Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/149

 Sodom and Gomorrah

131

Lesson IX

SODOM AND GOMORRATl (Genesis

Shall not the Judge of

all

XVIII,

17-XIX)

the earth do justly?

(Genesis XVIII,

25.)

God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering goodness and truth, keeping mercy unto the thougeneration, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

The Lord, and abundant sandth

(Exodus

the Lord,

in

XXXIV,

6-7.)

Read Psalm XCIV,

W^e learned

ward

for

in

9-12.

the last lesson that Isaac

Abraham's

hospitality.

From that God

this

was God's

we

re-

inferred,

always, sooner or and experience proves it correct, rewards righteous deeds. Likewise, from the story of the flood we learned that God also punishes wicked deeds just as they deserve. God has placed us here, and has given us knowledge of right and wrong and many other precious gifts, in order that we may live rightly, and bring good and happiness to our fellow-creatures. To live thus and ta do Not to God's will is good, and brings reward from God. live thus is disobedience of God, is wrong and sin, and must bring punishment from God. So, we believe, God rules the world in justice, noting the acts of men, and meting out reward and punishment as men deserve. In significant contrast to Abraham's righteousness and God's reward therefor, the present story tells of the wickedness of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of God's punishment of them. We have previously heard of these cities, of the beauty and fertility of their land, of later,