Abraham Bargains With God

"Far be it from You" (Genesis 18:25). Rabbi Yudan said: "Far be it from You" means it is a profane thing for You. Rabbi Acha said: "Far be it, far be it" two times means there is a desecration of the Name of Heaven in the matter. Rabbi Levi said: Two people said the same thing, Abraham and Job. Abraham said: "Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked" (Genesis 18:25). Rabbi Yehudah son of Rabbi Simon said: Thus Abraham said to Him: A king of flesh and blood has an appeal hung up for him, from a duke to a prefect, from a prefect to a general; but You, because You have no one to hang up an appeal before for You, will You not do justice? Rabbi Levi said: "Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justice?" (Genesis 18:25). If You seek a world, there is no strict judgment; and if You seek strict judgment, there is no world. You are holding the rope at both ends: You want a world and You want strict judgment. If You do not give up a little, the world cannot stand. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham: "You loved righteousness and hated wickedness" (Psalms 45:8). You loved to justify My creatures, and you hated wickedness, you refused to condemn them; "therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows" (Psalms 45:8). What is "above your fellows"? From Noah until you there are ten generations, and of all of them I spoke with none of them but with you.