The three men from yesterday’s reading are just finishing up with the delicious meal Abraham had prepared for them. Today we see that one of them is God. The other two are off to Sodom. God remains with Abraham to share with him the reason for the visit to Sodom. The sinfulness is out of control. Abraham jumps to the conclusion that God is going to destroy the city, although the words are not there.
Abraham steps out boldly and questions God. Not only does he ask a question, but he also offers his own commentary or judgmental statement, “Surely you wouldn’t do that! ” I can’t imagine talking to God like that face to face. That’s a bold faith. What this does show us is we don’t need to be afraid to tell God what we think. God will do what God is going to do, yet we can share our heart, too. Continue reading “Genesis 18:16-33 – What About This?”
It was interesting how today’s reading plays out. I’ll not focus on it for long, but it struck me how there were 3 strangers who happened along, and then it was God saying the same thing about the baby in a year. God in three persons perhaps? But the message (or prophecy) is clear – Abraham and Sarah are going to be parents. Having gotten used to being a couple without kids, and being up in years, the thought is a bit comical.
This is the 3rd time God brings up his promise to Abram. Yet this time it seems it seems imminent. Abram was given a new name to commemorate the occasion. We’ve talked about God’s timing before, and this is surely a nail-biter – when is God going to complete what he promised? Would it have been better had God not told Abraham about the promise the earlier two times? Perhaps God was teaching Abraham patience as well as obedience.
Today’s reading shows us how human frailty can really mess up a good plan. However, it also shows how when we make wrong choices, God can still work things out in the end. That can give us hope, but we should certainly not look to it as an excuse to live recklessly. As the story unfolds, it is really a comedy of errors building on itself.
At last, we hear Abram’s doubt creep into his conversation with God. He has heard the promises and yet he can’t fathom how it will work unless his servants become heirs. But God showed him the stars and reminded Abram his descendants would be like that, too many to count. Abram believed God and the Lord “declared him righteous because of his faith.”
