From Genesis 16-18
Overview
Gen 16.1-6; Story-Sin; Sarai gives Abram her
servant Hagar and she becomes pregnant
Gen 16.7-15; Story; The LORD protects Hagar and
Ishmael
Gen 16.16; Story; Abram is noted to be eighty six
years old
Gen 17.1-14; Law; When Abram is ninety nine years
old, the LORD renews the covenant, renames Abram to Abraham, and issues the
covenant obligation of circumcision
Gen 17.15-21; Story; God promises to establish his
everlasting covenant with Isaac, not Ishmael
Gen 17.22-27; Story; Abraham circumcised his whole
family
Gen 18.1-8; Story; The LORD appears to Abraham.
Abraham prepares him food and refreshments.
Gen 18.9-15; Story; The LORD predicts that next
year they will have a son. Sarah is caught laughing to herself in disbelief.
Gen 18.16-33; Story; Abraham intercedes repeatedly
for the righteous in Sodom.
Passage and comments
Today I would like to comment on a section of these
chapters that considers Abraham as the bearer of God's promises and what this
means for his vocation. What it means for God's people today.
[16] Then the men set out from there, and they
looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.
[17] The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, [18]
seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? [19] For I have chosen him,
that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of
the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to
Abraham what he has promised him.” [20] Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry
against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, [21] I will go
down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has
come to me. And if not, I will know.” [22] So the men turned from there and
went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. [23] Then Abraham
drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
(Gen 18:16-23)
We need to consider this passage in the light of
Genesis 12 where God gives Abraham a series of promises. We see here the
implications of these promises and in particular the one which said 'all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed in him'.
Following this statement by the Lord, Abraham
begins to intercede for Sodom and it is evident that Abraham is acting out his
vocation. Looking out for the salvation of the innocent. He pleads with the
Lord, 'Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?' (Gen 18:23).
This is the kind of behaviour God expects of his
people. To look out for those who will come under judgement. While the passage
has Abraham looking out for the righteous, of whom God eventually saves. God's
people today I would hope have a heart for those who will come under judgement
when Jesus returns.
Story of Jesus
Jesus is the Christ. He will return and judge. For
those who have repented and follow him as Lord, he will save them and give them
new resurrection bodies (1 Cor 15). For those who do not obey the truth, there
will be a resurrection of judgement (John 5). Lets have a heart and let people
know about Jesus today. Jesus the judge. Jesus the saviour.