Genesis 18:16-33: Why Should We Care?

Introduction

William Carey, a young minister, preached in a minister’s meeting on the need for the church to be involved in international missions. Late 1700’s - the difficulty of being involved in international missions when it took months to cross the ocean by ship. Not appealing…

Older minister stood up and said, “Young man, sit down! When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do without your aid or mine!”

Didn’t stop Carey. He went to India - Father of Modern Missions - 7 years before first convert. When illness and hardship struck: “I am in a strange land, no Christian friend, a large family, and nothing to supply their wants. Well, I have God, and his word is sure.”

Later… “This is indeed the valley of the shadow of death to me… But, I rejoice that I am here notwithstanding; and God is here.”

Great men of history who risked much. Why? Why did Carey care so much about heathens in India?

Consider a life like that, and I ask, “Do I care?” 55,000 people around our church. Do I care that most of them are entering a Christ-less eternity? Do I care that my neighbors are lost? Do I care about family members? And, what about other parts of the world? Did you watch the parade of nation? Billions of people in our world will likely never hear the Gospel.

Maybe a better question: Why should I care? This story answers that question.

I want to care. I want to care so much that it leads me to act. I want you to care. I want you to care about your own relationship with God, but I also want you to care about others who do not know the saving power of Jesus.

Two reasons why you should care:

We care because we are convinced of our responsibility.

First part of Gen. 18 - God comes to extend grace to Abe yet again. Abe knows grace. He’s experience it over and over again. Abe has responded to God’s grace. He’s walked by faith. But now, Abe is about to get a lesson about God’s justice.

Abe enjoyed a meal with God. After they ate, they were on their way to Sodom - that lush land that Lot chose - but was exceedingly wicked.

Abe walks with God (Adam and Eve, Enoch, Noah) The three men have their eyes set on Sodom and Gomorrah. Abe has no idea what’s about to happen.

God has a conversation with Himself. “Should I hide it from Abe? He’s going to be a great nation. I have chosen Him. He walks with me. I’ll reveal my will to him.”

God lets Abe in on the plan because Abe is in a covenant relationship with God, and God is going to do a work through Abe. God has let you in on the plan because He’s going to do a work through you. You have divine privilege - when you walk with the Lord you know the Lord’s will.

God’s plan: to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. “Outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense...”

Destroy? Seriously? Isn’t that a bit much?

What was their sin? Ch. 19 - a sexually perverse people. Ez. 16:49 - had plenty but didn’t support the poor. They were oppressive!

Abe watches as the two men leave, and he is left alone with God. As the two men walk away, Abe doesn’t say, “Go get them God. They deserve it! I’ve been waiting for you to do something about that wicked place!”

Instead, Abe starts pleading with God. It’s bold. Who does Abe think he is? He’s a friend of God. When you know someone well, you aren’t afraid to have bold conversations. Abe knows God. He’s had lunch with him. And… Abe knows God’s grace firsthand.

Abe thinks about Lot… He doesn’t want his nephew to die. But… Abe thinks about the calling of God on his life. God didn’t just promise Abe a child. God promised to make Abe and his descendants a blessing to the nations.

Abe has compassion for Sodom and Gomorrah. He looks like Jesus.

God has given Abe a responsibility, and in this passage, Abe begins to live out that responsibility: to be a blessing to the nations.

Here we are - thousands of years later, and as followers of Jesus we understand our responsibility: to bless people with the good news of Jesus.

You don’t want to bless because you’re always mad at the world. You’re constant anger with the world has made you bitter… You’re not a blessing. You’re a hindrance.

You don’t want to bless because you’re always trying to be like the world.

You will bless when you understand the grace you’ve been given and the call that’s been placed on your life.

Bless by praying for others. Do you care enough to pray? You need a prayer list. Don’t give up. Someone didn’t give up on you. A praying heart is a compassionate heart. Pray for people you don’t know. Pray for the nations.

Bless by doing for others. Do you care enough to serve? Blessing others requires that you think less of self and more of others. Put action to your prayers. Gospel intentionality. How are you showing people that Jesus cares through the way that you care?

Bless by sharing with others. Do you care enough to open your mouth?

I know… So basic! But, are you excelling at the basics? Instead of viewing as basics, view as the essence of your calling.

Hudson wanting to cut grass with scissors… He sees his big brother taking responsibility… He wants responsibility… We all long for responsibility… You have responsibility...

We care because we are certain of God’s character.

Abe negotiates with God. Odd… Is he an ancient auctioneer?

He negotiates because he knows God: “Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just?” He knows the justice of God.

Since God is just He is right to give people what they deserve. Unrighteous people deserve punishment for their unrighteousness. You agree with that. Justice says that if someone murders, they deserve punishment.

Abe’s logic: It would not be right or just for God to punish the righteous. So, what if there are righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah? Would God wipe out the righteous along with the wicked, OR would God spare the wicked for the sake of the righteous?

Maybe a better way to put it… “God, will you VALUE the righteous so much that you overlook the unrighteousness of the many for the sake of the few?”

THIS is what Abraham is hoping - that in grace, God would spare the entire region if there were righteous people living in the region.

Then it begins… The negotiation. How low will God go? How many righteous people does there have to be for God to spare the region?

God… “If I find 50...” Abe… What about 45? Every time God says yes. He will spare the city for the righteous. Abe gets to ten, and Abe stops because Abe is convinced that God will do what’s right.

But… you know the problem. None righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah. None righteous on the face of the earth.

Everyone of us deserve what Sodom and Gomorrah received.

BUT 1500 years after destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God sent His Son. The ONE righteous man. He did what Abe could not do: Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice.

Abe’s plan: Abe asked God if He would spare the wicked for the sake of the righteous. BUT none righteous. God’s plan: the wicked are saved at the expense of the righteous man. The RIGHTEOUS ONE DIES so the wicked can live! We deserve justice yet we get grace. A gift! And we GET the righteousness of God through faith.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/man-with-coronavirus-disguises-wife-indonesian-flight_n_60f9ab38e4b09f2b238bad84 He knew he needed a new identity. You do too. Without a new identity you are hell bound.

Abe tried to mediate between God and Sodom and Gomorrah, but Jesus is the ONLY true mediator between God and man. (1 Tim. 2:5) He is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25).

This is WHY we care. We know the CHARACTER of God. We know that God is just and every person deserves hell. We also know God is gracious and has provided a way of salvation for anyone who believes. Every person can escape the wrath of God by trusting the ONE who took the wrath of God upon Himself, died in our place, and rose again.

These are two reasons WHY you should care about the eternal destiny of every person you meet. BUT, do you care? Heres’ what I know:

Your level of caring is directly proportional to how much God’s grace amazes you.

The more you realize how much grace you’ve received the more grace you’ll want to extend.

For many of us, grace is a religious concept but it’s not a present reality. When grace is just a religious concept to you, you’ll case to have Gospel care. Why would you extend something to others that you aren’t experiencing yourself?

Never forget where you were going, and never forget where you are heading.

Used to hear people say, “I’ve never gotten over my salvation”

2. Your willingness to plead to God on behalf of others is directionally proportional to how much you are shocked by lostness.

The majority of people will die without Christ, and we have what they need to have life instead of death.

Doesn’t that shock you? Doesn’t that break you?

What does the way you pray say about how much you care for the lost? The way you open your mouth?

You aren’t going to be shocked by lostness if you are enamored by the ways of the lost.

You’re not pleading with God for the souls of lost people because you want the life of a lost person.

Sin doesn’t disgust us and holiness doesn’t captivate us. Often, it’s the opposite. Holiness disgusts us and sin captivates us.

3. Your willingness to go to the lost with the Gospel is directly proportional to your joy in God’s assignment.

You ever have a job you really love? Every day I’m amazed that I get to study the Bible and preach it. In high school amazed I could get paid playing and teaching piano.

You get to be used by the God of all creation. You get to be used by God for Gospel good in someone else’s life.

If you live out the assignment God has placed on your life, there will be someone who will hear about Jesus for the first time because you opened your mouth. There will be someone who will trust Christ because you were willing to share.

This week… You can be a blessing by praying.