Yes — God's willingness to spare Sodom for even ten righteous people teaches that a small number of faithful people can stay judgment and that God values His own people.
When Abraham interceded, God agreed not to destroy Sodom if ten righteous were found in it. Les Feldick reinforces this by showing that God has always worked through a small remnant, from Noah's eight to the few believers in Israel, and that God still knows how to deliver the righteous when He judges the wicked.
Genesis 18:32 — God's explicit promise not to destroy Sodom 'for ten's sake' directly answers the question.
2 Peter 2:6-7 — Confirms that God judged Sodom and Gomorrah as an example while delivering righteous Lot.
In Genesis 18, Abraham drew near to the Lord and asked, 'Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?' He reasoned with God from fifty righteous down to ten, and the Lord replied, 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.' When Abraham reached ten, the Lord said, 'I will not destroy it for ten's sake.' This shows that God attached enormous protective value to a righteous minority. The New Testament also recalls this judgment. 2 Peter 2:6 says God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, making them an ensample unto those that should after live ungodly. Yet the same passage says God delivered just Lot, who was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. God's judgment and His care for the righteous stand side by side.
Les teaches that God has never operated by majority. He points to the flood, where only eight remained true to God, and to Israel, where only a few within the nation responded and believed. The story of Sodom fits this same pattern: a small number of righteous people can be extremely significant to God. Les also emphasizes that God made Sodom and Gomorrah an example and that God is not changed — what He did before He is ready to do again. He stresses that the destruction of Sodom was specifically because of homosexual wickedness, and that God still delivered just Lot in the midst of judgment. Finally, Les uses Jesus's words about Capernaum to show that God judges according to the amount of revelation a city or person has received: Sodom would have repented had it seen Christ's mighty works, but Capernaum did not.
In Genesis 18, Abraham asked God whether He would destroy the righteous with the wicked. From fifty righteous people he continued to ten, and God agreed to spare the city for ten's sake. The implication is that the presence of even a handful of righteous inhabitants can delay or restrain judgment on a wicked place.
Les points out that throughout Scripture God has never used the majority. At the flood, out of all the people on earth, only eight were faithful. Within the nation of Israel, only a few responded and believed. The offer to spare Sodom for ten righteous is consistent with this pattern: God values and works through a small remnant.
Les says God is not changed. He turned Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes and made them an example, and what He has done previously as an example He is ready to do again. He also warns that any community where homosexual sin becomes the norm can end up like Sodom.
In the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God delivered just Lot, who was constantly vexed by the filthy lifestyle of the wicked. This shows that even when a city is judged, God knows how to rescue the righteous people within it.
Jesus told Capernaum that it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for Capernaum, because if Sodom had seen Christ's miracles it would have repented. This shows that God judges according to how much revelation a person or city has received.
Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord? Genesis 18 & God in Human Form
I was thinking the other night, as I was kind of putting all this together in my mind, I can remember from the time that I was in high school, and I know we'd already been on the scene a long time then, and he went through president, after president, after president, the old boy by the name of Bernard Baruch.
Sodom as an Example and Lot's Deliverance
God made Sodom and Gomorrah an example to the ungodly, yet He delivered righteous Lot who was vexed by the wickedness — showing that judgment is not blind to the righteous.
God Is Ready to Judge Again
God turned Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes as an example and is not changed; what He has done before He is ready to do again, while still delivering just Lot.
Sodom's Destruction Was a Disciplinary Example
The destruction of Sodom was instantaneous and disciplinary, making it a permanent warning of God's judgment on homosexual lifestyle.
Any Community Can Repeat Sodom's End
Sodom demonstrates where any community ends up when immorality and all unrighteousness become the accepted norm.
God Works Through a Small Remnant
God has always saved and worked through a small remnant — Noah's eight and the few believers in Israel — which helps explain the significance of ten righteous people.
Judgment Is Based on Revelation
If Sodom had witnessed Christ's mighty works, it would have repented; Capernaum's greater revelation means it will face stricter judgment.
Homosexual Lifestyle Is Wickedness
The Scripture never treats homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle; it is wickedness and an abomination, which is why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 18:26: And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
Establishes God's willingness to spare a whole city for the sake of a righteous minority.
Genesis 18:32: And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
This is the very promise the question asks about — God would spare Sodom for just ten righteous people.
2 Peter 2:6: And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
Shows that God's judgment on Sodom was a deliberate example for all who would live ungodly afterward.
2 Peter 2:7: And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
Shows that within the judgment God delivered the righteous man Lot.
Matthew 11:24: But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Jesus places Sodom's judgment in relation to cities that rejected greater revelation.
In Genesis 18, Abraham asked God not to destroy the righteous with the wicked. God agreed that if even ten righteous were found in Sodom, He would not destroy the city for their sakes. This shows the protective value of a godly minority.
Les teaches that God has never operated through the majority. At the flood only eight were saved, and in Israel only a remnant responded to God. Even a small number of faithful people has always been significant to God.
Yes. Les stresses that God made Sodom and Gomorrah an example and is not changed; what He did before He is ready to do again. He also warns that any community which makes the same sin normal is heading in the same direction.
God delivered just Lot, who was vexed by the wickedness around him. This demonstrates that God knows how to rescue the righteous even when He judges a sinful city.
Jesus said that if the mighty works done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, Sodom would have remained. So Sodom's judgment will be more tolerable because Capernaum rejected greater revelation.
Watch the Teaching: Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord? Genesis 18 & God in Human Form