Bargaining with G-d: a Thought for Parashat Vayera, Genesis chapter 18

Last week I referred to Abraham's 'bargaining with G-d' in this week's Torah reading.  We see it in chapter 18 of Genesis, from verses 16 through 33.  G-d decides to tell Abraham that He is about to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gemorrah because of their grievous sins.  He decided to tell Abraham not to consult with him, but because He has chosen Abraham and his offspring to come, for a special blessing to bring tzedakah (often translated 'charity') and mishpat (translated 'justice') to the world.  Some of the classical commentators believe that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, specifically, is that they forbid the offering of hospitality to famished strangers, who end up dying surrounded by affluent inhabitants who then, after the travelers have starved to death, rob their corpses of any valuables.  In other words, they behave in a way that is the polar opposite of the way we have just seen Abraham behave in the beginning of this chapter when he rushes to offer hospitality to three angels disguised as passers by.

Although G-d was informing Abraham of what he was about to do, not consulting with him, Abraham immediately began to try to dissuade G-d from his sentence against the two cities.  Reasoning that a Just G-d would not destroy the Good with the Evil, through a conversation that sounds like a Middle Eastern shopper negotiating price with a shopkeeper, Abraham bargains with G-d to the point where Hashem agrees that He would not destroy the cities if ten good men could be found.  Having reached that point, Abraham walks away, thinking he has secured the safety of the cities, but he hasn't at all.

Our tradition does not see this bargaining as a sign of disrespect on Abraham's part.  In fact, it views Abraham's having expressed his concern for the good people who might be found in Sodom and Gomorrah, to his merit.  Several of the commentators contrast this concern with Noah's apparent lack of concern; when G-d revealed to Noah that He was going to destroy the world and all thereon, Noah simply turns-to to build the Ark and save himself and his family.  (Genesis 6:13-22)  Some people of faith look at the notion of bargaining with G-d as anathema.  For example, Mahatma Ghandi famously stated:  "A man of faith does not bargain or stipulate with G-d."  And this describes Noah's action:  Noah did not bargain with G-d, but simply accepted His decree.  But Abraham, in contrast, took G-d to task, albeit respectfully, indicating a greater concern as well as a compassion for others.

From this we learn the important lesson that it is important to have compassion for others, and to work on their behalf, even when they are wicked and we ultimately cannot save them from the consequences of their wickedness.