Genesis 18

Abraham’s hospitality (vs. 1-8)—This is just an example of primitive hospitality. Three men show up at Abraham’s encampment; two of them are angels, one is a human manifestation of God Himself. It is almost certain that Abraham, initially, did not recognize them as celestial guests; he was simply offering the best he could to weary travelers. Again, this was nothing unusual; it was expected in these Asiatic cultures, especially from someone who was as wealthy as Abraham. Even though Abraham calls him “My Lord” in verse 3, this is simply an appellation of respect. He and Sarah quickly prepare a meal. This is probably at least one of the events the Hebrew writer meant when he said “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2).

The promise of a child reiterated (vs. 9-15)—By the time this section is over, Abraham, if he wasn’t aware before, knows Whom He is entertaining. The Lord repeats the promise of a son in verse 10. Sarah, who was still in the tent, laughed about it. The word “laughed” is the same word for Abraham’s “laugh” in Genesis 17:17, yet it seems like most have found fault with Sarah but not Abraham, and that’s probably because of the reaction of the Lord. He didn’t seem to rebuke Abraham, but His words to His wife imply unbelief and mockery on her part. It didn’t compute to her that, at her age, she could bear a child. But she forgot one thing: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (v. 14). No. He had promised, and He will fulfill, and if we don’t believe, we stand to be censured. “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3).

The Lord tells Abraham about the upcoming destruction of Sodom (vs. 16-22)—We get a marvelous picture of the friendship God and Abraham had developed; three times in the Scriptures the patriarch is referred to as God’s friend (II Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). What a great honor to Abraham. So in verse 17, the Lord muses out loud, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” and then verse 19, pays the patriarch a wonderful compliment: “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.” Would that Jehovah could say that about all fathers today. He then does inform Abraham of the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: “And the LORD said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.’" Of course, He already knew about the wickedness of these cities; He is simply using accommodative language, in effect, showing to Abraham—and us—His fairness and mercy. The two men with the Lord, the angels, then leave and go to Sodom. The Lord will not join them there, as we shall see in chapter 19.

Abraham’s intercession (vs. 23-33)—Then we have one of the great examples of intercessory petition of God anywhere in the Bible. Abraham, perhaps with Lot in mind, asks God to spare the cities if a certain number of righteous can be found—50, then 45, 40, 30, 20, and then 10. And the Lord says He will spare the cities if he can find 10 righteous people. A couple of important lessons here—the power of intercessory prayer. We just never know, when we intercede in behalf of others, what Jehovah might do. And then, of course, we see the mercy of God. He would spare two of the most wicked cities in history if He could only find 10 righteous people in them. Perhaps that is why the Lord hasn’t yet destroyed some of the great dens of iniquity in our day—for the righteous who have prayed for them and who might live there for reasons of employment, etc.

A major reason why Abraham was God’s friend and was such a great man was his reverence before the Lord. Notice these verses: “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord,” (v. 27); “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak,” (v. 30); “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord,” (v. 31); “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more,” (v. 32). Abraham knew he was in the presence of the great God of heaven and earth, and showed the proper respect. And that explains his faith and obedience. It is obvious that one reason so many are such great sinners today is that they do not have the fear of the Lord that they ought. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” (Proverbs 9:10), and there are too few wise men today. Or ever.

And part of Abraham’s intercession was indeed based upon his understanding of the mercy of God: “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (v. 25). There’s no disrespect meant here at all. It shows a great understanding of the nature of God. No, Jehovah will not punish the righteous with the wicked; that would be unjust. And that’s why the angels went to Sodom. To find what righteous they could and deliver them from the coming destruction. Abraham knew God as few people ever have. And, remember, he lived some 500 years before one word of the Bible was penned. Truly a great man.