Genesis Lesson 11
GOD MADE ABRAHAM HIS FRIEND
Genesis 18:1-19:38
Key verse 18:19
I. Abraham Entertained Strangers (18:1-33)
In what new way did God appear to Abraham (1,2a)? How did Abraham welcome them (2b-8)? What can we learn from Abraham’s family, who welcomed the travelers? (Heb 13:2)
What did God tell Sarah would happen (10)? Why could Sarah not but laugh (11,12)? What faith did God plant in her (13-15)? By not hiding from Abraham what He was about to do, who was God making Abraham into (16,17)? (Jn 15:14,15) What plan did God have for Abraham (18,19)?
What did God tell Abraham regarding Sodom and Gomorrah (20,21)? What did Abraham pray for after he learned about the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (22-33)? What did Abraham’s intercessory prayer show us about his attitude toward God and his neighbors? What can we learn here about God’s character?
II. The Lord Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (19:1-38)
How did Lot welcome the angels (1-3)? Compare Lot’s and Abraham’s hospitality. What sin did the Sodomites want to commit against the angels (4,5)? And why did they want to harm Lot (6-9)? How were the angels merciful to Lot and his family (10-13)? Why did Lot’s sons-in-law reject his plea (14)?
Why would Lot hesitate to leave the city (15,16a)? How did God help him (16b,17)? Why did Lot want to flee to Zoar (18-22)?
What was God’s judgment like upon Sodom and Gomorrah (23-28)? What happened to Lot’s wife? Why did God save Lot during the judgment (29)? Think about the power of intercessory prayer. How did the tribes of Moab and Ammon begin (30-38)?
Genesis Lesson 11
GOD MADE ABRAHAM HIS FRIEND
Genesis 18:1-19:38
Key Verse 18:18,19
“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and
all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep
the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord
will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
Abraham was called God’s friend (Jas 2:23; 2Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8). Today’s passage reveals the image of Abraham as God’s friend. Up until a certain point, Abraham’s faith had not gone beyond himself. However, after he accepted God’s great vision for him, described in Chapter 17, and circumcised his heart, he grew into a father of many nations. God called one useless old man “Abraham” and God helped him to grow to be his friend in order to fulfill his plan for world salvation. Through today’s passage we pray that we may overcome our self-centeredness and grow to be God’s friend.
Abraham Entertained Strangers (18:1-15)
So far God had only appeared to Abraham in visions, but now the Lord appeared to Abraham in person (1, 2), as the Incarnated God (Jn 8:56). While he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day, Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them, bowed low to the ground and said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way -- now that you have come to your servant." It was a general custom in the Middle East to entertain strangers, but Abraham’s welcome was special. He hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. The expression “bowed low to the ground” means to “worship” or “pay special honor” in Hebrew. It shows that he treated his guests as he would God. Expressions such as “hurried”, “ran”, “quick”, and “stood near them” show that sincerity, humility, meekness and service had become second nature to him. He made an effort to please his guests. He hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread." Then he ran to his herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. Later he brought them a choice tender beef steak and freshly baked bread. He made an effort to run here and there, which was not the behavior of an old man, but a young man. Abraham was active, enthusiastic and sincere. There are two kinds of house. They are closed houses and open houses. A closed house is family-centered and an open house is other-centered. When bible students are invited to the home of their shepherds and eat together, they can feel the love of God and a personal relationship can be established. In order to have an open house one should have an open mind and create an atmosphere that treats guests with great hospitality. When we look at Abraham and Sarah, who were always so willing to serve unexpected guests, we can see that their house was an open house.
When we think about the hospitality of Abraham, even we feel good. His heart overflowed with the love and grace of God. When we see that Sarah and the servants in Abraham’s house did not complain but wholeheartedly followed Abraham’s instructions, we see that Abraham’s house was an environment where guests could be entertained with joy and thanks. Did they know that their guests were angels? They did not; Hebrews 13:2 reads, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Abraham entertained strangers; by chance, he ended up hosting angels. Abraham’s hospitality shows that he treated everyone with love. It was a joy for him to treat guests generously. His heart was as full of grace as a fattened calf.
Where does generosity like this come from? Does it come from being very wealthy? Not at all! There are many people who have a large amount of money, are wealthy, but are stingy. They are like poor people in the midst of abundance. Proverbs 11:24-25 reads, “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Some people know how to earn money, but they do not know how to use it. They use their abundant money to sin with, and they are stingy to others. Their inner person is cold and critical. But Abraham used his money without reservation for his guests. Abraham became generous when he accepted God’s great vision for him as a father of many nations and lived by faith according to this vision. Faith based on vision enables us to serve others generously and joyfully, even though we live in a competitive society and our money is limited. When we live by faith God is able to make grace abound to us, so that in all things, at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work (2Co 9:8).
These days people are becoming more individualistic and losing their humanity. They become more selfish; the world becomes more and more full of selfish people. Indifference has become a virtue and people tend only to care about themselves. Rich people overeat and then spend money on losing weight while poor people are dying of starvation. The world is becoming like a desert where we cannot find love and generosity. This shows that we should become like Abraham and entertain others because we are believers. Our house should be like an oasis in the desert. We should open our houses and eat in fellowship with others, sharing the love of God. In the course of sharing food we can experience the love of God for each other. Some people think that they cannot invite others because they do not have the money to entertain. It is not a matter of money, however, but a matter of heart and faith. Even a piece of bread and a cup of tea can please others if we give them with our heart and mind.
The Lord was pleased when he was treated well, and he gave Abraham good news, saying, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah overheard it in a kitchen and she laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" The expression “worn out” means “dried out.” Her laughter was a bitter smile that was born of her unbelief. How could she be pregnant when she was dried out? Humanly speaking it was impossible. Sometimes we may wonder how we can be used by God when we feel utterly washed out and like a dried-up tree. But with God all things are possible (Mt 19:26). This is because God is the Creator. God is the owner of life. God established the laws of nature, so he can change them at any moment, if he wishes to. Hudson Taylor said that what God does seems to be impossible at first and difficult at second but in the end, all things are done. The Lord learned Sarah’s thought and rebuked her, saying to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord?” The Lord knew that Sarah laughed to herself, so he planted faith in her heart. Sarah was embarrassed and said, “I did not laugh." But the Lord said, “Yes, you did laugh.” A little quarrel ensued between the Lord and Sarah about this matter of laughing. The Lord was full of humor.
As we see here that the Lord made Abraham and Sarah laugh. The Lord is the one who makes us laugh. In the 1960s and 1970s it truly seemed laughable that Koreans might evangelize on campuses of advanced countries in Europe and America. However, the Lord made us laugh and he made what was impossible possible. Now, in many parts of the world, disciple-making ministries are growing. When we see prayer topics that are beyond our reason, experience and understanding, we do not believe them and laugh in doubt. Yet the Lord works beyond our imagination. Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Abraham offered an intercessory prayer (18:16-33; 19:29)
After the meal the strangers got up and left for Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” This meant that the Lord was willing to reveal his will. See verse 18: “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.” The Lord told Abraham that he would become a powerful nation and all peoples on earth would be blessed through the Messiah who would come from the line of Abraham. Galatians 3:7 reads, “Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.” All Christians are Abraham’s descendants. Abraham’s descendants are scattered all over the world. So indeed Abraham became a great and powerful nation. Through Abraham, God wanted to send the Messiah and establish the kingdom of Christ, which is the kingdom of God.
In addition, God wanted to establish justice through Abraham. Consider verse 19: “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." People deserted the way of the Lord, thinking that it would bind them and take away their freedom. However, once they had deserted the way of the Lord they became adulterous and idol-worshipping and committed all kinds of wicked deeds (Ro 1:21-31). The basic reason why the world is full of violence, adultery and corruption is that people abandoned the way of the Lord. Our forefathers came to America for freedom of their faith. As long as they followed the way of the Lord, this nation became powerful; it became the land of freedom and justice. Yet as we desert the way of the Lord, America becomes like Sodom and Gomorrah, filled with violence and sexual immorality. God wanted Abraham to direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what was right and just. When people live according to the way of the Lord, true justice will be established.
Here we can see that the Lord made Abraham his friend. The Lord allowed Abraham to know what he was doing so that Abraham could voluntarily participate in what he was doing. The fact that the Lord revealed his greatest secret to Abraham shows that he trusted Abraham very much. Abraham was no longer a person who stumbled into problems and caused troubles for the Lord. Abraham began to know God and to become God’s friend; as friends, they worked together in God’s redemptive work. In other words, Abraham became a man of faith whom God could trust. The Lord did not place him in the position of a servant, but in that of a friend. It was amazing grace. Jesus said to his disciples, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (Jn 15:14). When we obey the word of God we can become God’s friends and work together with God. Yet becoming God’s friends does not mean that we are equal to God. It means that we know the work of God and voluntarily participate in it.
What, then, is the privilege of a friend of God? First of all, God’s friend can know what God is doing. A servant may know what his mater is doing but he cannot participate in it. A slave should obey whatever his master asks him to do even though he does not understand it. But friend knows his master’s business and can participate in it positively. Because he knows the will of his master, he can joyfully obey. Amos 3:7 reads, “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” The Lord trusts people like Abraham and makes them his friends and reveals his secrets. The Lord revealed to Abraham his will and his plan for judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah (20, 21).
Secondly, God’s friend has the privilege of offering intercessory prayer. Abraham knew that the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great and their sin so grievous that the Lord would judge them. But Abraham did not say that they should be judged by God because of their terrible sins. He knew the heart of the Lord, who does not want anyone to perish, but rather desires everyone to repent (2 Pe 3:9). He came to the Lord and offered an intercessory prayer for them. His prayer was not a demanding prayer. He knew God’s character well and he prayed based on God’s character. He knew that the Lord was full of compassion yet full of righteousness. He knew that the Lord would listen to intercessory prayers. He also knew that the Lord was the God of mercy and that God would withhold his judgment if there were even a few righteous people. Abraham’s prayer was very cautious. He did not babble or use many words. He had a clear prayer topic. He continually appealed to the Lord’s righteous character and merciful heart. Abraham’s prayer became a model for all intercessory prayers.
Abraham did not think that there would be even fifty righteous people in Sodom, so he tried to cut down the number as much as possible. He said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?” Then he kept reducing the number; from fifty to forty five to forty to thirty to twenty to ten. His attitude was humble. He knew that he was mere dust and ashes. His prayer was persistent. He had an unyielding spirit. Most of all, he had the heart of a shepherd. When he thought about all the people who would perish because of their sin he could not bear it. Probably, in his heart, he thought about Lot. But he did not pray only for Lot but for all the people in Sodom and Gomorrah. His prayer was like a priestly prayer. When we see how he prayed for those who were hopeless we can see that he was a father of many nations.
The Lord was pleased with him and answered all of his prayers. The Lord did not rebuke Abraham for reducing the number too much, but rather granted all of Abraham’s requests. In the end, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they did not even have 10 righteous people. See 19:29: “So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” The Lord did not ignore Abraham’s sincere prayer but answered it. Lot was saved not because of his righteousness but because of Abraham’s prayer. We have been saved not because of our own righteousness but because of Jesus’ intercessory prayer for us.
Here we learn two important things. First of all, we learn the importance of righteous people. The Lord said that he would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there were ten righteous people there. When we read this we understand that the rise and fall of a nation does not depend on politicians or rich people but on the righteous. Jeremiah 5:1 reads, “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” The Lord treasures righteous people and he works through them. The righteous are those who walk with God by faith (Ro 1:17).
Secondly, we learn the importance of intercessory prayer. Sometimes we might feel like giving up on praying for a particularly challenging bible student who is like Lot, thinking that he does not have hope. When we pray for North America to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, we may doubt that our prayer could make a difference and give up. We may doubt that the Lord hears our prayers. But the Lord does not miss a single one of our prayers for our bible students, our family members, our campus students, the society and all nations. This is because the Lord is pleased with intercessory prayer. 1 John 5:14 reads, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (Jas 5:16b).
The Lord Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (19:1-38)
Chapter 19 shows the righteousness of God when he judged the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. When the two angels arrived in Sodom, in the evening, Lot was sitting at the gateway of the city and invited them to his house. He prepared a dinner for them, and gave them hard bread without yeast. He entertained his guests but was very stingy compared to Abraham. There was no generosity or joy or abundance. Abraham reminds us of a tender fattened calf, but Lot reminds us of tasteless hard toast. Furthermore, neither Lot’s wife nor his daughters was present when the angels arrived at Lot’s house. When we see that Lot was making bread without yeast, we understand that there was no love, even among his family members. Lot’s spirit was dry in that city. Because he lived both in God and the world, he did not have God’s generosity or grace in mind. Lot is an example of the worldly, nominal Christian. When two of the angels wanted to sleep after dinner, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom, young and old, came to have sex with them. They wanted to violate two angels. They were homosexuals. When we look at the expression “all the men from every part of the city of Sodom -- both young and old,” we can see how corrupt they were. In Sodom, homosexuality was popular. Every night there were homosexual orgies. Lot wanted to give his two daughters to protect his guests. This shows how compromising and worldly Lot was. The men wanted to harm Lot, which shows how devoid of law and order Sodom was. Then the angels blinded the eyes of the people and protected Lot. They asked Lot to bring out all the people who belonged to him. Lot went out and told his daughters and sons-in-law who were pledged to marry his daughters, but they laughed at him. They had an amazing chance for salvation right before their destruction, but they missed it because they did not have ears to hear.
What about Lot? See verse 16: “When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.” We should give up our hope for the world and run without looking back if we do not want to be destroyed together with the world. But Lot could not cut himself off from the world completely. He was barely saved, and that because of Abraham’s prayer. Why did Lot hesitate before such a dreadful judgment? It was because he loved the world so much. Abraham lived in the world, but he did not belong to the world and he lived in a tent. He lived as a holy pilgrim instead of being bound by the world. But, although Lot believed in God, he loved the world. He sought worldly security and took root in the world. He seemed to be wise but was a fool.
Look at verses 24 and 25: “Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land.” Finally the Lord destroyed everything in Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom and Gomorrah, which had been so splendid, became ashes in a moment. Lot’s sons-in-law, who thought that Lot was joking, became ashes. These days some mock God, saying, “Where is his judgment? When is it?” They will experience God’s judgment without fail. God’s judgment comes suddenly without warning.
Consider verse 26: “But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Lot’s wife disobeyed the words of the angels, and looked back. The expression “Look back” means to “persistently stare.” It shows how worldly she was. Maybe she was thinking about her five-karat diamond ring, so she turned around. One who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for service in the kingdom of God (Lk 9:62). When Jesus talked about God’s final judgment, he said, “Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Lk 17:32,33). Lot’s daughters were worldly, influenced by their parents. They followed the customs of the world. They got their father to drink wine and had sex with him. They produced Moab and Ammon. Historically, Moabites and Ammonites were enemies of God. The fruit of Lot’s life was terrible. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a great warning for us. Jude verse 7 reads, “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” God judges people who do not live according to his ways of justice and he never fails to judge them.
In conclusion, if God could make Abraham his friend, he can make us his friends in our generation. Therefore, we should outgrow our self-centeredness and become friends of God, and serve God’s plan for world salvation together with him, knowing his heart.