So here is the question.

Genesis 18:25 (KJV) - That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

The story of Abraham involves many chapters in Genesis.

To be precise Genesis 11:27-25:11.

Lot has long since opted into a life of ease when it became clear that Abraham and Lot would need to separate.

Genesis 13:8-11 (KJV) -

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Abraham cared deeply about Lot as can be seen from his rescuing Lot in Genesis 13–14.

Abraham wanted only the best for Lot.

The best would not include destruction.

It is within this framework that Abraham enters into the dialog with the 3 travelers.

This statement that you are referring to is part of an appeal that begins the dialog found in Genesis 18:23–33.

The travelers had just finished nourishing themselves at Abraham’s place wherein Sarah laughed at the word that she would give birth to a child. Many are quite aware that Sarah laughed while not realizing that Abraham too laughed at this notion.

Genesis 17:17 (KJV) - Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

The statement in question was part of an appeal to words that had been spoken while the travelers were partaking of food with Abraham.

Genesis 18:17 (KJV) - And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

Wherein we find your question stated not once, but thrice (3 times) though the words are formulated a bit differently.

Genesis 18:23-25 (KJV) -

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

It was an appeal to save Lots' life.

What starts with 50 progresses through 40, 30, and even 20 until we reach the final number of 10 wherein Abraham concludes that there must be more than 10.

Let’s do the math.

• Lot and his wife. = 2
• Lot’s daughters = 2
• Lot’s son-in-laws = 2

That equals 6.

All that is necessary from that number is 4.

Certainly, there would be 4 people that were not wicked along with these 6.

Unfortunately, such was not the case.

However, this brings forward a question for you.

The question revolves directly around your verse in question.

Genesis 18:24-25 (KJV) -

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Apparently, these are not just any strangers and Abraham knew it.

Revelation 6:17 (KJV) - For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

To the righteous, this is the time of deliverance.

To the wicked this is:

Revelation 6:16 (KJV) - And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

But what wrath is there apart from refusing to accept the love of the personal Savior as our very own?

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) -

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth does so with unconditional agape love, not destruction. Destruction comes from quite another source.

John 10:10 (KJV) - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Who is identified elsewhere as:

John 8:44 (KJV) - Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Where we learn that the Devil (AKA Satan) is not only a murderer but also the father of lies.

Not…

John 8:45 (KJV) - And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Jesus Christ the Son of God came to save humanity by destroying the power of death. Though Jesus very much could have, He did not even destroy the Devil because His mission is agape love, not death and destruction.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV) -

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

It is on this note that we return to your verse in question with my question in tow.

Genesis 18:24-25 (KJV) -

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

And now my question.

Who truly destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah?

And within the same breath…

Who took responsibility for the actions thereof and why?