“Come now and let us

settle it…”

Isaiah 1: 18

Genesis 18

zGenesis 18 2 Parts

Part 1: 18: 1 –15 Covenant confirmed again, Sarah

laughs

Part 2: 18: 16 –33 Abraham negotiates with God

zGenesis 18: 1 - 15

God’s covenant with Abraham is confirmed (again!)

Abraham sees 3 men approaching and he falls face down

before them –sign of worship

He states, “If I have found favor (grace) in Your eyes do not

pass by your servant…”

An old song we used to sing: ‘Pass me not, oh gentle Savior,

hear my humble cry; while on others You are calling –do not

pass me by…’

V4 & 5 Let me wash Your feet and prepare a meal for

You… they accept

V 6 –8 Abraham tells Sarah to make fresh bread, tells his

servant to prepare the calf he chooses; then when all is

prepped –he brings a full meal of cheese curds, milk, and

cooked calf with the prepared bread. He stands back and

watches (servant’s position) as the 3 eat.

V9 “Where is Sarah?”

V10 - 12 “This time next year, when I return, Sarah will

have a son.” Sarah laughed…. “Will I have this pleasure?”

V13 The Lord asks Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh?...

Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”

V15 Sarah was afraid so she lied… “I did not laugh!”

The Lord said, “yes, you did laugh…” The Lord

confronts her without condemnation… (this is mercy)

Part 2 Genesis 18: 16 - 33

After they are done eating, they turn to walk towards Sodom,

Abraham walks with them to see them on their way,

The Lord asks a rhetorical question (a question made more like

a statement) “Shall I hide this from Abraham?”

“No” because:

Abraham will be a great and powerful nation

All the earth will be blessed through him (Jesus)

I have chosen him (Abraham)

He will teach his children to obey My word and do what is right

and just…obedience will bring the promises

Leadership Class with God begins:

God shares the outcries against Sodom and Gomorrah is so

great because their sins are so horrible and grievous… “I will

go down and see…”

V22 The two angels continue walking while Abraham

remains standing before God. Abraham asks, “Will You

sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Will You punish

the righteous the same as You will the wicked?”

V25 “Far be it from You…will not (right right) the Judge of all

the earth do right?”

The Negotiations Begin…

Abraham: “If there are 50 righteous people, will you spare?”

God: “Yes”

Abraham: “If you find 45 righteous people, will you spare?”

God: “Yes”

Abraham: “If you find 40 righteous people, will you spare?”

Abraham: “If you find 30 righteous people, will you spare?”

Abraham: “If you find 20 righteous people, will you spare?”

Abraham: “If you find 10 righteous people, will you spare?”

God said, “Yes” and was done speaking with Abraham and

left

zWhat do we see?

Gen 18: 1 –15 God confirms His promises to Abraham

and confronts Sarah NOT condemns = mercy.

Is there anything to hard for the Lord? Note Abraham’s

heart’s plea: “do not pass by me…”

Gen 18: 16 – 33 God’s foreknowledge not same as His

predestination – Could Abraham’s plea effect God’s

choices?

God desires our conversation and invites us to talk with

Him – Isaiah 1: 18 “Come now and let us settle it…”

Hebrews 4: 16, “Let us approach God’s throne of grace

with confidence (boldness) so we may receive mercy and

grace to help us in our time of need.”

He calls us “His own children”…let us seek and ask Him!

He is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Heb 13:8)