The answer is: Abraham

Gen 18:22-23

In a dramatic bargaining scene between Abraham and God, we witness one of the earliest examples of intercession in the Bible. When God revealed his intention to destroy Sodom due to its wickedness, Abraham didn’t just stand by idly. Instead, he boldly approached the divine and engaged in a profound dialogue, asking, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” It's fascinating to see how Abraham calls upon God's sense of justice, challenging the notion that the innocent should suffer alongside the guilty.

Abraham brilliantly negotiates, asking God if He would save the city for the sake of fifty righteous people and, after a series of back-and-forth requests that lower the bar, he ultimately aims for ten. This sharp discourse highlights a few interesting themes: our human significance, the value of righteousness, and divine justice versus mercy.

Did you know that Sodom and its partner-in-sin, Gomorrah, have sparked considerable archaeological and scholarly discussions? Many theories suggest these cities of sin have turned to dust, their precise locations still eluding archaeologists. In popular lore, Sodom stands as a representation of egregious vice, making Abraham’s intercession remarkable as it knows no bounds – his empathy stretches beyond kinship.

The narrative casts a reflective spotlight on contemporary issues of morality and collective karma, reminding us of the ease with which judgments can be handed out when wisdom could prompt compassion instead. Let's all think about who we might advocate for, and the consequences we deem worthy of a fight in our own communities!