---   For the sake of ten  ---

Then Abraham said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more.  Suppose ten are found there."  God answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."  --Genesis 18.32

Words by Indi Leino, music by Rustan Leino, 1995.

Copyright © 1995, Indi and Rustan Leino.


Audio:  [mp3] (2.1 MB)

Indi Leino: vocals.
Rustan Leino: keyboards and programming, background vocals.
Recorded by Rustan Leino, 1995, 2000, 2001.

Copyright © 1995, 2000, 2001, Indi and Rustan Leino.


The verse above from Genesis is one of those classic stories in the Bible.  Abraham is arguing with God, in a humorously modest way, attempting to get God to save the city Sodom.  (More of the story below.)  The hope in the story provided the inspiration for this song.

Enjoy!


Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?  Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it?  Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked!  Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?  And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.  ...

Then Abraham said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more.  Suppose ten are found there."  He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."  ...

When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the city."  But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside the city."

--Genesis 18:23-26,32 and 19:15-16.
Based on New Standard Revised Version, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

You say the world has gone bad,
   There's no room for good.
What's the use in behavin'
   Only the dishonest get anywhere.
You say we're doomed,
Evil has taken over,
   God will only stand so much.

CHORUS:
We have good news for you.
For the sake of ten,
Sodom would have been spared.
Every saint counts.
Maybe the ten were lacking,
But God saved the ones he found.

You say that you have tried,
   But can't seem to pass the test.
You give it your best,
   To nevertheless end up like the rest.
You say we're doomed,
Evil has taken over,
   God will only stand so much.

CHORUS

BRIDGE:
We have good news for you:
   God sent his Son to erase your sin.
As long as you believe,
   He will make sure you win.
Please don't give up
Should you be the only one
   He will lead you safely away.

CHORUS


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