亚伯拉罕为所多玛祈求，假若城内仍然有一些义人的话，他求神不要剿灭那个罪恶之城，神说若只找到十个义人，衪也会就此停手的。起初亚伯拉罕不甚肯定，然而他却凭信心与神说项，他指出神是公义的，衪必不会将义人与恶人一同消灭的。
亚伯拉罕反问神："审判全地的主岂不行公义吗？"他是明知故问，神当然会行公义的，然而神也聆听亚伯拉罕和向他保证。遗憾的是，所多玛城里连十个义人也没有，虽然如此，在灾难临到这城之前，神也拯救了住在那里的亚伯拉罕的侄儿罗得一家（创世记 19:1-29）。
至于夺去很多人的性命的天灾和人祸又怎样？难道那些都是神的审判吗？耶稣谈到因楼倒塌被压死的人时，也提出这个问题："你们以为那些人比一切住在〔附近〕的人更有罪吗？我告诉你们：不是的！"这些灾难是这个破碎的世界的一部份。然而耶稣也警告听衪的人：这并不表示那些在灾难中幸存的人没有犯罪，事实上，我们每一个人都需要救主。（参看路加福音 13:1-5）
无论在任何境况中，神都吩咐我们要承认我们是罪人，我们都需要救主耶稣，衪已为我们受死和复活，好叫我们能够得到新的生命。"你信这话吗？"（约翰福音 11:26）。
神啊，祢藉基督的救赎大功向我们施怜悯和恩典，我们感谢祢。阿们。
创世记 18:20-25
20耶和华说："所多玛和蛾摩拉的罪恶甚重，声闻于我。
21我现在要下去，察看他们所行的，果然尽像那达到我耳中的声音一样吗？若是不然，我也必知道。"
22二人转身离开那里，向所多玛去，但亚伯拉罕仍旧站在耶和华面前。
23亚伯拉罕近前来，说："无论善恶，你都要剿灭吗？
24假若那城里有五十个义人，你还剿灭那地方吗？不为城里这五十个义人饶恕其中的人吗？
25将义人与恶人同杀，将义人与恶人一样看待，这断不是你所行的！审判全地的主，岂不行公义吗？"
"Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike." - Genesis 18:25
Abraham pleads for Sodom, asking God not to destroy that corrupted city if some righteous people might still be there. And God says he will hold back if just ten are found. Abraham seems unsure at first, but he speaks out in faith, stating that surely God is just and would not destroy the righteous along with the wicked.
Abraham’s question is rhetorical: "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" And, of course, God will. But God also listens to Abraham and assures him. Sadly, though, not even ten righteous people lived in Sodom—and yet, before disaster struck, God also rescued Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family members who were living there (Genesis 19:1-29).
Now, what about natural disasters and human calamities that take many lives? Are those about God’s judgment too? Jesus raised that question as he talked about people who had died when a tower collapsed: "Do you think they were more guilty than all the others" in that area? "I tell you, no!" Disasters like that are part of the brokenness of this world. But Jesus also warned his listeners: this doesn’t mean the people who survive a disaster are without sin. In fact, all of us need the Savior. (See Luke 13:1-5)
In all kinds of situations in life, God calls us to recognize that we are sinners. We all need the Savior, Jesus, who died for our sake and rose again to make new life possible for us. "Do you believe this?" (John 11:26).
O God, thank you for your mercy and grace in the saving work of Christ. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
