Page 67 - Bible History

40 T NATION FROM WHICH THE REDEEMER CAME
the guests, and Abraham stayed with them while they ate.
One of them told him that Sara would have a son. Abraham knew then that this was God Himself and thattheotherswereangels. Whenthestrangerswere ready to leave, Abraham walked a part of the way with them. They went toward the city of Sodom.
A aham
ads
dom Sodom and Gomorrha would be destroyed because
As they walked along, God told Abraham that
of the sins of their inhabitants. Abraham thought of Lot and the other good men of the city and he prayed to God, saying, "Wilt Thou destroy the just with the wicked? If there be fty just men in the city, shall they perish? And wilt Thou not spare that place for the sake of fty just, if they be found therein? Far be it from Thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked. This is not like Thee, Thou Who judgest all the earth.''
The Lord said to Abraham,''If I nd in Sodom fty just men, I will spare the whole place for their sake." Abraham answered, '' Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes. What iftherebe velessthan ftyjustpersons? WiltThou for ve and forty destroy the whole city?'' And God said, "I will not destroy it if I nd ve and forty."
Again Abraham prayed, "But if forty be found there, what wilt Thou do?'' God answered, ''I will not destroy it for the sake of forty."
Once more Abraham prayed. ''Lord,'' he said, ''be not angry, I beseech Thee, if I speak. What if thirty