June 25, 2006

• I keep wanting to start off my writing on Genesis 18 by saying, “This is one of my favorite chapters.” Problem is, that would be getting rather repetitive, for lately every chapter I encounter is one of my favorites.

  
  

  Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

  
  

  I use the Thompson Chain Link Reference Study Bible New King James Version and that verse was listed under the chapter heading. I know that most of you know this, but when the Bible was first written on scrolls, there were no chapters and verses, that was added later for reference purposes, so sometimes in the reading of a chapter, the chapter can really end a few verses into the next chapter. And occasionally the division of chapters actually interrupts the flow of a passage, so it is often a good idea to check what went on before the chapter you read and what goes on a few verses afterward.

  
  

  Again notice that in Chapter 17, Abram was given the instruction to circumcise himself and all the males of his house. Abraham (note the name change) IMMEDIATELY followed those instructions, so chapter 18 comes after an act of obedience on Abraham’s part.

  
  

  Chapter 18 verse 1 begins with “then” and that then implies an action done before the “then”. “Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.” Abraham then offers to wash their feet and give them bread to refresh their hearts. and they said, “Do as you have said.”

  
  

  Notice the two forms of “lord” one is in all caps, that is Jehovah, the other is Lord – which is a title of honor and respect, not necessarily applied to God. But we will see that one of the three visitors is a pre-incarnate form of Jesus, who will linger to talk with Abraham.

  
  

  God can appear anytime and in any way He wants to appear. To Adam and Eve He appeared in the cool of the day, here to Abraham He appears in the heat of the day. I think we often make a mistake in believing that once God has appeared to us one way, that will be the only way He will appear to us. God is versatile, He can appear any way He wants, and sometimes I think He is big on surprises. I know that there are many opinions on who the three visitors are. Some think all three are angels, others think that one is the LORD revealing Himself. I kind of tend toward the later – because, if you glance ahead, you see in Chapter 19 that two angels go to Sodom, and the Lord stays with Abraham, and Abraham will intercede for Sodom to Him.

  
  

  Abraham goes to give Sarah instruction and it is here that we realize that he suspects that these are no ordinary visitors. He tells Sarah to take three measures of meal and make it into cakes (this is a time consuming process – so the guests will tarry awhile). He takes a tender and good calf to prepare for meat. What I find interesting is that he takes butter and milk (this is not exactly Kosher) and he serves them, standing under the tree as they ate.

  
  

  They ask where Sarah is, and Abraham tells them she is in the tent. And, within her hearing they give her the wonderful words of promise, verse 10 “And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)

  
  

  Sarah laughed within herself (It was an inward laugh not audible on the outside). In delight she says, in verse 12 “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

  
  

  Genesis 18: 13-15 “And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, “Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?” Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

  
  

  I take so much comfort in these verses, especially the line “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” You know, so often when I come to God with my problems and concerns there is a fear that this will be the situation that is too hard for Him to deal with. But there is nothing that the Almighty God can’t deal with. And it is also important to realize that Sarah did not laugh out loud, our thoughts are not hidden from God. Perhaps that is why Jesus, in talking about the commandments, took them a notch higher – for example – adultery is not just the physical act, but also lustful thoughts toward another that aren’t acted out. One other thing that strikes me is that when the LORD gets involved in our lives often joy and laughter follow. I never had so much joy as I have now – that doesn’t mean that circumstances and things aren’t hard, but there is also joy in the midst of the hard things.

  
  

  Now the Hebrew word for “too hard” is “Pala” and it means to separate, distinguish, to be wonderful, do wonderful things, wondrous things, miracles. Yes, God can do miracles, and so often we limit Him and His actions to what is within our understanding. Yet, I think god delights in miracles. Beth Moore puts it beautifully on page 51 of the Patriarchs “Beloved, is anything “too hard” for you right now? If so, you have the perfect setting for a miracle.” Now sometimes God will say “no”, but that often is because He has something better planned for you. But God is in the miracle business.

  
  

  What is amazing in Chapter 18, is that we actually hear the Lord talking to Himself! Verses 17 – 10 “And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

  
  

  Why is Abraham going to be privy to these plans of God? Because he commands his children and household to obey God. This is something for me to take to heart. God sees how I raise my children, what I do with them, and so often I long for things outside of the house to minister to, but really my primary field right now is my children and household – and God does know what goes on there. I think our households are a primary missionary field, and what goes on there is important to God.

  
  

  I love how Abraham talks with God, bargaining, interceding. God tells Abraham that because of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah he will destroy the city. And Abraham asks God, verse 23 “Would you destroy the righteous with the wicked?” For those who do not believe in the rapture, this is a passage to consider. Abraham asks God, in verse 25 “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” and Abraham tries to find out how many righteous ones it would take to preserve a city, asking God if there were 50 righteous, would he destroy the city?  45? 40? 30? 20? 10? God says that He would not destroy it for the sake of ten. As it turns out there are four that are removed from the city Lot (because of Abraham), Lot’s wife, and his two daughters.

  
  

  Sodom and Gomorrah have been doing evil things for quite some time. Perhaps it is a good warning that just because God does not act immediately, does not mean that He is not displeased with the sin going on in a situation. God loves us so much that He wants to give us chances to repent, but at some point God will say “ENOUGH”.

  
  

  I sometimes wonder about intercession, but God is looking for intercessors. Moses stood between God and the people of Israel. And there are times when God wants an intercessor. Isaiah 59: 16 It mentions that God”…wondered that there was no intercessor…” Sometimes before utter destruction, an intercessor will step forward. Sometimes God will say “no” to them, other times He will delay action.

  
  

  Today I take my daughter to camp for a week, but after I get back I will try to check in on you. I ask for some prayer for Jim, he is in the midst of a mega computer challenge – and needs clarity of mind and hoping that all works out well. He is working hard, but is very stressed, and realizes that this has to be done in a very limited point of time.

  
  

  Have a blessed Sunday, it is soon off to church for me.

  
  

  Heather

  
  

   

  • 6:51 am
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