Although many subtitles in various translations of the Bible lists this chapter as “God Tests Abraham” I’d much rather use the word, “grow”.  God continues to grow Abraham’s faith in this chapter.  After all the waiting, all the incorrect paths taken to arrive at the rightful heir, Abraham probably thinks after Isaac’s birth he can enjoy his son’s arrival and the opportunity to raise him since God has finally fulfilled His covenant promise of an heir.  Maybe Abraham isn’t thinking that at all, but since my own son just had a birthday this week I was transformed immediately to those moments following his entry.  I didn’t foresee one negative, unhappy moment occurring in our future.  I was a mom for the first time and this baby was “it”…a glorious moment in time to be treasured for the rest of my days.

Needless to say, there have been highs and lows of parenting.  Times when we rejoiced with our son and times we stood by hospital beds praying God would take care of him.  In all those times, my friends, I was never asked to do what Abraham was requested to do with Isaac….give him as an offering.  I remember clearly when my son entered his sophomore in college that I actually prayed that I could release his daily care into God’s hands.  I had tried to check up on him way too much the year before and it was weary for me and you can imagine how it was for him.  Six weeks later after that prayer my son broke his leg in a soccer game and was casted up to his hip.  Not exactly how I thought his life would go after giving him to God!  But, I have to admit, he learned so much about life and the game of soccer that could not have been taught any other way than with him flat on his back depending on others for just about everything.  Lessons were embedded in this event for both my son and me regarding our faith and our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, I didn’t mean this lesson to be about my adventures with my son; however, Abraham and Isaac learned lessons that probably could not have been taught any other way than the route in which God chose.  Abraham mounted that cut wood on the back of the donkey, took his promised heir, Isaac, two servants and headed for the land of Moriah.  (As a side note, Moriah is a mountain range located in Jerusalem and is also the site where Calvary stood.  The site of where the Cross stood which was the altar upon which the perfect sacrificial lamb was offered for our sins. Amazing, isn’t it?  There is a purpose and reason behind everything God does in scripture.  Thank you, Father, for your marvelous insight!).

And did I mention that in verse 2 God didn’t hide from Abraham who the intended sacrificial “lamb” would be in Moriah?  After all the items were loaded up and the trip began, Abraham had three days to travel with his son and continually think about what God had instructed him to do.  Can you imagine, friends?  I love my son so much and God would request me to travel with him for three days and during that time I would not give a hint as to what I had been told by Almighty God to do once we had reached Moriah?  I’m utterly amazed as I pen these words at the fortitude of Abraham.  What faith this man had to trust in God and if called on, could I do the same?

When Abraham told the servants to stay behind, I love what the translation of The Devotional Bible we are using as our main text says in verse 5, “…My son and I will go over there and worship and then we will come back to you.”  Wow, Abraham must have felt in his heart such a peace to verbally speak these words…we’re going to worship and we’ll be back!  Oh, that we would trust our Creator God that much!  Oh, that we would always lead our children into worship with their Lord and then go back into the world to share what God has taught us regardless of what those lessons happened to be!

I’m once again astounded as Abraham goes about making the preparations for the altar as Isaac questions the whereabouts of the animal to be sacrificed.  Abraham calmly answers that God will provide, but Isaac must have known what was going on when his own father tied him up and laid him on the wood altar.  Now a couple of things come to mind.  First, my son is a lot bigger than me or my husband, not to mention stronger.  Would he willingly allow one of us to tie him up and lay him on a wood altar to be offered as a sacrifice?  Secondly, this lesson is about Isaac as well as Abraham.  Isaac is a young man.  His whole life is ahead of him.  He’s not married, has no children and he has probably been told numerous times that he is the promised heir of the covenant made by God with his father, Abraham.  Wouldn’t he question his father’s actions?  Wouldn’t he think, “Why would my father kill me?”

Had Abraham previously told Isaac of the miraculous power of Almighty God?  Did Abraham have knowledge that God could raise the dead to life again (remember no resurrection miracles had been recorded prior to this time)?  Did Isaac feel that his father could not possibly do what God was requesting…or could he?  All we know is that scripture depicts the boy on the altar, Abraham with knife in hand ready to slay this promised heir when the angel of the Lord calls to him before the knife comes down on the body of Isaac.  The angel is the Lord Jesus Christ.

A ram is found in the bushes and the provision is made for a substitute for Isaac.  Abraham names this particular place, “The Lord Provides” (Jehovah-jireh) being one of the seven compound names used for God in the Old Testament.  By Abraham’s action to willingly sacrifice his only son, Isaac, we get a picture of the ultimate sacrifice God would make when His own son, Jesus Christ will be given as the perfect sacrificial lamb on the Cross of Calvary.

God states that through this experience Abraham has shown that he will not hold anything back, not even his only son and affirmation to the covenant promise is again established. Abraham will be blessed with many descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore and through these descendants all the nations on the earth will be blessed.  Bottom reason why the promise is verified once again to Abraham is obedience.  What a simple word, but so often hard to demonstrate in our Christian lives. 

The chapter ends will a listing of Abraham’s brother, Nahor’s children.  If you look into the listing you will see the name, Rebekah which will be addressed in Chapter 24. 

Father, thank you again for this marvelous unfolding of faith in the life of Abraham.  May we be able to demonstrate a grounded faith especially when it comes to our children and the plans you have for their lives.  May we be able to love them and relinquish them into your most capable hands.  Help us Lord to realize that you demand obedience, a simple word, but one that holds a powerful concept.  We love you, Lord.  Help us take this lesson and apply it to our daily Christian walk.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For next week:  Please read Chapter 23, The Passing of Sarah

There are only 20 verses in this chapter and yet this event, the passing of Sarah, is the subject of the entire content.  There is a lot to be gleaned about grief of a loved one in these few verses.  With God’s leading, please share your thoughts on your own experiences dealing with death and what God has taught you.

I will be sharing comments on these specific verses next week and additional thoughts on grief.   God bless, my friends and have an awesome week!

 

 

 

This is a momentous occasion!  After years of waiting for the promise of an heir, Abraham at 100 years old and Sarah at 90 years of age have been given a son, Isaac.  It is a wonderful day in the life of these two individuals as they see the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise.  What a lesson to learn about God’s faithfulness and patience regarding the Almighty’s timetable.  After years of waiting, this newborn babe has finally arrived.

Sarah’s first comment in scripture?  “God has made me laugh.”  And then she proceeds to explain that all who thought her too old will laugh along with her because it has happened, she is a mother!  But the trials have only begun.  When Isaac is old enough to have a feast prepared (probably after being weaned) Sarah sees Ishmael making fun of Isaac.  Now any of us who have children have experienced these feelings.  We see our children being made the jest of some situation and we go ballistic.  No one is going to make fun of our baby!  Of course, I don’t know what was transpiring between Ishmael who is probably in his mid-teens, but Sarah has waited a long time to have this son and Ishmael was a mistake to start with, right Sarah?

Sarah goes to Abraham and simply demands that Hagar and Ishmael be removed from the camp.  “Throw out this slave woman and her son.  Her son should not inherit anything; my son Isaac should receive it all.”  Whoa, Sarah!  Be thankful you have a son, but demanding everything for YOUR son?  Throw out this slave woman and HER son.  Aren’t both of these boys Abraham’s sons?  Sarah has no regard for Abraham’s firstborn son.  She realizes the promised covenant is coming through Isaac so let’s get on with life.  Get rid of Ishmael.  There are no feelings apparent for Abraham in regard to his son, Ishmael.  Of course, Ishmael was conceived from a suggestion by Sarah, remember?

I have to admit this story sometimes reads like a soap opera and I mean no disrespect.  Life and humans are messy.  We cultivate situations of our own making outside the will of our heavenly Father and then we have to suffer the consequences. 

1.      Abraham doesn’t want to disregard his son, Ishmael, and send him away from his protective watch care, but Abraham went along with Sarah’s suggestion of having an heir through her maidservant, an Egyptian named Hagar, years ago. Abraham is now suffering the consequences for agreeing to Sarah’s proposal.

2.    Sarah is miserable to think there will be any allegiance between HER son, Isaac, and her handmaiden’s son, Ishmael.  She wants to ensure Isaac is the one and only heir.  However, it was Sarah’s brainstorm that led to the birth of Ishmael.  Now Sarah is faced with the consequences.

But the story continues and Abraham follows the voice of God as, I’m sure, Abraham goes to the Lord in prayer about the situation involving his two sons.  Isaac being the promised heir will be the conduit through which the covenant will flow.  Ishmael and Hagar are given provisions and sent on their way.

I can’t even imagine what Abraham went through as he loaded upon the food and a leather bag full of water and sent Hagar and Ishmael on their way.  Knowing they were headed for the desert of Beersheba, Abraham knew if God didn’t watch over them and care for them death would take their lives.  He probably remembered God’s words, “I will also make the descendants of Ishmael into a great nation because he is your son, too.”  I envision Abraham praying those words every single day over his son, Ishmael.

Now comes the part when the water and food run out and Hagar and Ishmael are still in the desert.  She decides they will probably die and she puts her son under a bush for a covering from heat and begins to cry.  God hears her cry and that of the boy, Ishmael and sends an angel to provide a word of refreshment for the soul and body.  (NOTE:  Ishmael means “God hears” and God definitely is hearing the cries of Ishmael and his mother.) Hagar is reminded that Ishmael will grow into a great nation with many descendents.  Hagar and Ishmael live in the Desert of Paran, Ishmael becomes an excellent archer and his mother gets for him a wife from the land of Egypt, the area from which she comes. 

For some reason, Abimelech enters the story again.  The commentary I often use doesn’t believe this Abimelech to be the same as from the previous chapter, but it appears they know or are known of one another.  Especially from verse 23 when Abimelech states, “Be kind to me and to this land where you have lived as a stranger—as kind as I have been to you.”  This suggests previous history between the men.

Apparently, Abimelech’s herdsmen had confiscated a well on Abraham’s land without Abimelech’s knowledge.  All things are worked out and Abraham gives Abimelech sheep and cattle to seal an agreement that they would work together on keeping the peace between their people.  In addition Abraham gave Abimelech seven female lambs as an offering in good faith that proved Abraham dug this particular well.  They called the place Beersheba and Abimelech and his army commander, Phicol, returned to the land of the Philistines.  This is where Abraham is currently residing.

Lessons to be learned: 

1.      There are consequences for our actions regardless of how harmless or reasonable we think they might be.

2.    God will provide for us when we call out to him.  Sometimes these provisions are not quite what we expected or given quite the way we had anticipated, but they are answered for our good and God’s glory.

3.    Never burn bridges with those we encounter on life’s highway.  You never know when you’ll meet them again and need their assistance or cooperation.

Father, thank you for answered prayers.  Although years might pass before we hear or see an answer, keep us on our knees.  Constantly remind us that there are consequences for our actions and always pray before we try to take matters into our own hands.  As moms, help us when the surly bear protective nature takes over and gently bar us from getting in your way as you grow our children’s spiritual lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Next Week’s Assignment:

Chapter 22, Genesis:  Testing, Again?

I only have three burning questions for this week.  Why test Abraham again?  Why use Isaac, the long awaited heir?  What is God possibly teaching us through this story?

 

 

You might be just as amazed as I am that once again this chapter addresses Abraham trying to pass off Sarah as his sister.  Wow, after all the blessings of God and all the conversations with angelic visitors and God himself!  And let’s not forget the viewing of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah!  Abraham, what are you doing?

But this reminds us that Abraham was human and he sinned as readily as we do although he was a great man of God.  Almost refreshing, isn’t it?  Father Abraham was a sinner and was forgiven by Almighty God over and over.  But there is another issue I want to address this week, white lies. 

White lies, half truths, whatever we want to label them, its sin.  Abraham confesses that Sarah is his sister, half sister that is.  He didn’t lie, right?  Once before in Egypt Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister and what happened?  Pharaoh took Sarah into his harem and immediately his household contracted plagues.  Pharaoh acted more righteously than Abram (before his name was changed to Abraham) and sent him back to Canaan.

This time, Abimelech has almost the same identical occurrence.  God threatened Abimelech with death!  “You will die.  The woman you took is married.”  Imagine Abimelech’s surprise!  So Abimelech has a conversation with God to ask for leniency and gives an in-depth account of the dialogue that transpired between himself and Abraham.

God spares Abimelech and his nation and Sarah is delivered back to Abraham.  But it’s interesting that Abimelech wants to understand why Abraham told this lie.  Abraham seems to find the justification, same as he used in Egypt, is to protect him from death.  How little credit Abraham gives Almighty God to protect his life and that of Sarah’s in order to bring about the fulfillment of promises concerning his future descendents! 

However, Abimelech, similar to Pharaoh in Egypt, shows the trait of being righteous as he gives Sarah back to Abraham along with sheep, cattle and male and female slaves.   He also made the offer for Abraham to live anywhere on his (Abimelech’s) land he desired.  In addition, Abimelech wants to it to be known that Sarah was not touched as he stated, “I gave your brother Abraham twenty-five pounds of silver to make up for any wrong that people may think about you.  I want everyone to know that you are innocent.” Imagine, a pagan believer goes to these lengths to make sure everything has been righted between himself and Abraham’s God!

The end of the chapter shares a consequence that Abimelech was enduring as a result of taking Sarah into his home.  Evidently the women were not able to conceive and Abraham prayed for God to release the women of Abimelech’s house from this curse in order that they might become pregnant. 

My only comment about this latter discovery is Abraham and Sarah must have been in this place for a while if the women were noticeably sterile.  I don’t think this was a short span of time that transpired in chapter 20.  But isn’t that the way it is with sin and its resulting consequences?  It is usually not discovered overnight, but after a progression of time.

Another note:  I don’t read a conversation between Abraham and God with Abraham asking forgiveness for this sin or God disciplining Abraham for yet again claiming Sarah as his sister.  Abraham’s justifying answer to Abimelech: 1) I thought no one in your place believed in God and someone would kill me to get to her if they knew we were husband and wife; 2) she’s my sister anyway; 3) when God told us to wander in many different places Sarah and I had an agreement that she would tell people we were brother and sister instead of husband and wife.  Sounds pretty thought out, don’t you think?

This chapter emphasizes the dialogue between God and the pagan leader, Abimelech.  I would like to think Abimelech changed his ways after this encounter with Almighty God! 

Father, thank you that you cross barriers to reach the lost even using our unfaithfulness and disobedience to your commands.  Help us to strengthen our resolve and win souls for the kingdom of God.  Convict us mightily when we have the urge to sin and speak with “white lies”, Father.  Show us that lies will only work against our personal testimony and in many cases bring harm to others.  Wash us, Lord, in the blood of the sinless Lamb of God.  Amen.

Next Week’s Assignment:  Please read Chapter 21

Finally, the birth of the promised son for Abraham and Sarah! 

1)     How old were Abraham and Sarah upon the birth of Isaac?

2)   Do you think Ishmael meant harm to Isaac when he was making fun of his younger brother?

3)   What action did Sarah ask Abraham to take regarding Ishmael and Hagar?

4)   Consider Abraham’s emotional status regarding these two boys.  What do you think is going on in his mind?

5)   What happened with Ishmael and Hagar?  What was God’s response?

6)   What is the significance of Abimelech’s return?

 

 

 

Continuing from Chapter 18, we read that the two angels accompanying the Lord to Abraham’s dwelling have begun their journey to Sodom and Gomorrah to investigate the accusations made against those inhabitants and the cries for justice.

Abraham immediately begins pleading for his loved ones to be spared from the coming destruction and the final decision is agreed upon that if the Lord can determine there are ten righteous individuals found within the walls of Sodom and Gomorrah, God will spare those cities from obliteration.

As you read this account you will realize the depravity of the inhabitants as the men encircle Lot’s home and demand the two visitors be “given” to them for their sexual pleasure.  “Where are the men who came to you tonight?  Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”  Genesis 19:5  So much for Lot thinking the visitors would be safer within his home than in the town square where the visitors had originally commented they would lodge for the night!  (Ancient hospitality notes that a host was obligated to protect guests lodging with him in every way possible as suggested by Lot’s reply in verse 8.)

Lot begs the townsmen to leave and stoops to appease their sexual appetites by suggesting they “take” his two virgin daughters instead!  Imagine!  How could a father offer his virgin daughters to these angry, demanding and most likely violent men?  Review verse 9 as the men appear to be ready to storm Lot’s home and extract anyone they desire by any means.

Somewhere within his soul I believe Lot realized this behavior and conduct was sinful.  Did he realize the visitors were angels…messengers of God?  Is that the reason he thought his daughters would be appropriate sacrificial material?  Remember the perfect lambs that were sacrificed for sins?  Lambs without blemish?  I really don’t know Lot’s thinking at this point, but it is evident that Lot’s permissiveness towards sinful ways is totally out of control.

Lot IS the frog that slowly heated in the pot of water to its boiling point of death.  If not for the intercessory prayers of Abraham, Lot would have died with the other family members of Sodom and Gomorrah.  This point alone gives new meaning for me when I hear the phrase intercessory prayer.  Never quit praying for your loved ones, my friends, and never quit praying for the salvation of those that seem so hard to bring to Christ. 

In addition to intercessory prayers another subject has arisen in this chapter I would like to address.  That is the sin of sexual practices outside the guidelines given by God in His Holy Word.  Now, to be frank, if there is someone reading this commentary that does not believe in the Bible, what I am about to write will not be accepted by them.  The Bible is my reference for how I live my life.  I love God’s Word and I accept every word written within its hallowed pages.  I believe there was a fish big enough to swallow Jonah.  I believe there was a bush that burned, but wasn’t burning.  I believe the Red Sea parted and the Israelites walked through on dry ground.  I believe there was a flood and Noah built an ark that housed two of every kind of animal.  I believe Daniel was thrown into a den of lions and they didn’t use him as an appetizer.  And on I could go…in fact, I feel like shouting, HALLELUJAH!  I serve a mighty, awesome God!!

So, if I believe everything written in God’s Word, I also believe what is written within this chapter.  There are guidelines when it comes to our sexual appetites.  Let’s see if we can find more common ground.  We usually are disgusted when we hear about the following situations:

1.      A priest who has been exposed as a sexual predator of young altar boys

2.    An adult who has sexually abused young children

3.    A rapist

4.    An individual found to be having intercourse with animals

5.    Individuals involved in sodomy

6.    An adult, married, who is exposed as having numerous lovers

7.    Men lusting for men

8.    Women lusting for women

All the above are issues of sexual preference.  All must be addressed as sinful behavior.  On what do I base my conclusion?  The guidelines given in the Word of God are the basis of my conclusions.  Besides the chapter we are reading this week, please review Leviticus, Chapter 18, the entire chapter is entitled, “Unlawful Sexual Relations”.  Also, Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:9 and I Timothy 1:10 address this behavior.

I would like to quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald, pages 56 and 57 to give you another view of what is happening in this chapter.  It enlightened my thinking as I read through these notes and the situation happening in Chapter 19 between Lot and the townsmen.

“God condemns the sin of homosexuality.  He showed His wrath against it by destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Under the Law of Moses, sodomy was punishable by death.  No practicing homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God. 

There is a difference between being a practicing homosexual and having a homosexual tendency.  It is the practice that the Bible condemns, not the orientation.  There are many who have an attraction to their own sex but refuse to give in to it.  By the power of the Spirit, they have disciplined themselves to resist the temptation and to live in purity.  Many Christian persons of homosexual orientation…

Have regarded their condition with sorrow and contrition, but, unable to change, have drawn on the Spirit for the power of forbearance and chastity, which is sanctification indeed…In commitment to Christ, (they) have offered an enduring inner blemish for God’s use that divine power may be perfected in human weakness.

Some blame God that they were born with this tendency, but the fault does not lie with God but with human sinfulness.  Every fallen child of Adam has evil tendencies.  Some have a weakness in one area, some in another.  The sin is not in being tempted, but in yielding to the temptation.

There is a deliverance from homosexuality or lesbianism, as there is from any form of lust.  Christians should accept gays and lesbians as persons without approving their lifestyle.”

Remember, this is only one form of lust.  But to accept some of these forms of lust (listed previously in this commentary) under the blanket of tolerance while being disgusted by the actions of others on the list is being selective in our acceptance of sin.  Sin is sin, my friends.  We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  All of us.  But to remain in a sinful lifestyle, a sexual practice clearly spoken against in scripture, and condemn others for not walking along side of that belief while labeling the same as homophobic or some other form of name calling is also wrong.

No one wants to be accused of wrong doing or committing sinful practices.  Being from the South, I still feel like I carry a burden for the slavery issue and I had nothing to do with it!  When I see a Confederate flag I remember good things about the south, not the bad behavior and beliefs written in history.  Same goes for the Jews.  Although Jesus came to his own and his own received him not, the Jews today get very upset when they are referred to as the ones who crucified Jesus on the cross!  But, bottom line is, the South did believe in slavery and the Confederate flag brings memories to the forefront of minds that causes distress.  Bottom line, the Jews did put to death Jesus believing him to be a blasphemer.   We commit sin, we ask forgiveness and Jesus washes us white as snow through the blood he shed on Calvary.  We need to own the sin, ask for forgiveness and move on.  Having no remorse, continuing on in sin will reap its own consequences.  That you can count on.  Look at what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah.  Think it won’t happen today?

Now for my final comments concerning Chapter 19.  The angels have told Lot (after grabbing him by the neck and protecting him from the angry mob outside his door) to get his family together and get out of the city before it is destroyed.  The townsmen are blinded and the way is made clear for Lot’s escape.  But note what happened:

1.      Lot is urged to get out of town.

2.    Lot goes to his future sons-in-law and tells them about the coming destruction.  They laugh.

3.    Lot is urged again to leave town.

4.    Lot hesitates…are you kidding??

5.    The angels take Lot’s hands and the hands of his wife and daughters and lead them out of the city.

6.    They are told to not look back.

7.    Lot bargains with the next location he is to run.  Zoar is the destination.

8.    When Lot reaches Zoar the Lord rains down fire from heaven to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

9.    Lot’s wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt.

10.  God remembers the prayers of Abraham and Lot is brought out of the catastrophe that brought an end to Sodom and Gomorrah.

What does this summarization tell you about the person of Lot?  When a person lives among sin for a long period of time, that person becomes desensitized to sin.  Lot evidently has reached this point since he did not immediately respond to God’s instructions and leave Sodom and Gomorrah without delay.

Not only did the sin become embedded into Lot’s life and thought process, but the latter part of the chapter gives us a glimpse of how this upbringing affected his virgin daughters.  When Lot and his daughters settled in Zoar, they became fearful that they would not have husbands and continue the family line with children.  So they got their father drunk and slept with him.  Each daughter took a turn.  Can you believe it?  Shall we go back to the list of sexual sins listed previously?  As a result, the older daughter’s child became the father of Moabites and the younger daughter’s child became the father of the Ammonites.  These two groups will develop into nations that will become bitter enemies of Abraham’s descendents.  And the story continues….

Lord, thank you for walking us through this lesson.  It is difficult to hear about sinful practices that might be harbored in our own lives, but through the blood of Christ, we can be washed white as snow when we ask for forgiveness.   Forgive our disobedience to your commands and the guidelines you have given us for abundant living.  Help us to experience the blessings that unfold as we give our hearts and lives to you.  Help us to love everyone as you have first loved us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

NEXT WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:

Please read Chapter 20

1.  After reading the story of the encounter between Abraham and Abimelech please write what you think about Abraham’s actions.  Did Abraham actually lie? 

2.  State Abraham’s offense.

3.  What was Abimelech told by God?

4.  State Abimelech’s response.

5.  There was a judgment passed on Abimelech’s household.  What do you think about this judgment?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the discussion begins with Chapter 18, I asked the question if Abraham knew the identity of the three visitors/strangers as they approached his tent with words of prophecy.  I’m not sure he knew that he was “entertaining angels unaware” at the beginning, but at some point I believe Abraham realized he was in the presence of God.

After much research it appears that Abraham treated these three visitors as was the custom of Near Eastern hospitality.  Seven customs were revealed; 1) Abraham gave timely consideration to the traveling needs of these men; 2) He bowed before them; 3) Abraham addressed the guests as “my lord” and himself as “your servant”; 4) Abraham considered it an act of goodwill and kindness if these guests would allow him to serve them; 5) Abraham asked for water to be brought that he might wash their feet; 6) Abraham prepared a copious meal for them (a note was made that such meals were prepared and presented before divine messengers) and 7) Abraham stood in a servant position, close by but not at the table, in order to meet their every need.  All the specifics of these actions are given in verses 1-8.

In verse 1 we read, “The Lord appeared to Abraham”….amazing, isn’t it?  The Lord is appearing as one of the visitors to Abraham.  We’ve talked previously about encounters with God.  He walked in the garden with Adam and Eve, the Lord spoke to Cain after Cain killed his brother, Abel, in Genesis 4:6, God spoke to Noah concerning building an ark in Genesis 6:13, the Lord speaks concerning the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:5-7, but that conversation appears to have been conducted among the Trinity!  Then we have the conversations between God and Abraham.   I’m almost as sure as I currently sit typing out these remarks that God is not showing His full glory.  The full glory of God, His brilliance, magnificence and splendor cannot be revealed to these human, carnal bodies.  In other words, we cannot behold the full glory of God.  As God shielded Moses when He passed by him on Mt. Sinai, so He must have shielded His full presence from Abraham during these face to face encounters.

Abraham treats the guests as divine messengers, but I trust Abraham would delight anyone who came to his tent with the same indulgence.  That’s what Christians are supposed to do, right?  Make no difference among the brethren?

The prophetic words from the visitors had to do with Sarah and the forthcoming of a true heir, a son, for Abraham and Sarah.  Sarah laughs and is reprimanded for her response.  Inappropriate you think?  Well, Sarah is approximately 90 years old at the time of this prophetic word.  Would you have chuckled?  But the following quote has been used many, many times and it is still applicable today.  Verse 14 states, “Is anything too hard to the Lord?”  Wow, if we get nothing else from this chapter remember those words, with God NOTHING is impossible, friends.  There is NOTHING that is too hard for our Father God!

It’s interesting that when Sarah was called out for laughing she was frightened and lied.  And the last sentence in verse 15, “But he said, ‘Yes, you did laugh.’”  We sin, God forgives, and He still uses us to bring about His will. Sarah is given a place of honor in the chronicles of faith.  Hebrews 11:11 states, “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” 

Now we move into the prophecy of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Another interesting note is the decision, which appears to be verbal, of God considering whether Abraham should be told of the upcoming destruction of the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  In verse 20, God tells Abraham, “the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me.  If not, I will know.”

The outcry must mean that God is hearing the prayers of those affected by the sins of these individuals found within the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Now we know that God is familiar with what’s going on within those cities.  God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.  But why would he tell Abraham what He plans to do? 

Abraham has relatives living in Sodom.  We read in Chapter 13 that Lot preferred the choice land when he and his uncle had to separate their animals and herdsmen due to internal bickering.  Lot moved close to Sodom, but recall when he was kidnapped and Abraham had to rescue him (Chapter 14).  At that time, Lot was living IN Sodom.  Deteriorating spiritual conditions continue in Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot and his family are still making their home among these depraved people.  Abraham “goes to the mat” as I commented last week in our questions for this lesson.  The larger lesson to be learned from this encounter is the importance of intercessory prayer.   

Abraham begins with the number fifty.  If fifty people can be found that are righteous will the Lord spare the city?  Then he continues until he lowers the number of righteous to ten.  My commentary mentions that maybe Abraham was counting in his mind the number of relatives he had in the city wanting all of them to be spared. 

God wants to hear from us, my friends.  Even when a situation appears to be hopeless, God is in the business of answering prayers.  He makes the impossible possible, so keep on praying and calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God heard Abraham and granted his request.  Ten was the number God would spare from the coming destruction.  Abraham continues to ask for Lot’s life and those within his family to be saved and has probably prayed for these loved ones since the initial time of Lot and Abraham’s parting in Chapter 13.

Verse 19, the tribute made to Abraham, is a beautifully scripted detail concerning God’s relationship with this man He has chosen to father the nation of Israel.  I enjoy the comment, “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”  God chooses us, He asks that we obey Him by doing what is right and just and raising our children to do the same.  Then He always tells us what will happen in return.  In this case, God will carry out His promises to us.  What promise you ask?  The incredible book we are now studying is full of them.  The promises of God, available to you and to me with one condition…repent of your sins and accept the gift of eternal life offered by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, provided through His death on the cross.

Father, wow, I’m so amazed at the numerous lessons you have unfolded as we have studied this 18th chapter of Genesis.  We are not to show partiality to any among the brothers and sisters of Christ.  We are to treat all with the love of God and as if they are divine messengers sent from you.  To remember that nothing is too hard for you is imperative as we live in these human bodies and have numerous issues happen each and every day as we travel on this earthly journey.  To realize that even though we sin if we ask forgiveness you will clean us up and use these frail vessels of clay and intercessory prayer is not for naught!  Thank you, Lord, for these essential lessons I have learned once again as I sit at the foot of the cross.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

NEXT WEEK: Chapter 19, The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

As scripture notes, the two angels that were traveling with the Lord had already gone down to the city to speak with Lot and find out what was going on.   

Read the chapter and then re-read the chapter.  There are important lessons to be learned from these verses that deal with issues that some of you might be surprised were happening in Abraham’s day.  Our bodies are carnal and acts of sin were committed in Abraham’s day as in present day.  The earth was so sinful when Noah lived that God destroyed the earth by water. 

1)     How did Lot get caught up in such a sinful area in which to live?

2)   Why would Lot offer his virgin daughters to these depraved individuals?

3)   How many individuals escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?

4)   What happened once Lot’s family escaped the destruction?