Genesis 18 – God Promises the Birth of Isaac
Timeline:1898 BC
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According to Jewish kosher laws, meat and dairy products are not to be served together. This law was given after Abraham's time to Moses and we're not yet binding. In addition, there were no Jews yet. The Jewish nation had not been established as of this time. Genesis 18:1-2 Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaksa of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. Shortly after God had appeared to Abraham and told him that he and Sarah would bear the promised son, he was resting at his tent. He was still living by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron (chapter 13) where he had built an altar to God. When the sun was at it's peak, desert dwellers took siestas in order to avoid heat stroke. Perceiving at once that one of them was the Lord who had previously visited him he ran, which was a sign of honor and urgency, to greet them and bowed down in worship. Genesis 18:3-5 "My lord," said Abraham, "if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant's way. After that, you may continue on your way." Abraham lived in a culture where providing hospitality to travelers was a sacred duty and expected. He rushed out to the three men but addressed only one of them, using the singular, "Adonai" (My Lord) rather than the plural form of the word "Adomim". People often wore sandals or went barefoot on dusty roads. Foot washing was a common practice in the Middle East to remove dirt and dust from feet. It was also a way to welcome and show respect to guests. Genesis 18:6-8 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread." Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate. Although Abraham is still recovering from circumcision, and he is almost 100 years old, he personally runs to select a calf and stood by his guests ready to serve them as they ate. Genesis 18:9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked. Sarah had stayed within the tent according to protocol, but was listening intently to the conversation of the men outside. The question was really for Abraham's benefit. God knew perfectly well where she was, just as He knew perfectly well where Adam was in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 18:10-12 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!" Either Abraham hadn't told her of the promise of the child or he had told her and she had maintained disbelief. Abraham fathered Ishmael so it was apparent that it was Sarah that was unable to bear children. When she overheard that she would have a son, it was inconceivable. Surely a woman of her age could not possibly become pregnant. Genesis 18:13-14 And the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really bear a child when I am old?' Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son." God knew perfectly well Sarah was listening so Him saying "Is anything too hard for the Lord" was for her benefit. God indicated that He would return at the appointed time to witness the birth of their son. Genesis 18:15 But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, "I did not laugh." Like a child that has been caught with his hand in a cookie jar afraid of punishment, she denied laughing at God. However, eventually she came to the realization that the promise was real: Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. Genesis 18:16-19 When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off. And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised." Just as Jesus spoke in parables, God often asks questions he already knows the answer to for the sake of the person who needs to know the answer. Here He asked if He should reveal His plans to Abraham. The question was rhetorical. Sometimes God asks questions to be sure one is paying attention and to emphasize His point. God wanted to reveal His plans for Abraham. Genesis 18:20-21Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out." The wickedness and sins of the people of those cities were so blatant and widespread that they reached God's attention. However He allowed the possibility of repentance before He pronounced judgment. They were given a just and fair trial, and their destruction was not without merit. Abraham was obviously concerned about his nephew Lot and his family. He also saved the village from king Cheloraomer so he probably had concerns about them as well. Genesis 18:22-25 And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. After the two angels left to went to Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham stood with God to plead for mercy for the people of the town. He had developed a relationship with God so he felt he could ask on their behalf to save them if God could find any righteous person. Abraham appealed to God's sense of justice to not treat the righteous and the wicked al ike by destroying them both. Genesis 18:26 So the LORD replied, "If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place." Although several cities were destroyed, Sodom is particularly mentioned because Lot lived there. Peter wrote the following, demonstrating the righteousness of Lot: 2 Peter 2:6 -9 He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. Genesis 18:27-28 Then Abraham answered, "Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?" Abraham humbled himself and acknowledged that he was a mere man, however, it did not prevent him from appealing to God for mercy on the city. He continued to bargain with God to spare Sodom in increments of five. The fact that God allowed Abraha m to "talk out" the situation, demonstrating the friendship between God and Abraham. James 2:23 ..."Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called a friend of God. Genesis 18:29 Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, "Suppose forty are found there?" The countdown continued. God knew perfectly well how many were righteous but still allowed Abraham to make his case. Genesis 18:30 Then Abraham said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?" Abraham was fully aware of the audacity of his request. So he continued in increments of ten. For every request that Abraham asked, God stated that He would grant it. Genesis 18:31 And Abraham said, "Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?" Abraham pushed on, "I know I'm trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?" Despite the seriousness of the situation, God was willing to forgo the destruction if He could find twenty righteous people. Genesis 18:32 Finally, Abraham said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?" Lot's family Included his wife, his two daughters who were unmarried and living at home, his sons-in-law, which married his other daughters, and possibly relatives or servants in Sodom. Some scholars assume that there were ten family members total in which Abraham was concerned about. Genesis 18:33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home. God patiently listened to Abraham who, despite his humility, showed great courage in pleading for mercy on behalf of Sodom and the surrounding cities. The conversation had reached it natural conclusion, indicating tha t the matter was settled. God went on His way to complete His investigation and Abraham went home in anticipation of God's judgment. |
