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Teaching And Research By: M. E. Arbaugh
Genesis
Chapter Eighteen
V 1. Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks or terebinths of Mamre; as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.
Mamre means fatness. What a good name for the place where Abraham was camped. He was blessed of God, living in the land of fatness. A lush valley filled with Abraham's herds and servants.
V 2. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood at a little distance from him. He ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the ground,
It was siesta time and Abraham had probably dozed, off and on, for awhile. Then he opened his eyes and looked through the shimmering heat and saw three men. With typical Oriental hospitality, he hastened to greet them and invite them to refresh themselves.
V 3. And said, My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant, I beg of you.
V 4. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and recline and rest yourselves under the tree.
V 5. And I will bring a morsel (mouthful) of bread, to refresh and sustain your hearts before you go on further; for that is why you have come to your servant. And they replied, Do as you have said.
Middle eastern hospitality is well represented by Abraham as he said, come I'll bring water to refresh your body, rest in the shade, I'll bring food. In those days people didn't just say Hi! and bye! When someone came in sight of your tent, it was a big occasion. It is interesting that Abraham felt they had come so he could bless them. An attitude we should cultivate.
V 6. So Abraham hastened into the tent of Sarah, and said, Quickly get ready three measures of fine meal, knead it, and bake cakes.
V 7. And Abraham ran to the herd, and brought a calf tender and good, and gave it to the young man (to butcher) then Abraham hastened to prepare it.
V 8. And he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had made ready, and set it before the men and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
V 9. And they said to him, Where is Sarah your wife? And he said, she is here in the tent.
It is probably at this point that Abraham begins to realize these are not ordinary visitors. Here is someone who knows the name of his wife with out being told.
V 10. The Lord said, I will surely return to you when the season comes round, and lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening and heard it at the tent door which was behind Him.
V 11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; it had ceased to be with Sarah as with young women.
V 12. Therefore Sarah laughed to herself, saying, after I have become aged shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband), being old also?
V 13. And the Lord asked Abraham, why did Sarah laugh, saying shall I really bear a child, when I am so old?
Sarah did not laugh or speak out loud, yet the Lord of hosts knew. We cannot hide our thoughts and motives from God. He knows them. Another good reason for a renewed mind filled with the word of God, is that we will have less to repent of.
V 14. Is anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season (for her delivery) comes around, I will return to you and Sarah shall have borne a son.
This scripture calls to mind the Angel who said to a young girl that she would conceive and bear a son and she said, How can these things be since I have not known a man? And he said, all things are possible with God. The word possible is from the root word dunimas (Greek) which means miracle working dynamite power.
With Abraham and Sarah, God waited until it was impossibility before He made it possible. Sometimes we must come to the end of ourselves and say there is no way I can do it Lord, I give it into Your hand. Then God takes our impossibility, uses miracle working dynamite power on it and brings it into being. Is anything to hard or wonderful for the Lord? We serve a God who is alive, filled with infinite power and infinite love for us. There are no limits put on what we will do for beloved children. We are the beloved children of God. John 16:27 If we being earthly parents will do all for our children, how much more will our Father in heaven do for us? Nothing is too hard for the Lord.
V 15. Then Sarah denied, saying, I did not laugh; for she was afraid. And He said, No, but you did laugh.
Sarah is obviously overwhelmed by the supernatural knowledge the visitor has. Her first reaction is one of unbelief, but later we read, because of faith in God and His Word, the child was conceived and born. Hebrews 11:11
These special visitors had two reasons for their visit. One was to let Abraham and Sarah know the time was at hand for the promised son. The other was to announce the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
V 16. The men rose up from there and faced toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
V 17. And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham (My friend and servant) what I am going to do,
It is very nice to be called a friend of God, but it is far better to be called sons and heirs as born again Christians.
V 18. Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through him, and shall bless themselves by him?
While Abraham was walking with the Lord, The Lord said, shall I hide anything from my friend? Is there something you do not understand? Take a walk with the Lord.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.
V 19. For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him (as My own) so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him.
God knows us and how we will respond. He knows the purposes and intents of our innermost being. He doesn't ask a great deal of us, to teach and command our households to keep the ways of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous. When we do this we open the way for Him to bring us what He has promised us.
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God [require of thee], but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
V 20. And the Lord said, because the shriek (of the sins) of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is exceedingly grievous;
V 21. I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether (as vilely and wickedly) as the cry of it, which is come to Me; and if not, I will know.
Satan the accuser of men before God was no doubt shrieking at God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. As far as Satan is concerned, all people are expendable, even those who serve him. How good it is to know that God does not take the accuser's word for it. Instead He must see for Himself.
V 22. Now the (two) men turned from there, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
V 23. And Abraham came close, and said, Will You destroy the righteous (those upright and in right standing with God) together with the wicked?
the Enemies
of Health
V 24. Suppose there are in the city fifty righteous; will You destroy the place and not spare it for (the sake of) the fifty righteous in it?
V 25. Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as do the wicked! Be that far from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth execute judgment and do righteously?
V 26. And the Lord said, If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous (in right standing with God), I will spare the whole place for their sakes.
V 27. Abraham answered, Behold now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord.
V 28. If five of the fifty righteous should be lacking; will You destroy the whole city for lack of five? He said, If I find forty-five, I will not destroy it.
V 29. And Abraham spoke to Him yet again, and said, Suppose only forty shall be found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
V 30. Then Abraham said to Him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak (again). Suppose (only) thirty shall be found there. And He answered, I will not do it if I find thirty there.
V 31. And Abraham said, Behold now, I have taken upon myself to speak again to the Lord. Suppose only twenty shall be found there. And the Lord replied, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
V 32. And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again only this once. Suppose ten righteous people shall be found. And the Lord said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
Abraham was a merciful man and an intercessory prayer warrior, he cared about people. So he called to God's remembrance that He is a good and just judge of all the earth. Abraham the friend of God, didn't feel like a humble little worm who was un-worthy to speak to the Lord. Make the Lord your gold and your silver. Then you will have delight in Him and will lift up your face and your prayer to Him. Then He will even deliver the one for whom you intercede who is not innocent; because of the cleanness of your hands. Job 22:21-30
God cares for individuals. Though this was a large city filled with sin, He was willing to spare it for ten. Notice that God did not stop granting until Abraham stopped asking. Numbers 16:22.
V 33. And the Lord went His way when He finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
Abraham did not leave until God was finished speaking to him. So often we hurry to God with our petitions and then hurry off with out waiting to see if the Lord has anything to say to us. When we honor God, He will honor us.
Next: Chapter Nineteen (coming soon)
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Teaching And Research By: M. E. Arbaugh
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January 1, 2007
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