Burunche’s Blog

Genesis 18:16-33

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

“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.”

Then 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 it.”

And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”

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?”

He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”

Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?”

He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”

Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?”

He answered, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?”

He replied, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?”

And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.”                                                                                                              

“Should not the Judge of the whole earth do right?” This is Abraham’s question to the Lord, and it is both appropriate and incredibly gutsy. Wherever Abraham is staying, the elevation is sufficient for observers to look out over the lower part of the Jordan Valley, the location of Sodom. Abraham is walking a short distance with his guests to see them off, a practice that remains common both in the Middle East and in Africa. The Lord decides to inform Abraham of his intentions to examine Sodom and possibly to destroy it. Now Abraham finds himself bargaining with the Lord for the lives of the people of Sodom, realizing that if Sodom is destroyed, his nephew Lot will also likely die.

Does God already know what He plans to do? Of course! But God is allowing Abraham to bargain to test Abraham’s character and faith. Abraham demonstrates his confidence in God with this question: “Should not the Judge of the whole earth do right?” By this question, God realizes that Abraham recognizes His sovereignty, His goodness, and His righteousness. God already knows that He will spare Sodom for the sake of ten righteous men; however, He graciously allows Abraham to share in the decision anyway. Is Abraham worried about Lot? Absolutely! But Abraham has put his requests before the Lord and now he must trust the Lord to act righteously. It might never occur to Abraham that there will be fewer than ten righteous men in all of Sodom.

How can Abraham find peace in the face of this impending disaster? Abraham knows that he is dealing with the Judge of the whole world; therefore, he is trusting in God’s righteousness and His mercy. Abraham has spoken with the Lord and has pleaded his case and the Lord has agreed; therefore, Abraham can rest in the knowledge that he has done everything he can for this situation.

Sometimes events overtake us and we must struggle for peace. When the Northern Ethnic Conflict took place in 1994, the area in which we were working was part of the conflict zone. We were in the capital city of Accra and it took two months to return to our station. Once we returned, I had to start operations and blood transfusions. We would awake in the morning to gunfire and listen to determine whether it was a traditional funeral or the military shooting off a few rounds to ensure we knew they were around or if we were under attack. Once assured that we were not under attack, we would have to start our day. We maintained peace through Bible reading and prayer and the knowledge that God had called us to be in that situation and therefore He would have to protect us or allow us to die for Him. There was no point in allowing anxiety to consume us, for that would be a useless exercise, sapping our energies and rendering us unable to help others.

How do you maintain peace in the face of looming disaster? Get to know God and His nature. Abraham knew God and trusted Him. Maintain communication with God through Bible reading and prayer. And remember Abraham’s question: Yes, we can trust the Judge of the whole earth to do right, even when we don’t understand it.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are struggling in difficult situations and have no peace. Help all who struggle to place their trust in You, for You are the One who gives peace that passes understanding. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.     

Genesis 18:1-15 The Three Visitors

“Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance to 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.

“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.”

“Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

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, 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.

Sarah Laughs at the Promise

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked.

“There, in the tent,” he replied.

Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!”

Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

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.”

But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh.” For she was afraid. “No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”

First, this passage is a lovely description of traditional hospitality, a tradition that continues up to today. As soon as Abraham sees the three strangers (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?), he urges them to rest, wash their feet, refresh themselves, and eat something. Then Abraham swiftly arranges for bread from the best flour and roasted veal from a choice calf, all the time describing these offerings in modest terms. Not only does Abraham make all these arrangements, but he also stands under the tree by his guests as they are eating and drinking so that he can serve them. Abraham doesn’t delegate this responsibility to one of the household servants but reserves it for himself, demonstrating his courtesy and humility.

Although God has previously promised Abraham a son, he now repeats that promise in Sarah’s hearing. Sarah’s reaction is similar to Abraham’s, she laughs to herself. But the Lord knows that Sarah is laughing and reassures her that He has heard and that Abraham and she will have a son, no matter how crazy the idea seems. Is God angry with Sarah for laughing? No. God has already determined that this promised son will be named “Isaac,” or “he laughs.”

As we read this story, we must remember that God truly loves Abraham and Sarah and wants wonderful things for them. God is not offended by their shock and surprise or by their laughter; in fact, He goes along with the joke by the name He orders to be given to their son. God has a great sense of humor, something humans fail to realize. If God did not have a great sense of humor and was not incredibly patient, He would never be able to put up with us.

This story is also important because it illustrates the close relationship Abraham has with God. Even though there are three men, Abraham knows he is hosting God; he has spent enough time worshiping and praying to sense God’s presence.

The more time we spend with God and the more time we spend in His Word, the more readily we will know when we are in His Presence. And the longer we spend in God’s presence, the more peace we will have, even when things are difficult. There is a trite saying that “If God brings you to it, He can bring you through it.” It’s a sad mistake to dismiss the truth of this statement because it appears so simple. Many times, we find ourselves in impossible situations, surrounded by insurmountable difficulties. Those situations are precisely the ones in which God can show up and deliver us.

How can you develop intimacy with God? Study His Word. Spend time being quiet and asking God to reveal Himself to you. You will never be disappointed; however, God generally speaks very quietly, so don’t expect lots of drama. Ask God to help you hear His Voice. The more you listen, the more peace you will have.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to become as close to You as Abraham was so that we may have Your peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Abraham to Father Many Nations
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”
Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram(Exalted Father), but your name will be Abraham(Father of Many), for I have made you a father of many nations.
I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”
The Covenant of Circumcision (Leviticus 12:1-8; Joshua 5:1-9; Acts 15:1-4)
God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep My covenant, you and your descendants for the generations to come. This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant. But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.(Princess) And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”
Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!”
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac(He Laughs). I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”
When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him. So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen; Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day. And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him.”

Abram is 99 years old and Sarai is 89. Suddenly, God shows up, gives them new names, and announces that next year they are going to be parents and that it will be a boy! Talk about your reveal parties! Of course, there’s one small item: Abraham and every male member of his household and all his male descendants from this time forth must be circumcised as a sign of the blood covenant between God and Abraham. Abraham is so blown away by this news that all he can do is fall facedown and laugh, at which point, God informs Abraham that the boy’s name will be Isaac, meaning “He laughs.”

What’s in a name? Although Abram means “Exalted Father,” God re-names him Abraham, meaning “father of many.” The name “Sarai” means “princess” in the dialect of Ur; however, God renames her “Sarah” which means “princess” in the Canaanite dialect, indicating that Sarah will now be a princess in this new land. Traditionally, names have always meant something. My names in English mean “God’s favor” and “Grace.” I now have a Ghanaian namesake whose parents have given her the local name “Wunpini,” meaning “God’s gift.” God renames Abram and Sarai as signs of the coming fulfillment of His promise.

Notice that Abram, now Abraham, circumcises himself and all the males of his household, even though Sarah is not yet pregnant. Abraham is acting on faith that God is going to fulfill His promise. Abraham is being obedient, one of the qualities God prizes the most in those who follow Him. By this act of obedience, Abraham is saying, “All right, God, I am doing my part; now please bring Your promises to pass.”

Notice something else: God does not punish Abraham for laughing; however, he does take Abraham’s laughter and enshrine it in the name of the promised son, Isaac. Abraham has done everything God has asked him to do in preparation for Isaac’s birth. Now all that is left is for Abraham and Sarah to sleep together so Sarah can become pregnant. How many times will Abraham and Sarah laugh as they urge their elderly bodies to perform? There’s going to be a lot of laughter in that household before Sarah’s abdomen begins to swell.

One of the many important lessons from this story is that obedience to God brings peace. As I am writing these words, I have been deputizing for our hospital General Manager for two weeks and I have another week yet to go. My colleague doctor tragically lost a brother a few days ago, and he is tied up with family responsibilities. A district hospital near us has been facing a number of challenges, forcing them to refer all their surgical emergencies to us. Counting the population of those two districts plus those across the River Oti, at the moment, I am the only surgeon for roughly 200,000 people. Am I tired? You bet! But I am trusting that the God who has brought us here will give me the strength to continue. I have peace because I am not trusting in myself, but in God.

Perhaps you too find yourself in a more than demanding situation, busier than a one-armed paper hanger. (Try hanging wall paper with one hand and you will see what I am talking about-it’s impossible.) But if God has called you into your current situation, God can give you the strength to endure it and peace while you are enduring.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, Many of us feel overwhelmed by responsibilities. But You are the One who can give strength to endure and peace in the midst of trials. Help us to trust You and to look to You for both strength and peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.