Bending God's Ear

Passage: Genesis 18:20-33

This passage has often been cited as evidence that the God of the Bible does, at times, change his mind. I’m not convinced that God’s exchange with Abraham portrays an actual change of course for God. We don’t know, for instance, that God doesn’t already know precisely how many “righteous” (i.e., God-fearing) people there are in Sodom and Gomorrah before Abraham even asks the question. God may entertain the conversation with Abraham completely resolute in his decision to destroy the two cities.

That being said, Genesis 18 reflects something very compelling about the God of the Bible. As the Almighty Creator and Ruler, God could very well either turn his back on Abraham, or punish him for presuming to tell God what to do. God does neither. He patiently listens, engaging in the kind of conversation you might overhear between a parent and a child.

“God, what if there are thirty righteous people in that city? Would you spare it then?”

“Yes, Abraham, I suppose I would.”

“Twenty?”

“Yes.”

“What about ten, Lord? Would you save the city of there were ten righteous people in it?”

“Yes, Abraham, for ten I would.”

God entertains Abraham’s questions, even though God does not ultimately alter his course of action. But in the conversation we see a level of intimacy that belies the magnificent gap between the two. Almighty, all-knowing God bends an ear to the man who, in his limited insight and understanding, presumes to change God’s mind.