Gen 18 - A conversation with God
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Alright, so tonight we pick up in the adventures of Abraham, the friend of God. Walking by faith believing the promises of God!
We tend to think of Abraham and other biblical historical believer as being different than us. That somehow they had some type of special anointing that made living by faith and trusting in God easier, but that’s not the case. These were all human beings just like you and me. Their stories had to be lived out. We have the benefit of hindsight for their lives but like them we live each day as a new adventure.
One of the main things that helps us to live by faith is knowing that we are walking in the truth. The bible has a lot to say about the truth. The word “truth” occurs 201 times in the NASB version.
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines truth this way;
: the body of real things, events, and facts : ACTUALITY
(2): the state of being the case : FACT
(3)often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality
2a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality
Jesus in His High Priestly prayer in John 17 said;
John 17:17 (NASB95)
17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Jesus also said;
John 14:6 (NASB95)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
So on this idea of the truth I wanted to show you something interesting from the Hebrew word for truth, Emet.
Video-Biblical Hebrew for Beginners: Truth - "Emet" 5 min Only.
Now, knowing that Jesus is the “truth” the idea that He is the Alpha and the Omega or as we just learned He is the Alef and the Tav and the Mem (the middle as well)
Last week we learned the the meaning of adding the letter Heh to Abrams and Sarai name symbolizing the presence of the HS. We also talked about circumcision and that the true circumcision is of the heart. The removal of the flesh. Finally we looked Abrahams immediate obedience to God’s command.
So tonight we will look at another visitation of Yahweh with Abraham in Gen 18.
Lets stand;
1 Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.
2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth,
3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.
Let’s dig in here. First notice who appeared. None other than the LORD, Yahweh Himself. I believe this to be a Christophany, a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ. Jesus hinted at this encounter in John 8;
John 8:52–58 (NASB95)
52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’
53 “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;
55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.
56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
Here Jesus uses the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew I am that I am, ego emi.
In our text notice there were 2 others with the LORD. These two angels were on a mission. More on that later.
What is interesting to me is that it seems that Abraham recognizes that these are not mere men. Hebrew lore indicates that Abraham encountered angels many times.
On this note the writer to Hebrews writes;
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Something to consider when a homeless person shows up. Consider what you would do if angels just appeared at your house! Well heres what Abraham did.
4 “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;
5 and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures 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 the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.
8 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 as they ate.
It would be like the Queen of England showing up at your house unannounced. You are running around to get a meal prepared.
Notice, in verse 7, its Abraham who runs to get a calf to have it prepared. He’s 100 years old.
Notice also in verse 8 that the meal is unusual for a Hebrew. It’s not Kosher. Dairy is being served with meat. A Jew would never do this. The reason is repeated in several verses;
19 “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.
“You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.
This is a really big deal to all Jews. But here it does not seem to be an issue. We continue;
9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”
10 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 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’
14 “Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
This account is in close time proximity to ch 17 as again the LORD is telling A & S that in one year they would be having a son.
When I read verses 13-15 a chill goes down my spine. My own unbelief at times is shameful, especially knowing God knows what we are thinking and even our motives. Sarah denies it but God calls her out.
You see, that is what the HS does with us. He reveals to us our self deception and our sin.
Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Now the story changes to the topic of Sodom.
16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.
17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?
19 “For I have chosen him, so 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 upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
So it appears the two angels go on their way and the LORD stays back to talk with Abraham. I see verse 19 as applying to all the true church.
Genesis 18:19 (NASB95)
19 “For I have chosen him, so 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 upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
Note: this is not passive but we are to be doing righteousness and justice.
Now God reveals His plans to Abraham. This something that God always does;
7 Surely the Lord God does nothing
Unless He reveals His secret counsel
To His servants the prophets.
I hope we are listening!
We continue in Abrahams conversation with God;
20 And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.
21 “I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord.
23 Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
The LORD reveals His intentions and then in verse 23 Abraham asks a critical question. One that is pondered by all believers.
“Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
This is one of the foundational understandings of the rapture of the church.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
The key here is the wrath is not the wrath of man but is speaking of the wrath of God.
Back to Genesis 18; Now Abraham with his nephew Lot and his family in mind Abraham makes sure of Gods answer by pressing the LORD. Almost in a negotiation;
Genesis 18:24–33 (NASB95)
24 “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?
25 “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
Abraham is preaching to God. You can feel the tension of his moving over a line.
26 So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”
27 And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.
28 “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 He spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”
30 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”
32 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”
33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place.
That conversation is little uncomfortable because of who Abraham was speaking to. But as we close tonight remember the exhortation from Hebrews,
Hebrews 4:16 (NASB95)
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence(or boldness) to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
What do you need today? What are your concerns? Take them with confidence to Jesus.
Pray