Righteous Criteria

Righteous Criteria

Genesis 18: ²² Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³ And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵ 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?”

²⁶ So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸ Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

³⁰ Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

³² Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” ³³ So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

 

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Abraham recognized that the LORD was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah from the cryptic words given by GOD. He was told by GOD that there was a great outcry against Sodom and Gomorra and their sin is very grave. Abraham knew GOD had come to destroy the city, so he began using his bargaining talents that he probably learned while acquiring his wealth.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham started with a very low number, thinking it would be ridiculous to destroy a city if fifty righteous people lived there.
• Abraham suddenly recognized that all of his numbers were too high when it came to finding righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah.
• GOD’s criteria for righteousness does not match human criteria.

 

Being born with a sin nature makes it hard to see GOD as HE really is. HE hold the criteria for what is righteous and what is not. HE gave Sodom and Gomorrah plenty of time to turn to HIM, but they refused and now HE was going to destroy it.

 

He allowed Abraham to try to bargain with HIM, attempting to convince HIM to not destroy the city.  GOD probably allowed this to show Abraham how far humans would fall and that HE holds the criteria for what is righteous. Abraham was probably concerned about Lot and his family. So he bargained feverishly to no avail.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD allow Abraham to bargain with HIM?
• Have you ever tried to bargain with GOD, trying to convince HIM to give you something?
• Will you align with GOD versus trying to bargain with HIM today?

Given a Peek into the Plan

 

Given a Peek into the Plan

Genesis 18: ¹⁶ Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷ And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ¹⁹ 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.” ²⁰ And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹ 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.”

 

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JESUS and the angels had another reason for showing up. While they told Abraham and Sarah, they would miraculously have a child, they also came to judge Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

My Observations:

• GOD did not have to tell Abraham about the plan, but informed him, possibly as a warning to everyone.
• GOD gave Abraham directions on how to act by telling him to “keep the way of the LORD.”
• GOD made sure the future of Abraham’s children would continue if they did “righteousness and justice.”

 

GOD allowed people to freely sin, possibly showing grace that humans would question. HE does not mention the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in these words, but later Abraham knew that’s what was going to happen. GOD’s grace for sin seems strange to those who want to see HIM apply HIS judgement, but what’s missing in this blind view is maybe GOD is showing you, the reader, grace to give you time to turn to HIM.

 

The people in Sodom and Gomorrah had sinned enough. GOD’s ways are not our ways, so HE allowed the sin to reach a certain point, then HE said to Abraham, HE was going to put an end to it. This group of people were intelligent enough to create the human’s version of the Garden of Eden. Wells watered the plants so there was plenty.

 

But where there was plenty, there was sin. They had done everything without following GOD or listening to HIM. Eventually they had reached a level of depravity that was so great, GOD had to put an end to it. GOD intervened and included Abraham in on the plan.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD waits to intervene when we sin?
• Are you busy questioning why GOD does things the way HE does without seeing if HE is giving you grace?
• Are you willing to surrender your thoughts, ways and actions to GOD, so JESUS can be LORD of your life today?

Switched Focus

Switched Focus

Genesis 18: ⁹ Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”

 

So he said, “Here, in the tent.”

 

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.) ¹¹ Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. ¹² Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

 

¹³ And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ ¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

 

¹⁵ But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid.

And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

 

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Up to this point everything was about Abraham. GOD spoke to him directly and told him to leave his father’s house and go to a place where I will show you. Abraham immediately obeyed. GOD then spoke to Abraham a few more times. But this time was different. JESUS and the angels asked together, “Where is Sarah your wife/”

 

My Observations:

• Sarah had faith to go with Abraham to a place GOD told him to go, but she was not told by GOD.
• Sarah had faith to maintain the cattle and the property while Abraham went to rescue Lot and Sodom’s stuff.
• Sarah’s laughter was filled with mixed emotions possibly because up to this point it had been all about Abraham.

 

“Where is Sarah your wife” seems to be a question to Abraham that she should have been present at the dinner. GOD knew where she was physically. But why isn’t she here? Over the years, Abraham may have expressed “his” relationship with GOD, but did not express hers. Abraham had left out the most important component to the promise, namely his wife.

 

Sarah laughed inside herself when she overheard the news for herself. BUT GOD heard the laughter. I believe HE wasn’t scolding her when HE said “No, but you did laugh!”, rather HE was bringing her into the spotlight by speaking to both Abraham and Sarah. The focus was no longer only on Abraham, but on both of them. GOD would return "at the appointed time."

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD ask Abraham about Sarah’s laughter when providing this conversation to Moses?
• Have you ever felt left out of the promises of GOD while HE uses other people?
• Can you believe that GOD sees you and has a special part of HIS plan specifically for you?

Servant Leadership Spreads

Servant Leadership Spreads

Genesis 18: ⁶ So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” ⁷ And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. ⁸ So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

 

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With excitement, Abraham ran into the tent to get her help in serving JESUS and the two angels. He was probably elated that GOD had come back, this time with angels. He enlisted the help of a young man to barbeque a young calf he chose. This must have taken hours.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham’s excitement led him to enlist his wife and a young man to cook a meal.
• Abraham gathered the best food he had to give to the LORD and the angels.
• Abraham acted as a waiter, setting the food before the LORD and the angels, standing there waiting on their needs.

 

Instead of telling people to bring him food, Abraham brought the food out and actively participated in the preparation of the meal. He probably did the washing of the feet himself as he promised earlier. Sarah and the young man probably could not help becoming excited after seeing Abraham’s face.

 

GOD had visited Abraham before, but only to deliver short messages. But this time seemed different. HE was willing to visit for hours. Everyone in the household could see who Abraham had conversations with over the years. This may have solidified their faith in GOD versus their faith in Abraham.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD use words like “hurried” and “quickly” and “hastened” when describing the event to Moses?
• Has GOD ever spoken to you and you got so excited that you wanted the help from others?
• Are you willing to spread your excitement about GOD to others today?

Servant Leader’s Attitude

 

Servant Leader’s Attitude

Genesis 18: 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. ² 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, ³ and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. ⁴ Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”

They said, “Do as you have said.”

 

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Some time after Abraham was circumcised and healed, the LORD appeared to him with two angels. Abraham asked them to stay so he could wash their feet to provide relief. He then wanted them to eat to “refresh your hearts.”

 

My Observations:

• Abraham was a wealthy powerful man who understood GOD’s true power.
• Abraham did not flaunt his power, rather he sprung into action by getting everyone together to serve GOD.
• Abraham did not ask for anything from GOD, rather he wanted to simply serve HIM.

 

The LORD appeared near the terebinth trees. There seems to be something special about these trees because GOD met Abraham there a couple of times. Abraham seemed excited to simply serve. Maybe he wanted to be known as one who is hospitable. He was willing to open his house up to strangers and to share the best food.

 

GOD said HE would stay while Abraham gathered water for HIS feet and food for them to eat. It seems like GOD does not mind being served. It shows the heart of the person who can give a being who has everything a little of what we have.

 

This type of generosity may have stood out to GOD because Abraham did not keep the swag he retrieved from rescuing Sodom. Abraham’s servanthood seemed to come from the heart. He immediately sprung into action looking for ways to make his guests comfortable.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about how hot it was?
• Have you checked your conversations with GOD to see if you are only asking for things?
• Are you willing to serve GOD simply to do it just for HIM versus getting something from HIM?

Still Acting with Immediacy

Still Acting with Immediacy

Genesis 17: ²³ So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. ²⁴ Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁵ And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁶ That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; ²⁷ and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

 

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Twenty-four years earlier, GOD promised Abraham that he would have children, making him a “great nation.” Abraham waited eleven years and listened to his wife Sarah by having a child with her handmaid. It wasn’t until Abraham turned ninety-nine that GOD appeared to him again to confirm that Abraham’s plan was not HIS plan.

 

GOD then instructed Abraham to circumcise himself and every male associated with him. Even Ishmael.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham acted with immediacy to perform circumcision even after waiting twenty-four years.
• Abraham presented Ishmael as his plan to fulfil GOD’s plan.
• Abraham surrendered his plan to GOD by circumcising Ishmael, himself and every male associated with him.

 

“That very same day” means Abraham still had faith in GOD’s plan. When GOD appeared to Abraham at ninety-nine, HE said for the first time “I AM almighty GOD.” “I AM” is significant showing GOD’s sovereignty. Abraham bowed to this strange request of cutting off foreskin, simply for the reason of publicly showing alliance with GOD.

 

Abraham was the beginning of a group of people who believed in GOD together, rather than being born into an inheritance. The nation would provide the lineage of the physical CHRIST, but CHRIST may have been the one who spoke to Abraham in the first place. “I will be their GOD” is what was said to Abraham earlier. FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT spoke as one.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention to Moses how old Abraham and Ismael were when they were circumcised?
• Has your patience with GOD’s power and plan worn thin?
• Do you still act with immediacy when GOD says for you to do or believe in something HE said?

Emotional Rollercoaster

Emotional Rollercoaster

Genesis 17: ¹⁷ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” ¹⁸ And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”

¹⁹ Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. ²⁰ And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. ²¹ But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” ²² Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

 

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Abraham experienced some strange requests from GOD. Leave your family’s land without knowing where you are going was the first strange request that Abraham obeyed. Rename yourself from Abram to Abraham was another strange request because Abram was known.

 

Cut off your foreskin along with everyone in your household was another strange request as a sign of human promise back to GOD. But now GOD was telling Abraham that he would have another child.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham secretly said to himself “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 
• Abraham tried to steer GOD towards Sarai’s plan.
• GOD told Abraham when the child would be born, then left abruptly.

 

Abraham was probably on an emotional rollercoaster after hearing the promise from GOD. He had believed everything said up to this point, but how in the world would his barren wife have a child not? Abraham knew about his ancestors. He knew that Shem lived six hundred years and had many children well into his years.

 

But people around him were probably dying at an age younger than one hundred. He too, may have felt the effects of getting older and wondered if he would die soon. GOD, knowing Abraham’s persistence, told him “No” in answer to his statement about Ishmael being the possible chosen child. GOD left abruptly, possibly because of Abraham’s inquisitive nature. The answer was final.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD include the secret thoughts of Abraham in a conversation revealed to Moses?
• Has GOD told you a promise that seems to be taking a very long time to come to fruition?
• When GOD promises you something bigger than your imagination, how do you react?