“Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:20–23, NIV).
As I read this story I encounter to huge issues:
#1. Was God's knowledge of Sodom and Gomorrah truly limited to the point that He had to "see" for Himself what was going on?
#2. Can you really bargain with God? If, (as we noted in the previous Blog) He is unchangeable, how can He change?
As to the first problem, there was a similar statement in Genesis regarding the Tower of Babel recorded in Genesis 11:5 (NIV), "5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building." Does an infinite, eternal, all-knowing, all-seeing God have to "come down to see"? The problem of #1 is related to #2 because we enter the world of "anthropomorphisms".
The Baker Dictionary is helpful:
Anthropomorphism is the assignment of human attributes to nonhuman things. Biblical anthropomorphisms are used primarily in reference to God, who is neither visible ( John 1:18 ) nor human ( Num 23:19 ; 1 Sam 15:29 ) . . . The use of human terminology to talk about God is necessary when we, in our limitations, wish to express truths about the Deity who by his very nature cannot be described or known. From biblical times to the present, people have felt compelled to explain what God is like, and no expressions other than human terms are able to convey any semblance of meaning to the indescribable. Thus, in Genesis alone God creates ( 1:1 ), moves ( 1:2 ), speaks ( 1:3 ), sees ( 1:4 ), divides ( 1:4 ), places ( 1:17 ), blesses ( 1:22 ), plants ( 2:8 ), walks ( 3:8 ), shuts ( 7:16 ), smells ( 8:21 ), descends ( 11:5 ), scatters ( 11:8 ), hears ( 21:17 ), tests ( 22:1 ), and judges ( 30:6 ).
This is a common device in Scripture that enable theological truths about God to be communicated to humans. The danger is when they are taken 'woodenly literally'. They tend to frame God in metaphorical language so we can understand. Anthropomorphisms are essentially acts of mercy by a God who loves us, who communicates to us in a way He doesn't have to, but does, so we might understand what is essentially incomprehensible.
Mat Slick gives some great examples of this in an article HERE.
What do we make of God saying Abraham, "I will go down and see . . .?" "All that is implied is God’s direct attention to the matter." [1] "Not a fact-finding mission, as though God had something to learn; He comes down because He was already watching. This description follows the pattern of portraying God involved in the affairs of humanity." [2]
Matthew Henry explains further:
Not as if there were any thing concerning which God is in doubt, or in the dark; but he is pleased thus to express himself after the manner of men,
[1.] To show the incontestable equity of all his judicial proceedings. Men are apt to suggest that his way is not equal; but let them know that his judgments are the result of an eternal counsel, and are never rash or sudden resolves. He never punishes upon report, or common fame, or the information of others, but upon his own certain and infallible knowledge.
[2.] To give example to magistrates, and those in authority, with the utmost care and diligence to enquire into the merits of a cause, before they give judgment upon it.
[3.] Perhaps the decree is here spoken of as not yet peremptory, that room and encouragement might be given to Abraham to make intercession for them. Thus God looked if there were any to intercede, Isa. 59:16. [3]
We conclude by reminding us these two things that come to us from God "going to see". One, is that God is intimately involved in the affairs of humankind and in this case is intimately concerned about sin. Secondly, God's judgments are fair and just. He makes His decision based upon factual truth. As Abraham would say, “. . . Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25b, NIV).
Father, it is our greatest comfort to know that you give Your complete attention to the lives of Your people and that there is not detail that misses Your gaze. This truth is both encouraging, yet is is concerning. To know that You know all about me is also disturbing. I am an expert had hiding. I am a master of disguise. None of these schemes work with You though. Apart from the all-consoling comforts of the Gospel, Your gaze at me would cause me to disintegrate. Because of Christ, dressed and robed in His righteousness, I am loved, accepted and forgiven. Because of the Gospel I can say with the psalmist, “How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17, NIV).
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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (82). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2. Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ge 11:5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
3. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (46). Peabody: Hendrickson.
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