In our study of Genesis chapter eighteen, we will see that Jesus is the judge of righteousness and we are not. While we are not qualified to judge these matters because we do not have all of the facts, we find that Jesus is qualified because He knows what is in the hearts of men.
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ADONAI appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. He raised his eyes and looked, and there in front of him stood three men. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground,
In chapter 17, we saw Avraham and his family adopted as God's chosen people. We remember that Avraham had just been circumcised and would have still been feeling the pain and we are told that it was during the heat of the day which is a time for rest. The phrase "raised his eyes" speaks of the fact that Avraham was praying as he sat at the entrance to his tent. During that time, the Lord visited him in the form of three men and we are reminded of the fact that, throughout the Bible, the number three is associated with the earthly display of God's will for man. It is interesting to note that, from Avraham's point of view, this would have been a really bad time for company but he immediately ran to them and lay on the ground. It is always significant when you see someone running in the Torah and this speaks of the fact that Avraham recognized that these were no ordinary men.
and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don't leave your servant. Please let me send for some water, so that you can wash your feet; then rest under the tree, and I will bring a piece of bread. Now that you have come to your servant, refresh yourselves before going on." "Very well," they replied, "do what you have said."
Avraham showed great respect and hospitality to them even though he did not know that it was God. Many of us would jump at the opportunity to serve Jesus in our home but are we so eager to serve regular men? The Apostle Paul would recount this to the Jewish believers in reminding them that men can entertain angels without even being aware that they are angels (see Hebrews 13).
Avraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, three measures of the best flour! Knead it and make cakes." Avraham ran to the herd, took a good, tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then he took curds, milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it all before the men; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
Avraham quickly had a meal prepared for the men and served it to them but, instead of eating with them, he stood by as a servant would while they ate. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus said the second greatest was like the first and it was to love your neighbors as yourself. Avraham was demonstrating this as he prepared the best food that he had for his guests and expected nothing in return. We see from Avraham's haste that he did not want to miss this opportunity to show hospitality even though it would have been a very inconvenient time for him.
They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" He said, "There, in the tent." He said, "I will certainly return to you around this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Sarah heard him from the entrance of the tent, behind him. Avraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "I am old, and so is my lord; am I to have pleasure again?"
Here, we have a clue that Avraham is realizing that this is a manifestation of God as the men know Sarah's name and, instead of being shocked that they knew it without being told, he simply answers their question. Once again, the Lord assured Avraham that he would have a son through his wife Sarah. As Sarah overheard, she laughed inside but not verbally because she had already been through what we call menopause and so she did not see how it was physically possible to have a child. We can look back over history and wonder how she could doubt but we must admit that we all have this trouble of seeing past the physical restraints of this world. A favorite quote is "faith is only faith when it's all you've got".
ADONAI said to Avraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and ask, 'Am I really going to bear a child when I am so old?' Is anything too hard for ADONAI? At the time set for it, at this season next year, I will return to you; and Sarah will have a son." Sarah denied it, saying, "I didn't either laugh," because she was afraid. He said, "Not so - you did laugh."
We see from this conversation that the Lord knows what is in our hearts and our minds. Sarah had said those things to herself and yet He knew what she said. When asked about it, she lied and that reminds us of one of the ways that the devil tries to separate us from God. The Lord had asked a question not in condemnation but to strengthen their faith but the devil brought fear into her heart and she lied. When we have trouble seeing past the physical, we can admit it to God and He will still accept us. When we try to hide it, we open a door to the tricks of Satan.
The men set out from there and looked over toward S'dom, and Avraham went with them to see them on their way. ADONAI said, "Should I hide from Avraham what I am about to do, inasmuch as Avraham is sure to become a great and strong nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by him? For I have made myself known to him, so that he will give orders to his children and to his household after him to keep the way of ADONAI and to do what is right and just, so that ADONAI may bring about for Avraham what he has promised him."
As they left, Avraham walked with them and the Lord began to reveal their purpose. We see a contrast between the blessing planned for Avraham and the judgment that awaited Sodom and Gomorrah. We see a question from God but there is no answer which indicates that it is not verbally spoken but is placed here so that we might see and understand more about the nature of God. It is here so that we might ask ourselves if it makes sense for God to conceal what he has planned to do and the answer is no it is not the nature of God to hide the coming judgment from his covenant people. Then, we see that question answered and the reason that God is going to tell Avraham what he is doing is so that Avraham and his ancestors (which includes us as Christians) will follow the ways of God.
ADONAI said, "The outcry against S'dom and 'Amora is so great and their sin so serious that I will now go down and see whether their deeds warrant the outcry that has reached me; if not, I will know." The men turned away from there and went toward S'dom, but Avraham remained standing before ADONAI.
The Lord revealed that He was there to investigate the reports of their sin. As He stayed with Avraham, the two angels turned towards Sodom to check it out. What was this grievous sin that they were there to investigate? As we shall see, it was men having sex with men which was against the design of God and it is where we get the term sodomy. We must remember that God did not need to go there to know what was going on in the area this investigation is for our benefit and it lets us know that God is actively involved in his creation.
Avraham approached and said, "Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Maybe there are fifty righteous people in the city; will you actually sweep the place away, and not forgive it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are there? Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Shouldn't the judge of all the earth do what is just?" ADONAI said, "If I find in S'dom fifty who are righteous, then I will forgive the whole place for their sake."
You can almost feel the desperation as Avraham pleads for his nephew. It is interesting to note that Abraham did not consider Lot to be righteous because he had not been circumcised. He is hoping that Lot will be spared based on the righteousness of others which is the basis for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We remember that the number fifty is significant because it is associated with jubilee which has to do with being set free.
Avraham answered, "Here now, I, who am but dust and ashes, have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai. What if there are five less than fifty righteous?" He said, "I won't destroy it if I find forty-five there."
Now, Avraham gets clever by pointing out that, if there were five less than the required fifty, God would be destroying the city because of the actions of only five people. We remember that the number five is the number of grace and Avraham understood grace and the need for it because he was walking with God.
He spoke to him yet again: "What if forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of the forty I won't do it." He said, "I hope Adonai won't be angry if I speak. What if thirty are found there?" He said, "I won't do it if I find thirty there." He said, "Here now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai. What if twenty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of the twenty I won't destroy it." He said, "I hope Adonai won't be angry if I speak just once more. What if ten are found there?" He said, "For the sake of the ten I won't destroy it." ADONAI went on his way as soon as he had finished speaking to Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place.
The conversation continued until Avraham stopped asking for forgiveness at ten. Why did Avraham stop at ten and not go all the way down to one righteous man? Avraham must have thought that the city could not be that bad as to not even have ten men with hearts for God. Would the Lord have spared the city for just one righteous man if Abraham had asked? The answer is yes but he knew their hearts were given over to evil. It seems that many look at our world today with the same "it can't possibly be that bad" attitude. The "church" has become comfortable and forgotten that judgment is coming.
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