December 6^th 2024           Abraham Pleads for Sodom

Today I’d like us to go back to where Abraham Pleads for Sodom, so please turn with me to Genesis 18:1 “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;” We see here that Abraham is being referred to as ‘him’ I believe it is to show that the covenant accounts have not been inter-connected without thought for Mamre was the permanent site from which the tribe still operated. ‘He sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.’ He was probably resting just inside the tent slap and this was why he spotted the strangers. There is a deliberate contrast between Abraham who sits in the entrance of his tent, and Lot who sits in the gate of Sodom in Genesis 19:1 “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;” I feel it heightens the choices the two men have made. In the beginning of the verse it states ‘Yahweh appeared to him’. It may be that at first he did not realize that the three men he saw coming included the angel of Yahweh, so the writer lets us know Who it was that was coming. However the verse does not tell us when that fact dawned on Abraham. It could have been intended to be indicated by the switch from the impersonal ‘they said’ to ‘he said’. That certainly drew attention to the fact that the leader of the three was someone special like Yahweh. Or it could have been when Yahweh reveals to him His plans concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. Whatever the case the reader knows immediately. Onto Genesis 18.2 ‘And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,’ Yahweh is accompanied by two others who, we learn later, are messengers of Yahweh. Take notice of the fact that at this point Abraham does not know who they are. But he does recognize that their coming is important, for they travel in the heat of the day and there was something about them that deserved the direct attention of Abraham. Yet there is portrayed an element of surprise here. He is made suddenly aware of them. This is partly because of the time of day and that he was actually resting when they up and appeared, Nevertheless we, who have been told who they are, are probably expected to see an element of the supernatural. Abraham himself welcomes the men on behalf of the tribe, bowing himself to the ground in the traditional way of showing deep respect, then eagerly and with all honour, also provided full hospitality. Abraham addresses one of them, who clearly stands out from the others as their superior, with full Eastern courtesy. In contrast with Sodom his thought is only for the visitors’ welfare. We see this in Genesis 18:3-5 “And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.” His offer is accepted in the spirit in which it is given. Their assurance contrasts with the certainty they have in Sodom of mistreatment. But the brief reply, in contrast with Abraham’s efforts, brings out the supreme authority of the party. They represent themselves as superiors dealing with an inferior. Genesis 18.6-8 “And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave [it] unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.” That Abraham took charge of the proceedings demonstrates both his hospitality and the importance he placed on the guests. Again there is the contrast with the treatment the two angels would receive in Sodom. We can easily see how Abraham’s humble ‘morsel of bread’ has in fact become a feast. There is no pretense here. It is our inadequacy that makes us seek to ‘defend’ Yahweh’s uniqueness. Yahweh can do whatever He wants. In fact the eating is important. It demonstrates that the arrival of these clearly important men is with peaceful intent, for they accept Abraham’s hospitality. Not to have eaten would have indicated otherwise. It is possibly also intended to bring out Abraham’s unique relationship with Yahweh. Now moving on to Genesis 18:9 “And they said unto him, Where [is] Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.” We see here the question is still from the impersonal ‘they’. Abraham knows they are important but is not yet aware of the One with Whom he is dealing.  Then we go to Genesis 18:10-12 “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him. 11 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” Right here is where I believe Abram realizes who he is talking with. This is the moment when the leader of the three reveals Himself as a special messenger from Yahweh. The ‘they’ becomes ‘he’, and the promise of a son through Sarah is renewed. Sarah was hidden right inside the tent door listening in to what was said, or maybe she was standing in the tent entrance, visible but discreet, ready to watch over any further needs of the visitors. It is at that time it is made clear that Sarah was pass the age of child bearing. Her periods had ceased. The birth of a son was seemingly impossible. The words she overhears make Sarah laugh to herself. The idea is outrageous. The pleasure refers to the pleasure of birth, the joy when a child comes into the world. Let’s compare this to John 16:21 “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” Nonetheless her laugh was actually a mark of unbelief. Yet it may be possible that Sarah was not yet aware of who the visitor were. But her expression may have been enough to give away her amusement. There is something agonizing in her words. The word for ‘grown old’ means ‘worn out’. She is beyond usefulness. But with Yahweh no one is ever ‘too old’ to be used. Next Yahweh turned His attention again to Abraham Genesis 18:13&14 “And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Nothing is hidden from Yahweh. The laugh, and the thought of the heart, is discerned. And it is answered. ‘Is anything too hard for Yahweh?’ Yahweh can do anything. We all need to know this in our hearts and know when He says the time is right He will make it happen. Yahweh is seen as supreme and all powerful. So the promise is sure. Sarah will have a son. The partly direct, partly indirect method of first referring to Yahweh and then speaking in the first person is suggestive of the angel of Yahweh. Next we see Sarah’s reply and Yahweh’s answer in Genesis 18:15 “Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.” Her fear arises from the fact that the man knows her thoughts, and that what she had done was bad manners. It is stressed by the fact that she interrupts the men in conversation, another breach of they protocol, for she is not sitting with them. But she is becoming aware that the One Who is speaking has the power so to speak and the power to punish. She tries to cover up her failure. She has laughed at the representative of Yahweh. But she cannot deceive Yahweh, nor can we. The words appear a little harsh. But Yahweh wants her to know that nothing is hidden from Him. Also that He wants her to face up to her unbelief. It will be better for her if she does. Sometimes Yahweh has to be blunt to be kind. Now the final purpose of the angles arrival was to bring judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah for their evil ways. This emphasizes that Yahweh is the Judge of all the earth and not just of the tribe in Mamre. The other two were angels who came as witnesses to demonstrate that the cities were being given a fair chance. Although the main purpose of the coming of Yahweh Himself was the confirmation of the covenant in respect to Sarah having a son, and to give Abraham an opportunity to act as mediator on behalf of any righteous people in the guilty cities. It this renewal of the covenant and the promise Abraham received about the cities which makes the writing down of these events necessary. The first is the treasured promise of a natural heir. The One Who can destroy Sodom and Gomorrah can surely produce an heir. The second is a record of Yahweh’s covenant with Abraham which will result in the escape of his nephew, Lot. The fact that Yahweh came to inform Abraham of what He is about to do, and that He allows him to be an intercessor  emphasizes Abraham’s unique position in Yahweh’s sight. As the beginning of the new people of Yahweh he is introduced to Yahweh’s secrets, and given his first opportunity to influence wider events through intercession. Genesis 18:16 “And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.” Knowing the final result our hearts chill at the words. But the incident is perfectly innocent to Abraham. It simply means that that was the direction in which it was clear they were going. He was the perfect host to the end. He had no other purpose. But how important it was for Lot that he should do so, for we can see just how much can depend on a small courtesy. The next verse is probably where Abraham becomes aware that this is not just a messenger of Yahweh, but Yahweh Himself. Genesis 18:17-19 “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Nothing could more reveal the importance of Abraham in the purposes of Yahweh than this stated intention of Yahweh. Abraham is so involved in Yahweh’s plan for the future of the world that he is deserving of knowing what Yahweh will do. Yahweh has, more or less taken Abraham into partnership, even though it is  as a very junior partner. Yahweh does not hide His secrets from His prophets as we see in Amos 3.7 “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” and as you can see in chapter 15, Abram is a prophet. This particular blessing is to come through the seed of Isaac, not of Ishmael. Thus, while Ishmael is to be blessed as Abraham’s seed, Yahweh’s purpose for the world will be achieved through Isaac’s seed. The particular covenant of chapter 12 , rather than the wider covenant of chapter 17, is in mind here as befits the previous mention of the special heir. This is a addition to 18:14. It confirms that a great and mighty nation will arise from Abraham through Isaac, and that all the nations of the world will be blessed through Abraham, and his seed, through the chosen line. This latter promise is significantly only stated elsewhere in Genesis 12:3, which is pre-Ishmael, Genesis 22:18 where it is directly related to the incident with Isaac, and Genesis 26:4 where it is promised to Isaac. It is thus never directly related to the wider covenant of chapter 17. Before I forget this brings out how ancient the covenant in chapter 17 is. Such promises would never have been accepted by later Israel. Yahweh’s purpose in setting Abraham apart is also stated. Thus morality and principles are set at the heart of the covenant with Abraham, because he will teach and order his family and family tribe to keep the way of Yahweh so they will do righteousness and justice. It is this that will bring about the final blessing. The covenant conditions are merely a mirror of what Yahweh requires from the world. Now Yahweh reveals His full purpose to Abraham in Genesis 18:20-22 “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. 22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.” The cry of those who have suffered in Sodom and Gomorrah, like the cry of Abel’s blood .
Genesis 4:10 "And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.", they cried out from the ground until reaching Yahweh. It is the cry of the land itself as it swallowed up their blood and has witnessed extreme sin beyond the imagination of men in other words its cry. As the next chapter makes clear no stranger was safe in their streets, no woman could preserve her virtue. They had become utterly degrading and Yahweh is of course aware of the truth. That is why He has come. But He wants Abraham to be aware of what is about to happen before it happens. Thus will he be able to intercede in such a way as to deliver his nephew and any other righteous men and thus will he and his people learn the lesson that will result from the appalling event to come. It is for Abraham’s sake that the delay has taken place. But Yahweh also wants Abraham to know that He gave Sodom and Gomorrah every chance. He is concerned for Abraham to know the full truth about the situation so that he will be satisfied that Yahweh has done what is right. In a sense this is a glimpse of the great Day of Judgment that will one day happen. Again Yahweh will already know everything, but the Day is necessary so as to confirm to all beings that Yahweh has dealt justly. So it is a sign to Yahweh of Abraham’s worth that he is concerned for his neighbors , and willing even to risk the displeasure of Yahweh in order to help them. Even while they go towards Sodom, Abraham pleads for Sodom as he stands on the mountainside looking down on the cities of the Plain before him shown in Genesis 19:27-28. As he looked down on the doomed cities, there is no way he could not be stirred. Abraham drew near and continued to speak. Genesis 18.23-25 “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that [are] therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Although unaware of it the one who is being tested here is Abraham. Will he be concerned for his neighbors who are outside the covenant? But Abraham reveals that he has the right instinct and an understanding of Yahweh’s character. He knows that Yahweh is merciful and will not be unfair in His behavior towards men. Thus he makes this the basis of his plea. Can a righteous Yahweh destroy fifty righteous men in order to bring His judgment on the remainder? Never, says Abraham, it is impossible. Surely He Who is the judge of all the earth must do what is right. Only the guilty must suffer. The righteous cannot be treated in the same way as the wicked. In view of the belief of the day in the solidarity of communities, so that they were seen as one in guilt or innocence, Abraham’s view is refreshing. He separates the individual from the community unlike in Ezekiel 18.20 and a few others. He believes that in the end every man is responsible singly before Yahweh. It is telling that Abraham nowhere tries to plead that Sodom as a whole is not worthy of the punishment they are to receive. He is too well aware of what goes on there. But he cannot believe that there are not some who deserve mercy, and he hopes, in achieving mercy for them, to achieve mercy for all.. It is significant that Abraham sees Yahweh as judge of all the earth. To him there is but one Yahweh Who is over all. But equally significant is his confidence in the moral nature of Yahweh. He knows Yahweh must do what is right, that He is dependably a righteous Yahweh. It is to his credit that his concern is not just for Lot. His concern is for Sodom as a whole. The gods of the nations could not have been appealed to like this. Their standards were similar to men’s and their portrayed behavior often worse. And yes Yahweh is just as we see in Genesis18.26 “And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Yahweh confirms Abraham’s faith in His justice. If there are fifty righteous within the city all will be spared lest the fifty righteous be thought to be unfairly dealt with. Then Abraham tests Yahweh further. Genesis!8:27-32 “And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which [am but] dust and ashes: 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for [lack of] five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy [it]. 29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do [it] for forty's sake. 30 And he said [unto him], Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do [it], if I find thirty there. 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for twenty's sake. 32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake.” Abraham is aware of his temerity in speaking up and abases himself to Yahwehd. For ‘dust and ashes’, a token of unfitness and unworthiness, this is found in Job 30:19 “He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.”. But it is noticeable that here he refers to Yahweh as ‘the Lord’. He is Lord of Creation, Lord of Egypt, Lord of Sodom, Lord of Abraham, Lord and Judge of all. Who then is he, Abraham, to dare to question him? There is nothing brazen about Abraham’s response. He recognizes with Whom he is dealing. The title used emphasizes this. It suggests the approach of a person imploring to one who judges. Abraham is not approaching Him as Yahweh the covenant Yahweh, for Sodom is not within the covenant, but as ‘the Lord’, the One Who is over all. Each request of Abraham, torn in his heart as he looks down on Sodom and considers its fate, receives a similar response, until even Abraham is satisfied. He dare go no further. Surely there must be ten there? If not they can deserve no mercy. Some have questioned stopping at ten. But ten represents at the most two families. If there is only one family that is not unrighteous, and that composed of sojourners, and Abraham is aware of that one family, he knows there can be no plea for Sodom deserves its fate. The whole passage is important. It emphasizes Yahweh’s justice in dealing with Sodom as He does. Yahweh does not want to destroy but He has no alternative. Abraham’s very plea finally demonstrates that it has gone beyond the possibility of redemption. One day Yahweh will have to make the same decision about the world. At present Yahweh deals with the world on the same basis, sparing the many for the sake of the few. But one day He will call time. Then He will take out the few and His judgment will come. So please take this to heart and repent for tomorrow is guaranteed to no-one.