In
Genesis 18, Abraham has another encounter with God in human form.
For the third time, I believe, the pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus
Christ, the second person in the trinity visits Abraham. This time
He is accompanied by two angels. Look at Abe’s reaction, “he
hurried to meet them“,
he begs, “do
not pass your servant by“,
he invites them in, “wash
your feet and rest“,
have “something
to eat“,
and “be
refreshed“.
Then, like any good husband he yells to Sarah, “Quick…
get them some bread“.
Abraham is a gracious host, he treats Jesus as an honored guest.
What a lesson for us! We sometimes treat Jesus like a holy vending
machine rather than Holy God. May we never forget the reverence we
need to have toward God, we are not to name and claim promises from
God, but to humbly approach God through the righteousness of Christ
our Savior.
Next
the promise is repeated (this time within the hearing of Sarah), “I
will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your
wife will have a son“.
But we read, “Sarah
laughed to herself as she thought, ‘I am worn out and my master is
old, will I now have the pleasure?“.
Remember Abraham laughed too, but his was a laughter of joy because
he believed the promise. Sarah’s was of disbelief. Even though
Sarah laughed “to herself”, the Lord asks two questions,
“Why
did Sarah laugh?”
and “Is
anything too hard for the Lord?“.
Someone told me once, You should only pray for the big things”,
but I wonder is anything a big thing for God? God is God of all our
life, not just parts. As my Pastor says, “If Jesus is not Lord
of All He is not Lord at all”. Just like Abraham, we need to
invite Him into our home, our work, our marriage, our calendar- We
worship God seven days a week.
In
the last section of the chapter, God allows Abraham in on His plan to
destroy Sodom. And we are given a wonderful picture of intercessory
prayer. Abraham begins to plead with God, “Will
you destroy the righteous with the unrighteous?“.
Abraham asks, and God agrees, “If
I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the
whole place for their sake“.
Abraham keeps asking, what about forty five, forty, thirty…. God
finally agrees, “for
the sake of ten, I will not destroy it“.
One thing that is important for us to remember, Abraham’s prayer is
specific! When we pray specific prayers, WE are blessed when God
answers them. One of the many reason we study God’s word is that we
may know how to pray in harmony with God’s Word. Romans 12:2 tells
us, “Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to
test and approve what God’s will is- His good, perfect and pleasing
will“.