Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Background
Last week we saw God reiterate the promise of the covenant that He made with Abraham back in chapter 15, and in doing so He changed Abraham and Sarah’s names.
He also instituted the sign of the covenant, circumcision, which Abraham and his descendants would do as a reminder of the covenant.
In chapter 17, God “appeared to” Abraham, enabling them to have a conversation, before He went back up from Abraham.
During this conversation, Abraham is promised a son by Sarah.
TIMELINE
In this instance, God appears again to Abraham, presumably after the events of 17, but this time the circumstances are different.
Abraham was apparently capable of recognizing God.
Abraham was camped near the oaks of Mamre, by Hebron.
He was at his tent door during the middle of the day.
This was the typical time to rest and to eat (Gen.
43:16; 2 Sam.
4:5).
It was common practice to show hospitality to those who pass by.
Abraham saw the 3 men and ran to them and bowed himself to the ground.
At minimum, he recognized that there was something special about at least one of the men.
Abraham addresses his obvious superior, but extends his offers of hospitality to all of the men.
Hospitality is a bit of a lost art, but the Bible is very clear:
Christians are to show their love for each other through practicing hospitality.
Abraham prepared far more than just bread for his guests.
He brought everything to them and then stood by them as they ate under the shade of a tree.
As we have seen before, here now a question is asked to which the answer is already known.
Why?
The same reason as with Hagar - there’s more to come.
Once again, God reaffirms his promise of a son through Sarah.
This time it is within earshot of Sarah.
It seems as though this meeting was meant more for Sarah than it was for Abraham.
Remember, the promise was already given to Abraham.
Sarah’s reaction seems similar to Abraham’s in ch.
17, but in fact it was not.
Scripture tells us that Abraham never doubted, but here Sarah does in her heart.
Sarah was at minimum 89 years old at this time.
God, knowing all things and the hearts of men, perceives Sarah’s laughter and doubt.
The LORD asks an important question: is anything too difficult for the LORD?
This rebuke eventually led to Sarah having faith:
We must remember that all things are possible with God.
Once again we see the relationship of God and Abraham play out, this time in the revealing of God’s plans.
God reiterates a promise given back in ch. 12 - blessed to be a blessing.
God gives the specifications of His relationship with Abraham:
God first chose Abraham, just as He chose us, even before the world began:
Abraham was chosen SO THAT he would instruct his descendants on keeping the way of the LORD, doing righteousness and justice...
SO THAT God would bless Abraham.
Was Abraham’s blessing contingent upon his own performance?
No, otherwise his choosing would have been after.
God reveals His plan to Abraham, namely, that He is about to punish Sodom and Gomorrah with destruction.
God is just, and we see here why He is about to destroy them.
His interaction with Abraham is interesting because it is within our reality of time.
We see taking place here an interesting exchange between Abraham and God: bargaining for the sake of the righteous.
Abraham certainly would have known his nephew Lot was in danger at this point.
Abraham is essentially interceding on behalf of the righteous that are dwelling in the region, appealing to the justice and righteousness of God.
While Abraham is doing a good thing, we must recognize that God already knows the level of wickedness and depravity to be found in Sodom and Gomorrah.
In spite of this, God humors Abraham and goes along with his bargaining.
Abraham recognizes that who he’s pleading for is a lost cause, and so feels the need to shamelessly and continually lower the bar.
God acquiesces to every request, fully knowing what was about to take place.
APPLICATION
Christians are to show their love for each other through practicing hospitality.
We must remember that all things are possible with God.
Next week, we will continue the story of Abram's sojourning.
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