteous
fair
is
the
wicked
far
be
that
from
you
shall
not
the
judge
of
all
the
earth
do
what
is
just
he's
appealing
to
God's
sense
of
judgment
because
even
in
that
he
has
to
hold
he
in
his
being
and
who
he
desire
for
all
his
people
to
walk
in
holiness
to
do
what
is
right
for
him
to
execute
judgment
because
he
can't
stand
the
sin
of
Sodom
and
also
being
merciful
to
his
people
he
can't
kill
a lot
because
he's
righteous
and
Abraham's
appealing
to
that
and
saying
would
you
kill
him
too
would
you
do
that
and
so
that's
why
we
have
later
these
commands
to
normal
human
judges
in
Israel
they
have
to
decide
between
truth
and
error
why
can
God
now
just
execute
judgment
regardless
of
truth
regardless
of
error
if
he
requires
that
of
civilian
judges
of
mere
mortal
judges
how
would
he
not
do
that
on
himself
and
we
see
these
cycles
get
further
in
number
starting
in
26
I
find
50
that
are
righteous
in
the
city
and
then
what
about
if
they're
45
what
about
40
what
about
30
what
about
20
what
about
10
Abraham
is
seeing
all the
more
clearly
God's
holiness
and his
justice
but he
still
pleads
for
compassion
because
there
is
a lot
Israel's
prophets
do this
but it's
for their
own
people
like
Ezekiel
Jeremiah
Ezra
they plead
before
the
Lord
asking
for
this
but
these
are
the
people
that
have
done
great
wickedness
he's
asking
for
mercy
on
people
that
are
not
God's
people
and
they
had
long
been
known
to be
wicked
now
the
question
might
arise
in
our
minds
is
Abraham
being
disrespectful
if
you
remember
in
verse
21
God
says
I'm
going
to
go
down
and
see
we
see
a
glimmer
of
that
mercy
of
that
patience
with
sin
mercy
is
in
the
nature
of
God
and
this
conversation
just
shows
us
God
is
not
angered
by
Abraham's
request
Abraham
is
loved
by
God
and
Abraham
speaks
to
him
but
God
is
not
changing
his
mind
if
you
will
he's
doing
this
so
that
Abraham
sees
this
and
Abraham
will
instruct
his
children
as
we're
reminded
he
didn't
have
to
go
down
and
see
what
was
happening
in
Sodom
he
didn't
have
to
hear
the
request
of
Abraham
he
knows
Lot
is
there
but
we
see
that
picture
of
intimacy
that
Abraham
has
with
God
there's
hope
in
this
mercy
but
as
this
conversation
wraps
up
there's
that
looming
picture
of
judgment
against
sin
it's
tragic
it's
not a
story
of
disbelief
or
unbelief
of
Abraham
not
doing
the
right
thing
Sarah
not
believing
that
God
could
bless
them
with
children
it's
the
great
wickedness
of
Sodom
and
Gomorrah
now
I
mentioned
when
we
started
this
was
a
picture
of
contrast
of
God's
judgment
and
God's
mercy
their
sin
is
great
and
we
hear
the
pleas
for
God's
mercy
that
Abraham
makes
on
behalf
of
Lot
and
really
on
behalf
of
these
people
our
sin
if
we
dare
to
even
call
it
sin
needs
great
mercy
the
anger
of
God's
wrath
is
kindled
against
us
and
satisfied
in
the
cross
that's
merciful
but in
that we
see a
picture
of
mercy
and
of
justice
and
just
like
in
the
flood
we're
reminded
of
God's
promises
to
us
because
we've
each
sinned
and
broken
God's
law
and
we're
in
need
of
a
redeemer
and
it's
held
forth
to
us
and
the
mercy
that
we're
shown
is
Christ
himself
giving
himself
on
the
cross
we're
offered
that
rescue
from
sin
rescue
from
the
waters
of
destruction
or
rescue
from
destruction
of
Sodom
because
their
wickedness
is
great
because
our
wickedness
is
great
it's
in
here
and
not
simply
out
there
and
we're
offered
mercy
in
the
person
and
work
of
Jesus
this
morning
for
honest
with
this
story
this
model
that
we've
seen
this
design
of
destruction
and
grace
and
mercy
this
story
leaves
us
kind
of
want
and
hoping
and
wishing
it
doesn't
end
on a
high
note
or a
promising
note
it's
because
that
this
is
not
the
end
of
the
story
it
should
want
us
we
should
leave
wanting
something
more
and
we
should
want
the
hope
of
the
mercy
that's
offered
in
the
form
of
Jesus
because
Sodom's
wickedness
is
great
there's
a day
that
mercy
will
come
quickly
Lord
Jesus
let's
pray
Lord
we're
reminded
this
morning
of
the
great
sin
that's
on
display
for us
in the
lives
of your
saints
and even
in the
lives
of those
that
surround
your
people
like
Abraham
we
pray
that
we
might
be
stirred
in
our
consciences
to
see
even
our
great
need
of
a
savior
and
father
as
we
look
at
the
life
of
Abraham
we
would
see
his
pleas
for
mercy
and
father
those
pleas
would
become
our
own
and
we
ask
this
in
Christ's
name
amen
and
I