Abraham's Petition

Intro.

If you could sit down with God, face to face right now, what would talk about?

What would you be feeling in such a moment?

Sometimes in Scripture we a moment like this, and the person(s) to whom God spoke thought they would die! John fell on his face “like a dead man” in Revelation 1 upon seeing Christ in a glorified state coming in judgment.

Here are a few people in the Scriptures were given such an opportunity to see God in a kind of face-to-face way:

Moses

Joshua

Samuel

Abraham

The Twelve

Paul

Isaiah

Habbakuk

Three Visitors

Genesis 18:1–15 LSB

1 Then Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing nearby; he saw, and he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed himself to the earth, 3 and he said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 4 “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 5 and let me bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh your hearts; after that you may pass on, since in such a manner you have passed by your servant.” And they said, “So you shall do, as you have said.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Hurry, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread cakes.” 7 Abraham also ran to the herd and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to his young man, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree, and they ate. 9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 And He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 12 And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a son, when I am so old?’ 14 “Is anything too difficult for Yahweh? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Then Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

This could be very long after the circumcision of Abraham’s household, But God comes to visit Abraham in person!

Some people believe the three are the three Persons of the Trinity, others believe that one of them is the Lord and the other two are merely angels, citing 19.1 which could also be used of God in a sense. Either way you take it, God is here with Abraham!

In 17, Abraham is the one to whom the promise is given that Isaac would be born! Now, since apparently Sarah did not know of this, God makes it plain to her as well. God even uses the same language, saying, “This time next year,” they will have a new little addition to their family!

How does Sarah react to this?

What kind of laughter do you think this is?

Doubt

Delight

Surprise

Perhaps thinking of the idea as “cute”

How would you respond in her shoes? Any differently?

How does God resond?

“Is anything too hard for God?” — Sometimes I think we act and think more out of our own fear and doubt than truly believing that God is God Almighty! Notice, God makes clear to Sarah exactly the same as He made plain to Abraham in His Name: God knows her age and physical limitations, and God can make it happen!

Then, once again, He makes the promise that “this time next year” they will have a son.

Abraham’s Petition

*Recount Abraham’s conversation with God; number of righteous asked is: 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, 10*

God appears almost to ponder whether or not to speak to Abraham about Sodom’s judgment. However, I think this is very purposeful and to Abraham’s benefit. Notice the way God speaks:

A repeat of the promise

So that he will lead his household in righteousness and justice

Then, obviously, God tells him. It is almost as if God is slipping in another reassuring statement to Abraham, but with a bite of warning!

God will not bless Abraham or his descendants if they do not walk before God as blameless and holy (Gen. 17.1-2). Perhaps, God speaks to Abraham of Sodom’s judgment to remind him that God is not light on sin, and He will punish the guilty! If Abraham or his children did not walk before God in holiness, they too would be judged!

Sin in Sodom

Gen. 19 catches up with the angels in Sodom and what they find there.

How many righteous people do they find there?

*Recount the story of Lot and the escape from Sodom*

Only Lot and his household — these were the only ones who were spared.

2 Peter 2:7–10 “7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who go after the flesh in its corrupt lust and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they blaspheme glorious ones,”

Which one of them did not make it? Why?

Lot’s wife. Lk. 9.61-62

To get a fuller look at the sins of Sodom: Ezekiel 16:49–50 “49 “Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had lofty pride, abundant food, and quiet ease, but she did not strengthen the hand of the afflicted and needy. 50 “Then they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. So I removed them when I saw it.”

What are we supposed to learn from Genesis 19 and it’s placement in the story of Abraham’s life?

That If we are unrighteous, God will bring judgment to us. Yet, if we remain pure before God, even if we are imperfect in our work, God will be faithful to save and bless!

Now, this saving and blessing will not always take the same look! We cannot rightly expect God to come to our aid as He did for Lot and his family; angels may not push us out of our city. What we can rightfully expect, however, is that God will be with us, God will sustain us in our trial, and God will bring an ultimate salvation to His holy ones on the final day! God knows how to save His children, and He always will ultimately do so even if He would allow us to endure suffering for a time.

Conclusion

As we continue our journey in the patriarchs, and especially Abraham, we are not without challenges from God in the Scriptures. Challenges not only to our faith, but challenges to reflect on our holiness before God!

God is always capable to give as He has promised, and even as we ask of Him! He may not always give everything which we ask, but He is capable to! We must believe that, full-heartedly, and always be going before His throne in faithful, devoted prayer!

God knows what is going on in our private lives, and He loves us. He is willing to help us in our times of need and to remind us that He is God Almighty, El Shaddai!

We as His children are called to be blameless and walk in righteousness and justice before Him. We are free in Christ, but not free to the flesh. We are free in Christ, but not free to “get saved” then fold our hands and treat God as our personal waiter. We are free in Christ, but free to serve God in faith and bring Him glory and honor! As we do this, God will continue to bless us; if we fall away, God will remove us.

Lastly, God is not shy in judgment, but He is slow to anger! We must not allow His longsuffering attitude toward us to be seen as shyness to judge. I think sometimes we forget that judgment is a very real thing, a reality that any nation is not far from nor is the whole world! Yet, if we are righteous, God knows how to save us from trial while punishing the wicked ones. God knows how to deal with us in mercy and grace while dealing in wrath those who are against Him.

Let us ask ourselves, “Am I truly walking a holy and intentional life before God? Or have I begun to sit back, expecting Him to serve me?”