Reasonable God

How much patience do you have? Are you able to wait for things? Are you willing to wait a few days, a month or perhaps years?

Are there things in your lives that you feel you have been waiting on God for a long time?

This morning were going to look at the promise that God gives to Abraham and Sarah and how they had to wait. I think chapter 18 & 19 have multiple lessons to teach us. That God is a patient God, that God is a just God and that God is a loving, an agape style of love.

God in His infinite wisdom shows patience to us through His love for us.

Prayer

Genesis 18:16–33 NLT

16 Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way. 17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18 “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.” 20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.” 22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” 26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.” 27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.” 29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.” 30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.” 31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” 32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” 33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

Genesis 19:23–29 NLT

23 Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon. 24 Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. 27 Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace. 29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.

We find ourselves this morning in the middle of some conversations that Abraham is having with God. God is telling both Abraham and Sarah that Sarah is going to give birth to a son. I would say that based on the little laughs and snickers that both Abraham and Sarah have they are at a minimum questioning what God is telling them. All the way up to perhaps even downright not believing God. I would say that for both Abraham and Sarah their patience for having a child has worn out.

But we come to an oak grove and the entrance to Abraham and Sarah’s tent when 3 men suddenly appear. The hospitable side of Abraham leaps into action and he offers then rest and food, he offers them clean water to wash their feet. The three men agree to stay for a bit and so Abraham rushes into the tent to tell Sarah to bake some bread and Abraham quickly prepares a tender calf. When everything is ready Abraham serves the 3 men and they ask Abraham about where is wife Sarah is. Its almost like they came to see her as much as Abraham. Sarah is listening inside the tent when one of them says “

Genesis 18:10 “10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.”

Sarah over hears this and chuckles and wonders how could that happen to a woman of her age and to Abraham in his old age as well. Then man says:

Genesis 18:13–14 “13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.””

Its at this point that the three men get up from the meal and begin to look toward Sodom. When I was reading and studying this passage there was something about these next few verses that intrigued me. It was as if the three men were having a conversation amongst themselves, or at least one of the men who clearly is the Lord himself is having the conversation. God says “should I hide my plan from Abraham”. Clearly God is there for a reason and I don’t think we have to look too far to know that the reason is not a good one at all. Its also not the first time that Abraham and Lot have been tangled up with the kings and people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

When Abraham and Lot had split up earlier in Genesis Lot chose to live in the land near Sodom and soon after moving in there and setting up his tent war breaks out and Lot found himself captured by and in trouble and it was Abraham that was sent to rescue Lot.

So God is having this short little conversation with the men about what to tell Abraham. God says that certainly Abraham will become a great and mighty nation. Referring back to the God’s covenant with Abraham back in

Genesis 12:2 “2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

God affirms that covenant but he also says that he has singled Abraham out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord. Up to this point Abraham has one son Ishmael who’s mother is Sarahs Egyptian servant Hagar. But just earlier at the oak grove God told Abraham he was going to have a son through Sarah and Abraham laughed it off, and then while serving the men a meal and showing them hospitality God says it again that He will return and Sarah will have a son and this time Sarah has a little inner chuckle with the idea.

So if Abraham is listening to God ask these questions and confirm His covenant with Abraham and indicate that Abraham will direct his sons and their families, thats plural for more than one, in the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just then Abraham must have to wonder about the patience of God and about the love He has for Abraham. Its then and not until these things happen that God will do for Abraham all that He has promised.

Wow, so much of God’s perfect justice and patience showing in His love for Abraham but also for all the descendants of Abraham, that includes you and me. While in the mess of whats happening in Sodom and Gomorrah God pauses to give His vision for Godly fathers in His Kindgom.

There is one issue now at hand and that is the sin and corruption in Sodom and Gomorrah. This time though things have gotten way worse and God has come down to investigate things on his own.

Judicial Inquiry

So, God gives us the answer to his question in verse 17 about if He should tell Abraham the plan.

Genesis 18:20–21 “20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 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.””

In general a Judicial Inquiry is a formal investigation usually conducted by a court or a judge to examine the facts, gather evidence and determine the truth. What better way for a judge to seek the truth than to sometimes do it himself. In an effort to be fair and just the judge may have to take the time and visit the crime scene in person.

Here God says that he hears the cries against Sodom and Gomorrah, there are so great and their sin so grievous that he has no choice but to investigate it himself, he has to conduct a judicial inquiry if you will.

This isnt the first time that God has heard the cries from earth. When Cain murdered Abel God says to Cain

Genesis 4:10 “10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!”

We see that its also not the first time that God has had to conduct such a judicial inquiry either. When all the people of the world were beginning to build things they felt like they could not be stopped. That they could build bigger, taller, more stronger buildings and towers. That by what they felt they were doing they would become famous. It was then that God said:

Genesis 11:5–7 “5 But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.””

God wants to know the truth, he thinks he already knows and so the plan is destruction. He wants to know if what he heard is accurate. Its interesting I think that in verse 22 that the other men turned and headed toward Sodom but that the Lord remained with Abraham. The man doing the talking said he came to see for himself yet he never actually goes to Sodom. All through the story in chapter 19 we only see the 2 angels. Certainly the two angels were messengers from God and for God, they had their directions.

God stays back with Abraham and shows the depths of His patience in Abrahams pleading for the people.

God’s Patience

Have you ever been in that position where you found yourself making a deal with God? Maybe you wanted something and so you made a deal with God that if you read the bible for 5 days straight He would give you what you ask for. For that matter have you ever done that when you were a child with your parents? If you buy me this one toy I promise that I will take the trash out for the next month.

Often times what happens? We dont keep our end of the deal right? And when this happens how much patience does our parents offer to us? Mine didnt give me much slack and certainly not as much as God gives to Abraham.

Abraham is lobbying for the people of Sodom, he is interceding for their lives. This is a life and death moment for the people of Sodom and Abraham feels really strong that there has to be some people in Sodom that are good people, that there are some righteous people living among the wicked. He is bold enough to approach God and say “will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?”

So Abraham starts with 50 people. He asks God if he finds 50 righteous people would he spare their lives, he seems so confident that he even says:

Genesis 18:24–25 “24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?””

God is very willing to listen to Abraham, I mean why not. God said earlier that he singled Abraham out to do what is right and just. So God says sure if I find 50 righteous people I will spare the entire city for their sake.

Kind of wonder what thoughts went through Abrahams mind right then, right? Maybe wow that was easy? So Abraham says well forgive me Lord for speaking but what about 45 righteous people, would you spare the city for 45? God says sure I will spare the city for 45. This goes on for a bit from 45 people to 40 to 30 to 20 all the way to 10 people.

If you find 10 people in Sodom that are righteous will you save the entire city and God says “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten”.

Do you ever wonder why Abraham stopped at 10? Certainly Abraham had known that his brother Lot and his wife and 2 daughters lived there so that would be 4. Certainly he could have gone to 4 perhaps? Some scholars suggest that Abraham was dropping by 10 and so the next logical number would have been 0 and Abraham already knew that God was planning to destroy the cities and so there was no reason to go to 0.

The chapter sort of ends a little abruptly with the Lord going on his way and Abraham returning to his tent. Like Abraham had done the work and so nothing more he could do. I dont know you cant put yourself in Abrahams sandals but seems like maybe Abraham would have walk a bit with the Lord.

One commentary writes this

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible H. The Lord of Birth and Death (18:1–33)

It is interesting to reflect what this story has to say about petitionary prayer, prayer as dialogue, and an omniscient, sovereign God who is moved to action or inaction by the intercessions of the faithful.

This entire dialogue points us to what Jesus said on the sermon on the mount when he talked about being the salt and light of the earth. God is showing patience but also encouraging Abraham in the conversation. God is willing to save an entire city of wickedness that has been crying out to God for just 10 righteous people. Jesus encourages us to be the salt and light of the earth.

Matthew 5:16 “16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

That the righteousness of a few people can help an entire city.

The story goes to Sodom from here and I would suggest reading chapter 19:1-22 when you get home. If you have never read that part it gets to be a little graphic and you might read it and go, where is God’s Patience and Love in that?

God’s Love

I think that God’s love is fully displayed in verse 29

Genesis 19:29 “29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.”

I think however before we can get to verse 29 we need to look at the few verse before it to be able to see God’s love. What we read certainly doesnt seem very lovely but a couple of things to point out.

The first things is that Lot reached the city of Zoar. If you read the full story you will see that Lot was not too interested in leaving Sodom. He wanted to save people from the impending doom but the 2 angels had to physically push him out.

Genesis 19:16 “16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful.”

Lot pleads with them to let him go to the city of Zoar and the men agree that he can but he must hurry. So God showed love and mercy to Lot.

The second point is that the sun was rising over the horizon. Who doesnt love to get up in the morning and see the sun coming up over the horizon.

Isaiah 9:1–2 “1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”

Living in darkness is not God’s design but living in the light of Jesus is and so we see this sun rising as a promise of a new day for Lot. Its also interesting that we also read in verse 27 that Abraham also got up early in the morning. It doesnt mention the sun but says that he went out to the place where he last stood before the Lord and that looked out across Sodom and Gomorrah. You would expect that he too was seeing the rising sun.

Yeh, sure there is mention of destruction, fire and smoke and those are the results of our sin and the sins of the wickedness in Sodom and Gomorrah.

One last point to mention is the mention that Lot’s wife turned to look back after being warned not to and the results for that were death by turning to a pillar of salt.

I think so often times we think that where we are at is real easy and comfortable and so we don’t see the wickedness that might be around us. Like Lot and his wife we don’t want to leave because its too cozy. Lot didn’t want to leave neither did his wife, but for Lot he was willing to follow God’s leading, to allow the patience and love of God to direct his life. For his wife the strings that attached her to Sodom were too strong to break.

We sometimes get too attached to the things of this world and we become distracted to what God wants from us. We become to busy with things to sense the love that God has lavishly poured out for you and for me.

Jesus gives us a strong warning when he tells us in

Luke 17:26–30 “26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

Love is Patient

L - Listen

O - Others

V - Value

E- Effort

I think a perfect place to see the love and patience that Jesus had for his followers is in John chapter 21 when he appears to some of his disciples. After his death and resurrection, after Peter has already denied Jesus 3 times and the rooster has crowed we see Jesus having breakfast and he says to Peter

John 21:15–17 “15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”

Yeh, I think asking the same question 3 times has a lot of symbolism but the one thing that maybe we dont think about is the patience that Jesus displayed. Not is just asking three times but in the entire time from in that courtyard around the fire pits when Peter first denied Jesus to this moment Jesus waited patiently.

While Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah, Jesus through His death and resurrection intercedes for all humanity pleading for the forgiveness of our sins and reconciling our relationship with God.

Jesus loves you and me so much that he patiently waits for us to turn back and come to him. Jesus loves us so much that he was willing to die on the cross to redeem our sins through his shed blood and reconcile our relationship with God.