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Genesis 18:1-21:7<\/strong><\/span> In Genesis 18 we see some amazing hospitality from Abraham to God and two angels that appear along with God.\u00a0 Hospitality for strangers was important back in Abraham\u2019s day.\u00a0 How are we with our hospitality toward strangers today?\u00a0 Do we react as Abraham did toward these three?\u00a0 Remember that Jesus says to us in the New Testament, \u201cwhatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 So, yes, maybe Abraham realized he was being hospitable toward God.\u00a0 But \u2013 Jesus seems to infer we should be hospitable to everyone \u2013 particularly \u201cthe least of these\u201d \u2013 for in doing so, we will be providing hospitality to Jesus.\u00a0 \u00a0Who in our world today are the \u201cleast of these\u201d?\u00a0 Are you being hospitable to strangers and to the least of these in your life today?\u00a0 How?\u00a0 Below is an oil painting by Spanish Baroque Era Painter Bartolom\u00e9 Esteban Murillo from the year 1667 titled \u201cAbraham and the Three Angels\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n Today in Genesis chapter\u2019s 18 & 19 we get a great look at how God responds to intercessory prayer and also clearly see God\u2019s judgment in chapter 19.\u00a0 Ch. 18 Verse 17 is a powerful start to our readings: \u201cShould I hide my plan from Abraham?\u201d the LORD asked.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think what we see here and in the following verses is that God obviously really cares for Abraham \u2013 as a friend \u2013 and as one who has been credited as righteous because of his faith.\u00a0 And I do think this is an important point before we read about Abraham\u2019s intercessory prayer to God \u2013 that for intercessory prayer really to have any standing before God, we need to be in right relationship with God.\u00a0 If we are being disobedient to God or being unrepentant of sins or bad habits that God wants us to give up, then I think our intercessory prayer for others can lose its effectiveness.\u00a0 \u00a0Check out James 5:16 for this point: \u201cThe prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0Abraham was credited as righteous because of his faith (Genesis 15:6).\u00a0 Hence, his intercessory prayer was powerful and effective.\u00a0 Below is a portrait of Abraham by Guy Rowe \u2013 I imagine Abraham praying to God in Genesis chapter 18 in this portrait:<\/span><\/p>\n In verse 25 we begin to see Abraham\u2019s several requests, or intercessions, to God to spare the city of Sodom for the sake of the righteous living in the city: \u201cSurely you wouldn\u2019t do such a thing, destroying the innocent with the guilty. Why, you would be treating the innocent and the guilty exactly the same! Surely you wouldn\u2019t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And from here we see Abraham bringing down the number of righteous that would need to be in the city for it to be spared.\u00a0 I don\u2019t necessarily see what Abraham was doing here as haggling with God \u2013 but, I think he was acting out of compassion for the righteous few in the city \u2013 and surely Lot and his family were on his mind during these intercessions\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n In Genesis chapter 19 there is a lot going on.\u00a0 And I\u2019m sure a few things that jump out at you when you read them, and create a lot of questions in your mind.\u00a0 (Lot offering his two virgin daughters (v. 8) & what happened in the cave (v. 30-36), for examples)\u00a0 \u00a0Let me recommend you take 10 minutes and read through Bob Deffinbaugh\u2019s \u201cFrom City Councilman to Caveman: \u201cWhat a Difference a Day Makes\u201d (Genesis 19:1-38)\u201d<\/strong> <\/span>at this link at Bible.org<\/span>.\u00a0 I think this will answer a lot of your questions on why certain things happened in this chapter, from Bob\u2019s perspective.\u00a0 One great quote from Bob at this link above is this: \u201cLot attempted to live his life in a city and then in a cave. We cannot become one with the world, but neither are we to flee from it. The proper balance between the city of Sodom and the cave is the tent of Abraham. We are to live in the world, but without becoming attached to it or conformed to it. We are to be strangers and pilgrims.\u201d\u00a0 I like that! How are you doing with the idea of being in the world, but not of it?\u00a0 \u00a0Are you living in the city or in a cave?\u00a0 Will you seek to live in the tent of Abraham?\u00a0 Below is a map of the approximate area of where Sodom & Gomorrah and the Cities of the Plain (including Zoar) were thought to have been located, on the south side of the Dead Sea and now possibly under water:<\/span><\/p>\n One verse that immediately stood out to me in chapter 19 is verse 16: \u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What struck me in this verse is that Lot hesitated.\u00a0 In the previous verse, the angels say very clearly and strongly \u2013 \u201cget out of the city!\u00a0 hurry!\u00a0 God is going to destroy it!\u201d\u00a0 And yet\u2026 Lot hesitated.\u00a0 This jumped out at me because in our couple of previous day\u2019s readings we have seen how promptly obedient Abraham was to God\u2019s commands.\u00a0 When God said to get circumcised and circumcise everyone in the house \u2013 it happened that same day!\u00a0 And yet, here we see Lot hesitating on a very clear command from angels\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0And I guess I do have to ask myself, and maybe you can ask yourself too \u2013 are we more often like Abraham or Lot?\u00a0 Are we promptly obedient to God\u2019s will and commands for our lives?\u00a0 Or do we hesitate?\u00a0 A great thing about verse 16 above is we read that even though Lot hesitated, God was merciful.\u00a0 God will still show us mercy when we hesitate\u2026\u00a0 the grace of God is still clearly there for we who hesitate.\u00a0 But, even though there is amazing grace, maybe the question still is \u2013 what are we hesitating for?\u00a0 What are we waiting for?\u00a0 Below is an image by the artist Raffaello (Italian painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance), circa 1500, of Lot and his daughters finally fleeing Sodom, while his wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt:<\/span><\/p>\n And below is an image of verse 24: \u201cThen the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Today in Genesis chapter 20 we see that Abraham is not perfect (we have seen this humanness of Abraham earlier in our Genesis readings too).\u00a0 This should be good news for each of us!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Abraham essentially tells Abimelech a half-truth \u2013 and yes, half-lie.\u00a0 The thing to remember here is that Abraham has received incredible promises from God and covenants \u2013 and yet, it is apparent that Abraham still has some fear of what will happen to him and Sarah.\u00a0 This imperfection of God\u2019s people is something that we will continue to see throughout our Bible readings.\u00a0 God uses imperfect people for his purposes.\u00a0 God does typically use those that love him.\u00a0 But, those that love God do still sin and make mistakes.\u00a0 God partners with imperfect people throughout history.\u00a0 God partners with people like you and me.\u00a0 Below is Flemish Northern Renaissance Painter Jan Provost\u2019s \u201cAbraham, Sarah and the Angel\u201d from the year 1520:<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Genesis titled \u201cIf I was God\u2026\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and \u201cSin and the City\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>and commentary on Genesis chapter 20 today titled \u201cDon\u2019t Ever Say Never\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Zach William\u2019s terrific song \u201cChain Breaker:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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