“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.” Romans 15:30 ESV
Genesis 17:15-18:15
—Back in Chapter 12 we had Abram called out from his people and told to go to the Promised Land. He did not fully listen and brought Lot with him.
—In Chapter 15 Yahweh tells Abram that he will have an heir to the promise and Abram doubts the Lord and says that Eliezer his servant could be the heir.
—In Chapter 16 when Abram tries to tell his wife that she would have a child she outright denies that can happen and instead has her servant Hagar get pregnant in her place. Although Hagar’s son Ishmael would be blessed he was not what the Lord God had in mind.
—In Chapter 15 Yahweh tells Abram that he will have an heir to the promise and Abram doubts the Lord and says that Eliezer his servant could be the heir.
—In Chapter 16 when Abram tries to tell his wife that she would have a child she outright denies that can happen and instead has her servant Hagar get pregnant in her place. Although Hagar’s son Ishmael would be blessed he was not what the Lord God had in mind.
Shall a child be born?
In Chapter 17- thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael- The Lord changes Abram’s name to Abraham and gives them the sign of circumcision.
As we round out Chapter 17 Sarai is renamed Sara and Abraham laughs because he has a hard time comprehending a son being born to a hundred year old man and a ninety year old woman.
His son will be named Isaac. The meaning of Isaac- Laughter. The start of chapter 18 has three men visiting Abraham (the Lord is one of these men) and telling him directly that a child will be born.
Sarah hears this for herself from inside the tent and laughs (continuing her streak of doubting Yahweh). This brings us to this week’s target verse:
Rodzaju 18:14- Czy cokolwiek jest za trudne dla Pana? (Polish Language)
Genesis 18:14- Is anything too hard for the Lord?
As we round out Chapter 17 Sarai is renamed Sara and Abraham laughs because he has a hard time comprehending a son being born to a hundred year old man and a ninety year old woman.
His son will be named Isaac. The meaning of Isaac- Laughter. The start of chapter 18 has three men visiting Abraham (the Lord is one of these men) and telling him directly that a child will be born.
Sarah hears this for herself from inside the tent and laughs (continuing her streak of doubting Yahweh). This brings us to this week’s target verse:
Rodzaju 18:14- Czy cokolwiek jest za trudne dla Pana? (Polish Language)
Genesis 18:14- Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:16-19:29
—The end of chapter 18 sees the three men (the Lord and two angels) inform Abraham that Sodom (where Lot lives) and Gomorrah are in danger because their sin is very grave.
—Abraham haggles with Yahweh and talks him into saving the city if 10 righteous could be found. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ dying on the cross because Jesus would have went to the cross for the sake of just one man.
The two angels make their way down into Sodom and find Lot sitting in the gate. You didn’t just sit in the gate for any reason- you sat there because you were prominent in the city.
Next Lot takes the angels and offers to help them because he knows how bad the city is- did anyone catch the part about “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” (?)
Every man of Sodom turns out to rape these travelers. Lot tries to help the guests by offering his young daughters so that they can be raped instead, but the Sodomites want the fresh manly guests- not Lot’s daughters.
—Abraham haggles with Yahweh and talks him into saving the city if 10 righteous could be found. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ dying on the cross because Jesus would have went to the cross for the sake of just one man.
The two angels make their way down into Sodom and find Lot sitting in the gate. You didn’t just sit in the gate for any reason- you sat there because you were prominent in the city.
Next Lot takes the angels and offers to help them because he knows how bad the city is- did anyone catch the part about “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” (?)
Every man of Sodom turns out to rape these travelers. Lot tries to help the guests by offering his young daughters so that they can be raped instead, but the Sodomites want the fresh manly guests- not Lot’s daughters.
Their sin is very grave
—This should sicken everybody. Let’s look at one thing that people overlook though: If Lot knew how wicked the men of Sodom were then why was he ignoring their sin and raising his family there?
—When all the men of Sodom are blinded by the light from the angels Lot tries to save his future sons-in-law but they refuse to listen. Finally, and thankfully, both wicked cities are destroyed the next morning.
—Lot’s wife, who is just as doubtful of God’s master plan as Sarah has been, disobeys the order to not even look at Sodom when it’s being destroyed and she turns into a pillar of salt.
—When all the men of Sodom are blinded by the light from the angels Lot tries to save his future sons-in-law but they refuse to listen. Finally, and thankfully, both wicked cities are destroyed the next morning.
—Lot’s wife, who is just as doubtful of God’s master plan as Sarah has been, disobeys the order to not even look at Sodom when it’s being destroyed and she turns into a pillar of salt.
Reflections
Ignoring parts of God’s commands always has bad outcomes- how did Abraham, Lot, Sarah, Hagar, and Lot’s wife all ignore pieces of God’s commands?
Putting a good apple in with a bunch of rotten apples will never turn the rotten to good- Why do “good” people choose to remain in terrible situations when they know how bad things really are?
Finally, God was willing to bargain with Abraham- what does this tell us about God’s character?
Putting a good apple in with a bunch of rotten apples will never turn the rotten to good- Why do “good” people choose to remain in terrible situations when they know how bad things really are?
Finally, God was willing to bargain with Abraham- what does this tell us about God’s character?