Scripture Focus:
Genesis 18:20–21
And the LORD said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”
When God visited Abraham, He revealed the reason for His visit: to investigate the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. A mysterious “cry” had come up before Him, prompting this divine intervention.
But this raises an important question—who was crying out to God?
Psalm 10:4
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
According to this verse, the wicked do not seek after God. So it’s unlikely that the people of Sodom were the ones crying out to Him. The residents of these cities were deeply entrenched in sin, and we see no evidence that they repented or sought God’s intervention.
Even the few righteous people at the time—Abraham, his household, and Lot—don’t seem to be the source of the outcry:
- Abraham was interceding for the cities, not calling for judgment.
- Lot, though living in Sodom, certainly wasn’t praying for its destruction.
So Who Made the Cry?
If no human was crying out, and the angels of God weren’t the source either, then the answer points to a startling possibility: the accuser himself—Satan.
The Bible calls Satan “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10). He is the same one who tempts people into sin and then turns around to demand judgment for those very sins. It is very possible that Satan was crying out to God, demanding justice over Sodom’s iniquity. (see article for more info on how to overcome the devil’s accusation against us)
This explains why God said He would “go down and see.” If the cry was from one of His servants, God—being omniscient—wouldn’t need to “investigate.” But because the cry was not from man or angel under His covenant, and because God is perfectly just, He had to assess the matter Himself before proceeding with judgment.
Mercy Requires Legal Intercession
God did not casually dismiss the cry. He honored justice. Yet, in His mercy, He involved Abraham. Why?
Because Abraham, as a man, had legal standing to intercede on behalf of the cities. God’s justice could be satisfied if a man—not an angel or deity—stood in the gap. Abraham’s intercession wasn’t just emotional; it was legal. It provided the opening for God to extend mercy without compromising His justice.
Reflection:
The next time we see sin escalating in a nation or a community, remember this: the enemy may be crying out for judgment, but God is looking for someone to intercede.
Will you be that person?