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Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the ten." – Genesis 18:32

Teshuvah is generally translated “repentance.” However, English does not do the Hebrew word justice because teshuvah also carries within it the meaning “return.” Repentance implies a change of ways; a change of heart; a change of direction. But we can change from one bad direction to another bad direction. Teshuvah literally means returning to the Source of Good. It requires not just remorse, nor restitution, nor repentance but a positive move towards reconciliation.

Genesis 18 tells us that if God had been able to find even ten righteous people in the entire valley of Sodom with its five sinful cities – He would have spared them. The problem was not with God’s mercy or compassion. The problem was with Sodom’s total lack of any intrinsic goodness.

According to Hebrews 11, Lot was considered by God to be righteous. Not sinless, mind you, but righteous. He was accounted righteous simply because he heard God’s message, believed it and acted upon it. That’s all it takes. But Lot was the only one. He tried to warn his family and they mocked him. But even though God could only find one righteous man He still saved the lives of that man and two of his daughters.
Teshuvah has great power. Teshuvah had the ability to save ten of thousands of lives with only ten righteous souls. Teshuvah had the ability to save an entire family for the sake of one father. Witness the leverage it carried with Yahweh when Nineveh repented. Look at its impact when Saul the mass murderer of Christians encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus and was transformed into Paul the Apostle. The problem in Genesis 18 was that no one was taking advantage of that power.

History has taught us that it is never too late for teshuvah. It is never too late to turn toward heaven and beg for forgiveness. But Sodom never did. Instead, they tried to rape the angels. They tried to invade Lot’s home. They mocked his message and though she started out obeying, Lot’s wife ended up turning back and was no more.

I beg you – recognize the sin in your life and turn toward Adonai with teshuvah in your heart. Be remorseful for your sin. Repent of it – turn away from it. Turn toward God and seek to be restored to a right relationship with Him. Experience the power of teshuvah in your life and be transformed.

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (October 5, 2010)