July 19, 2021 | by: Gregg Hunter | 0 comments
Posted in: Genesis 18
Yesterday, we saw how important it was for Abraham to entertain some strangers who were passing by his home. It’s good that he did so, because these strangers included God Himself, and God has a message for Abraham.
Please read Genesis 18:9-15.
The first part of God’s message to Abraham is good news: He will bear a son! Of course, God has already told Abraham this multiple times, but, as you can tell from Sarah’s reaction, both Abraham and Sarah had started to doubt. We can’t blame them, for every natural means for them to have a child together had been exhausted. Sarah could no longer physically bear a child, so why would God now say that she could?
How sad it is when we forget about the power and glory and awesomeness of God! He who created the heavens and the earth holds all power in His hands. He can do anything! We often thank God for His providential gifts in our life, and well we should—He often works through natural means to provide for us. But we must not forget that He also works miracles. God does things for us that we simply cannot explain: He saves us from our sin; He miraculously heals sick people, leaving doctors speechless, and more.
Throughout the Bible, God uses supernatural means to reveal His will to mankind. He does so here in his conversation with Abraham in order to tell this patriarch good news: he will have a son within the year! But God also has some bad news to deliver…
Please read Genesis 18:16-21.
God has heard that Sodom and Gomorrah are incredibly sinful. Indeed, God, who knows all things, has a perfect knowledge of the exact depth of their sin. Yet, God is including Abraham in his deliberation as He considers His next course of action.
Why would God allow Abraham to have any input on His decision making? God knows all things! God knows exactly what Abraham will say; God knows exactly how the discussion will go; God knows exactly what He will end up doing. Why does God bother to have the discussion at all?
Because God loves Abraham. God says “For I have chosen him.” As a child of God, Abraham is given an opportunity to talk with God, and a deeper opportunity to be used by God to demonstrate the great mercy and grace of God in regards to Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham knows how sinful these cities are, but he also knows how merciful God is, and Abraham is given a chance to argue for the great mercy of God.
Isn’t it wonderful that God still gives His children opportunities to demonstrate His great mercy and grace? God could simply snap His fingers and have everyone on earth be saved, but He chooses to use you and me to do the work of ministry. Like Abraham, we are given divine insight into the plans of God, the character of God, and the power of God. Like Abraham, God has shown us what He plans to do. And now He wants to use us for His glory. How wonderful it is to be a child of God!
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