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?
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?
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