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;” And the Lord - Jehovah, the Divine name
employed throughout the present and succeeding chapters, which are accordingly
assigned to the Jehovist (Tuch, Bleek, Davidson, Colenso), with the exception of
ch. 19:29, which is commonly regarded as a fragment of the original Elohist's
narration - appeared unto him. The absence of Abraham's name has been thought
to favor the idea that the present chapter should have begun at Genesis 17:23 (Quarry).
That the time of this renewed Divine manifestation was shortly after the incidents
recorded in the preceding chapter
is apparent, as also that its object was the
reassurance of the patriarch concerning the birth of Isaac. In the plains of Mamre.
Literally, in the oaks of Mature (see ch. 13:18). And he sat in the tent door. Literally,
in the opening of the tent, a fold of which was fastened to a post near by to admit
any air that might be stirring. In the heat of the day, i.e. noontide (compare
I Samuel 11:11), as the cool of the day, or the wind of the day (ch. 3:8), means
eventide. "The usual term for noon is Tsoharim (ch. 43:16), that is, the time of
'double or greatest light,' while a more poetical expression is 'the height of the
day' (Proverbs 4:18), either because then the sun has reached its most exalted
position, or because it appears to stand still in the zenith" (Kalisch). Among
the Orientals the hour of noon is the time of rest (compare Song of Solomon 1:7)
and the time of dinner (ch. 43:16, 25). In this case the patriarch had probably dined
and was resting after dinner, since, on the arrival of his visitors, preparations had
to be commenced for their
entertainment.
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,” And he
lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood
by him. Not in addition to (Kalisch), but including (Keil), Jehovah, whose appearance
to the patriarch, having in the previous verse been first generally stated, is now
minutely described. That these three men were not manifestations of the three
persons of the Godhead (Justin Martyr, Ambrose, Cyril), but Jehovah accompanied
by two created angels (Keil, et alii, may be inferred from v.1. When first perceived
by the patriarch they were believed to be men, strangers, who were approaching
his tent, and indeed were already
close to it, or standing by him. And when he saw
them (i.e. understood that one of them was Jehovah, Jarchi rightly explaining that
the word translated above "looked," i.e. with the bodily vision now implies an act
of mental perception), he
ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed
himself toward the ground. The expression denotes the complete prostration
of the body by first falling on the knees, and then inclining the head forwards
till it touches the ground. As this was a mode of salutation practiced by
Orientals towards superiors generally, such as kings and princes (II Samuel 9:8),
but also towards equals (ch. 23:7; 33:6-7; 42:6; 43:26), as well as towards
the Deity (ch. 22:5; I Samuel 1:3), it is impossible to affirm with certainty
(Keil, Lunge) that an act of worship was intended by the patriarch, and not
simply the presentation of human and civil honor (Calvin). If Hebrews 13:2
inclines to countenance the latter interpretation, the language in which
Abraham immediately addresses one of the three men almost leads to the
conclusion that already the
patriarch had recognized Jehovah.
3 “And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away,
I pray thee, from thy servant:” And said, My Lord - Adonai, literally, Lord, as in
ch. 15:2, (Septuagint, κύριε – kurie - Lord; Vulgate, Domine; Syriac, Onkelos, Kalisch,
Alford, Lange), though the term may have indicated nothing more thanAbraham’s
recognition of the superior authority of the Being addressed (Murphy). The readings
Adoni, my Lord (Authorized
Version, Dathius, Rosenmüller),
and
(Gesenius), are incorrect - if now I have found favor in thy sight - not implying
dubiety on Abraham s part as to his acceptance before God (Knobel), but rather
postulating his already conscious enjoyment of the Divine favor as the ground
of the request about to be preferred (Delitzsch, Lange). Those who regard Abraham
as unconscious of the Divinity of Him to whom he spake see in his language nothing
but the customary formula of Oriental address (Rosenmüller; compare ch. 30:27;
I Samuel 20:29; Esther 7:3) - pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. The
hospitality of the Eastern, and even of the Arab, has been frequently remarked by
travelers. Volney describes the Arab as dining at his tent door in order to invite
passers-by ('Tray.,' 1. p. 314). "The virtue of hospitality is one of the great
redeeming virtues in the character of the Bedouins (Kalisch). "Whenever our
path led us near an encampment, as was frequently the case, we always found
some active sheikh or venerable patriarch sitting 'in his tent door,' and as soon
as we were within hail we heard the earnest words of welcome and invitation
which the Old Testament Scriptures had rendered long ago familiar to us: Stay,
my lord, stay. Pass not on till thou hast eaten bread, and rested under thy servant's
tent. Alight and remain until thy servant kills a kid and prepares, a feast'"
(Porter's 'Giant Cities of Bashan,'
p. 326; cf. ibid. p. 87).
4 “Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and
wash your feet, and rest
yourselves under the
tree:” Let a little water, I pray yon, be fetched, and
wash your feet. Feet washing was a necessary part of Oriental hospitality (compare
ch. 19:2; 24:32; 43:24). "Among the ancient Egyptians the basins kept in the
houses of the rich for this purpose were sometimes of gold" (Freeman, Bible
Manners, 'Homiletic Quarterly,' vol. 1. p. 78). "In
necessary part of hospitality to wash the feet and ankles of the weary traveler,
and even in
party on arriving at Ramleh repaired to the abode of a wealthy Arab, where the
ceremony was performed in the genuine style of ancient Oriental hospitality
(see Kitto's 'Bible Illustrations,' vol. 1. p. 230). And rest yourselves (literally,
recline by resting on the elbow) 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.” And I will fetch a morsel of bread, - a modest
description of what proved a sumptuous repast (see vs. 6, 8)
- and
comfort ye
your hearts; - literally, strengthen or support them, i.e. by eating and drinking
(Judges 19:5; I Kings 21:7) - after that ye shall pass on: for
therefore - כִּי־עַל־כֵּן
introduces the ground of what has already been stated, something like quando quidem,
forasmuch as (Ewald, 'Hebrews Synt.,' § 353), since, or because (Kalisch), and not =
עַל־כֵּש־כִּי, for this cause that (Gesenius, 'Gram.,' § 155), or "because for this
purpose" (Keil) - are ye come to (literally, have ye passed before) thy servant.
The patriarch's meaning is not that they had come with the design of receiving
his gifts (Septuagint, Authorized Version), but either that, unconsciously to them,
God had ordered their journey so as to give him this opportunity (Calvin, Bush,
Wordsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary,' Keil), or perhaps simply that since they
had passed by his tent they should suffer him to accord them entertainment
(Kalisch, Rosenmüller). And they said, So do, as thou but said. Therefore we
must believe that Abraham washed the men's feet, and they did eat (v. 8).
Here is a mystery
(Wordsworth).
6 “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.”
And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready
quickly
three measures. Hebrew, three seahs, a seah being a third of an ephah, and
containing 374 cubic inches each (Keil); a third of a bushel (Kalisch) - of fine meal,
literally, of flour, fine flour; σεμίδαλις – semidalis – finest wheat flour (Septuagint);
the first term when alone denoting flour of ordinary quality (compare Leviticus 2:1;
5:11; Numbers 7:13) - knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth - i.e. "round
unleavened cakes baked upon hot stones" (Keil).
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf
tender and good, and gave
it unto a young man;
and he hasted to dress it.” And Abraham ran unto the herd,
and fetched a calf tender and good, - the greatness of the honor done to the strangers
was evinced by the personal activity of the patriarch, and the offering of animal food,
which was not a common article of consumption among
Orientals - and gave it unto
a young man; - i.e. the servant in attendance (compare ch. 14:24) - 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.”
And he took butter, - חֶמְאָה, from the root חמא, to curdle or become thick, signifies
curdled milk, not butter (βούτυτρον - boututron, Septuagint; butyrum, Vulgate), which
was not used among Orientals except medicinally. The word occurs seven times in
Scripture with four letters (Deuteronomy 32:14; Judges 5:25; II Samuel 17:29;
Isaiah 7:15, 22; Proverbs 30:33; Job 20:17), and once without א (Job 29:6; see
Michaelis, 'Supplement,' p. 807) - and milk, - חָלָב, milk whilst still fresh, or
containing its fatness, from a root signifying to be fat (compare ch. 49:12;
Proverbs 27:27) - and
the calf which he - i.e. the young man - had dressed,
and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, - a custom still
observed among the Arabs, who honor their guests not by sitting to eat with,
but by standing to wait upon, them - and they did eat. Not seemed to eat (Josephus,
Philo, Jonathan), nor simply ate after an allegorical fashion, as fire consumes the
materials put into it (Justin Martyr), but did so in reality (Tertullian, Delitzsch,
Keil, Kurtz, Lange). Though the angel who appeared to Manoah (Judges 13:16)
refused to partake of food, the risen Savior ate with his disciples (Luke 24:43).
Physiologically inexplicable, this latter action on the part of Christ was not a
mere φαινόμενον – phainomenon or simulation, but a veritable eating of
material food, to which Christ appealed in confirmation of the reality of His
resurrection; and the acceptance of Abraham's hospitality on the part of
Jehovah and His angels may in like manner have been designed to prove
that their visit to his tent at Mamre was not a dream or a vision, but a
genuine external manifestation.
9 “And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife?
And he said, Behold, in the
tent.” And they said unto him (i.e. the Principal One of the three, speaking for the
others, interrogated Abraham during the progress, or perhaps at the close of, the
meal saying), Where is Sarah thy wife? (thus indicating that their visit had a
special reference to her). And he said, Behold, in the tent. It is obvious that if
at first Abraham regarded his visitors only as men, by this time a suspicion of
their true character must have begun to dawn upon his mind. How should ordinary
travelers be aware of his wife s name? and why should they do so unusual a thing,
according to Oriental manners, as to inquire after her? If thus far their behavior
could not fail to surprise the patriarch, what must have been his astonishment at
the subsequent communication?
10 “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.” And He said (the Principal Guest, as above, who, by the
very nature and terms of his announcement, identifies
himself with Jehovah), I will
certainly return unto thee according to the time of life. Literally, at the time
reviving; i.e. when the year shall have been renewed, in the next year, or rather
spring (SEe Ewald, 'Hebrews Synt.,' § 337; Rosenmüller, Drusius, Keil, Kalisch,
Lange, Ainsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary'); though other interpretations of the
phrase have been suggested, as, e.g., "according to the time of that which is born,"
i.e. at the end of nine months (Willet, Calvin, Bush,
Murphy). And, lo, Sarah thy
wife shall have a son. I.e. at the time specified. And
Sarah heard it in the tent door,
which was behind him.
11 “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken
in age; and it ceased to
be with Sarah after
the manner of women.” Now Abraham and Sarah were old
and well stricken in age. Literally, gone into days, i.e. into years. This was the first
natural impediment to the accomplishment of Jehovah's promise; the second was
peculiar to Sarah. And it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women
(see Leviticus 15:19, 25).
12 “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying,
After I am waxed old shall
I have pleasure, my
lord being old also?” Therefore (literally, and) Sarah
laughed
within herself - Abraham had laughed in joyful amazement, (ch. 17:17) at the first
mention of Sarah s son; Sarah laughs, if not in unbelief (Calvin, Keil, 'Speaker's
Commentary,' Wordsworth), at least with a mingled feeling of doubt and delight
(Lange, Murphy) at the announcement of her approaching
maternity - saying,
After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? - literally,
and my lord, i.e. my husband, is old. The reverential submission to Abraham which
Sarah here displays is in the New Testament commended as a pattern to Christian
wives (I Peter 3:6).
“Sarah laughed within herself.” (v. 12)
1. The incongruity
between a Divine promise and the sphere of its
fulfillment is
temptation to unbelief.
2. A disposition to
measure the reality and certainty of the Divine by a
human or earthly
standard is sure to lead us to irreverence and sinful doubt.
3. There may be an
inward and concealed working, known to God though
not outwardly
expressed which is both:
a.
an insult to Him and
b.
an injury to us.
4. The root of
unbelief is in the ground of the soul. Sarah laughed because
she was not
prepared for the gracious promise. She was afraid of her own
thoughts because
they were not such as became her, and did dishonor to
God’s sufficiency
and love. “She denied, saying, I laughed not.” A more
receptive and
spiritual mind would have both risen above the incongruity
and been
incapable of the dissimulation.
13 “And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did
Sarah laugh, saying,
Shall I of a surety
bear a child, which am old?” And the Lord said unto
Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, - a question which must have convinced
Abraham of the Speaker's omniscience. Not only had he heard the silent, inaudible,
inward cachinnation (laugh loudly) of Sarah's spirit, but He knew the tenor of her
thoughts, and the purport of her dubitations
(doubts; hesitation) - saying, Shall I
of a surely bear a child, which (literally, and I) am old? Sarah s mental cogitations
clearly showed that the temporary obscuration of her faith proceeded from a strong
realization of the weakness of nature, which made conception and pregnancy
impossible to one like her, who was advanced in years; and accordingly her
attention, as well as that of her husband, was directed to the Divine omnipotence
as the all-sufficient guarantee for the accomplishment of
the promise.
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.” Is any
thing
too hard for the Lord? (Remember who El Shaddai is! CY – 2019) Literally, Is any
word too wonderful, i.e. impossible, for Jehovah μὴ ἀδυνατήσει
παρὰ τῷ
θεῷ ῤῆμα
–
mae adunataesei para
to Theo hraema - Is
anything too hard for Yahweh?
(Septuagint), with which may be compared Luke 1:37. At
the time appointed
I will return unto thee, according to the time of life (see v.
10), and
Sarah
shall have a son.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (v. 14)
- TAKE IT AS THE QUESTION WHICH GOD ASKS
OF MAN.
Ø
Remonstrance. The history of Divine
manifestations proves that nothing
is demanded of faith which is
not justified by the bestowments of the past.
Ø
Invitation. We connect the question with the promise. He opens the
gate
of life; is it too hard for Him
to give us the victory? “At the time
appointed” HIS WORD will be fulfilled!
He would have us rest on
Himself. “Believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them
that diligently seek Him.”
(Hebrews 11:6) What He is, what He
says, are blended
into one in the true faith of His waiting children.
- TAKE THE QUESTION AS ONE WHICH MEN ASK OF ONE
ANOTHER.
Ø
When they set forth the goodness of DIVINE TRUTH! The possibility
of miracles. The hardness
of the world’s problems is no justification of
unbelief.
Ø
When they proclaim a
gospel of supernatural gifts, a salvation not of
man, but of God.
o
Why should we doubt
conversion?
o
Why should a
regenerated, renewed nature be so often mocked?
o
When they would
encourage one another to persevere in Christian
enterprise. The methods may be
old, but the grace is ever new.
The world may laugh, but the
true believer should see all things
possible. The times are
our measures. Eternity is God’s.
15 “Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for
she was afraid. And He said,
Nay; but thou didst laugh.” Then Sarah (who had overheard the conversation,
and the charge preferred against her, and who probably now appeared before the
stranger) denied, saying, I laughed not. Sarah’s conduct will admit of no other
explanation than that which the sacred narrative itself gives. For she was afraid.
The knowledge that her secret thoughts had been deciphered must have kindled in
her breast the suspicion that her visitor was none other than Jehovah. (What have
you experienced analogous to this? See Psalm 139:1-2; CY – 2019) With this a
sense of guilt would immediately assail her conscience for having cherished even
a moment any doubt of the Divine word. In the consequent
confusion of soul she
tries what ever seems to be the first impulse of detected transgressions, viz.,
deception (compare Adam and Eve’s responses to God - ch. 3:12-13). And
He
said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. With a directness similar to that which He
employed in dealing with the first culprits in the garden, not contending in a
multiplicity of words, but solemnly announcing that what she said was false.
The silence of Sarah was an evidence of her conviction; her subsequent conception
was a proof of her repentance and forgiveness.
Noontide at Mamre,
or Angels’ Visits (vs. 1-15)
- THE ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGERS.
Ø The appearance they presented. Seemingly three men, they were in
reality three
angels, or, more correctly, Jehovah accompanied by two
celestial
attendants, who, at an unexpected moment, were making for
Abraham’s tent.
So are the homes of saints oft times visited by angels
unawares
(Hebrews 13:2), and, greater honor still, by Him who claims
the angels as
His ministers (ibid. ch. 1:14).
Ø The reception they obtained. Immediately that Abraham discerned their
approach, he
hastened to accord them most respectful and courteous
salutation, in
true Oriental fashion, falling on his knees and bowing till his
head touched
the ground; an illustration of that beautiful politeness
towards one’s
fellow-men (if as yet he only regarded his visitors as men),
or of that
reverential self-abasement before God (if already he had
recognized the
superior dignity of the principal figure of the three) which
ought
especially to characterize God’s believing and covenanted people
(see Psalm
95:6; I Peter 3:8).
Ø The invitation they received. Probably oppressed by the sultry beams of
the noonday
sun, if not otherwise travel-stained and weary, they were, with
genuine
Arab-like hospitality, entreated by the patriarch to avail themselves
of such
refreshment and repose as his cool-shaded, well-furnished tent
might be able
to afford. And this invitation of the patriarch was:
o
Humbly proffered, as if their acceptance of it would be more an act of
grace
conferred on him than a benefit enjoyed by themselves.
o
Modestly described, as if it were only a trifle after all that he was
asking them to
accept, while all the time his liberal heart was devising
liberal things.
o
Piously enforced, by the consideration that he recognized in their
arrival at his
tent a special call to the discharge of the duty of hospitality.
o
Promptly accepted, without apologies or deprecations of any
sort, but
with the same
generous simplicity as it was offered. “So do as thou hast
said.”
- THE ENTERTAINMENT OF THE STRANGERS. In the banquet
which Abraham extemporized for
his celestial guests beneath the
umbrageous oak at Mamre were three things which should be studied by all
who would use hospitality:
Ø Joyous enthusiasm. That the patriarch’s invitation was no mere
conventional
remark which was meant to pass unheeded by those to whom
it was
addressed was proved by the expeditious cordiality with which he
set about the
preparations needed for the proffered repast, — enlisting
Sarah’s
practiced hands in baking cakes, and commissioning a trusty
servant of the
house to kill and dress a young and tender calf selected by
himself from
the flocks. Here was no reluctance or half-heartedness with
Abraham in the
work of kindness to which
ought
Christians to manifest a spirit of cheerfulness and a habit of
promptitude
in doing good (Romans
12:8,13; II Corinthians 9:7).
Ø Unstinted liberality. Modestly characterized as a little
repast, it was in
reality a
sumptuous banquet which was set before the strangers. Abraham
entertained his
guests with princely munificence. The modern virtue of
stinginess, or
niggardliness, supposed by many to be a Christian grace, had
not been
acquired by the patriarch, and should with as much speed as
possible be
unlearned by Christ’s disciples. Hospitality towards the saints
and beneficence
towards all men, but especially towards the poor, should
be practiced
with diligence, and even with a holy extravagance, by all who
are of Abraham
s seed (Luke 14:12-14; Romans 12:13; I Timothy 3:2;
Hebrews 13:2).
Ø Personal activity. Though the master of a large household, with
300
trained
domestics, and the noble Eliezer at their head, the
patriarch does
not think of
relegating the important work of preparing the entertainment
to his
subordinates, but himself attends to its immediate execution. Indeed,
in all the
bustling activity which forthwith pervades the tent his figure is
always and
everywhere conspicuous. And when the meal is ready he
reverently
serves it with his own hand; again a true pattern of humility, as
if he had
caught up by anticipation the spirit of our Savior’s words
“.....whosoever
will be great among you, let him be your minister.”
(Matthew
20:26); and a true preacher of Christian duty, saying that in
God’s work
personal service is ever better than laboring by proxy.
- THE COMMUNICATION OF THE STRANGERS. The noonday
meal over, or perhaps while it
was advancing, the principal of the three
guests, who certainly by this
time was recognized as Jehovah, made an
important announcement to the
patriarch, which, however, was specially
intended for Sarah, who was
listening behind the dark fold of the camel’s
hair tent, viz., that next year the promised seed should be born. That
announcement was:
Ø Authoritatively made. It was made by Him who is the
faithful and true
Witness, with whom it is impossible to lie, and
who is able also to
perform that
which he has promised.
Ø Unbelievingly received. The laugh of Sarah was altogether
different
from that of
Abraham (ch. 17:17). While Abraham’s was the
outcome of
faith, hers was the fruit of latent doubt and incredulity. There
are always two
ways of receiving God’s promises:
o
the
one of which secures,
but
o
the
other of which imperils,
their
fulfillment (Mark 9:23; 11:23).
Ø Solemnly confirmed.
o
By an appeal to the Divine omnipotence. The thing promised
was not
beyond the resources of Jehovah to accomplish.
o
By a
further certification of the event. As it were a second time the
Divine faithfulness was pledged for its fulfillment
o
By an
impressive display of miraculous power, first in searching
Sarah’s heart, and second in arresting Sarah’s
conscience. The
result was
that Sarah’s
unbelief was transformed into faith.
- LEARN:
1. The duty and profit of entertaining strangers (Hebrews
13:2).
2. The beauty and nobility of Christian hospitality (Romans
12:13).
3. The excellence and acceptability of personal service in
God’s work.
4. The condescension and kindness of God in visiting the sons of men.
5. The admirable grace of Jehovah in repeating and confirming His
promises to man.
6. The right way and the wrong way of listening to God’s words
of grace
and truth.
The Theophany at Mamre (vs. 1-15)
“The
Lord appeared unto him” (v. 1).
- THE PREPARATION FOR DIVINE
MANIFESTATION.
Ø Abraham stands on a higher plane of
spiritual life. He is endeavoring to
fulfill the
commandment given (ch. 17:1): “Walk before me.”
The appearances
and communications are more frequent and more full.
Ø The concentration of the believer’s
thought at a particular crisis. His
place at the
tent door, looking forth over the plains of Mamre,
representing
his mental
attitude, as he dwelt on the promises and gazed into the future.
Ø There was a coincidence between the
conjuncture in the history of the
neighboring
cities and the crisis in the history of the individual believer. So
in the purposes
of God there is preparation for His manifestation both in
external
providence and in the events of the world on the one hand, and on
the other in
the more personal and private history of His people.
- THE MANIFESTATION ITSELF.
Ø It was very gracious and condescending.
The angels did not appear
in
angelic glory,
but in human likeness. They came as guests, and, in the
fragrant
atmosphere of a genial hospitality, at once quickened confidence
and led forward
the mind to expect a higher communication. The
household
activity of Abraham and Sarah on behalf of the three visitors,
while it calmed
and strengthened, did also give time for thought and
observation of
the signs of approaching opportunity.
Ø There was from the first an appeal to faith. Three persons, yet one
having the
pre-eminence. The reverential feeling of the patriarch called out
at the manner
of their approach to his tent The coincidence possibly
between the
work of the Spirit in the mind of the believer and the
bestowment of
outward opportunity.
Ø The communication of the Divine promise in
immediate connection with
the facts of
human life. The great trial of faith is not the appeal to accept
the word of God
in its larger aspect as His truth, but the application of it to
our
own case. We may
believe that the promise will be fulfilled, and yet we
may not take it
to heart, “I will return unto thee.”
“Sarah shall have a son.”
The strength
made perfect in weakness, not merely for weakness. The
Divine in the
Scripture revelation does not overwhelm and absorb the
human; the human is taken up into the Divine and glorified. Taking the
narrative as a
whole, it may be treated:
o
Historically — as it holds a place in the history of the man Abraham
and in the
progressive development of revelation.
o
Morally — suggesting lessons of patience,
reverence, humility,
truthfulness,
faith.
o
Spiritually — as pointing to the Messiah, intimating the
incarnation, the
atonement, the
prophetic, priestly, and kingly offices of the promised
Redeemer; the freedom and simplicity of the fellowship of God with
man; the great Christian entertainment — man
spreading the meal
before God, God
accepting it, uniting with man in its participation,
elevating it
into that which is heavenly by
His manifested presence.
16 “And the men rose up from thence, and looked
toward
went with them to bring them on the way.” And the men rose up from thence, -
Mamre (see v. 1) - and
looked towards
or towards the plain (Keil), of
went with them - across the mountains on the east of
according to tradition, whence a view can be obtained of the
ac terras Sodomae (vide Keil, in loco) - to bring them on the way. Literally, to send
them away, or accord them a friendly convoy over a portion
of their journey.
17 “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham
that thing which I do;
Verse 17. - And the Lord said (to Himself), Shall I hide from Abraham - the
Septuagint interpolate, τοῦ παιδός μου – tou paidos mou – from my child; but,
as Philo observes, τοῦ φιλοῦ μου – tou philou mou – from my friend - would have
been a more appropriate designation for the patriarch (compare II Chronicles 20:7;
Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23) that thing which I do. I.e. propose to do, the present being
used for the future, where, as in the utterances of God, whose will is equivalent to
His deed, the action is regarded by the Speaker as being already as good as finished
(vide Ewald, 'Hebrews Synt.,' § 135; Gesenius, § 126).
- THE REASON OF THE REVELATION.
Ø Abraham’s
new position.
Having been lately taken into covenant with
God, allied by the
holy tie of a celestial friendship to Jehovah, the patriarch
seemed in the
Lord’s eyes to occupy a footing of intimacy before Him that
demanded the disclosure of
the patriarch
no doubt owed to Divine
grace — sovereign,
unmerited, free;
but still,
having been accorded to him, it is, by a further act of grace,
represented, as
laying God Himself under certain’ obligations towards His
servant. So “The
secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will
show
them his covenant”
(Psalm 25:14).
Ø Abraham’s
new prospects.
About to become the head of a great nation,
it was natural
to suppose that Abraham would be profoundly interested in
all that
concerned mankind. As the head of the
which had just
been constituted (ch. 17.), there existed a special
reason for his
being properly instructed as to the impending judgment of
of the
significance of that event. Rightly viewed, this is one of the proper
functions of
the Church on earth — to
explain God’s judgments to the
unbelieving
world. Hence “the
Lord God doeth nothing but He revealeth
His
secret unto His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
Ø Abraham’s
new responsibilities. These were the cultivation of personal
and family
religion, which devolved upon him with a new force and a
heavier degree
of obligation than they did before in consequence of his new
standing as a
Church member. God having graciously assigned this position
within the
Church in order that
he might command his children and his
household
after him, by means
of:
o
religious
instruction as well as through
o
the
influence of personal example, to fear God,
it was needful
that he should be informed as to the ground, at least,
of the coming judgment on the cities of the
plain.
- THE REASON OF THE RETRIBUTION. This
was the wickedness of
Ø
Exceedingly heinous as to its character. Minutely detailed in
the ensuing
chapter, it is here only
indirectly mentioned as something grievous
in the
sight of God. All sin is inherently offensive in the eyes of the
Almighty;
but some forms of wickedness are
more presumptuously daring or more
intrinsically loathsome than
others, and of such sort were the sins of
Ø
Exceedingly abundant as to its measure. It was “multiplied” iniquity of
which the Sodomites were guilty;
and this not simply in the sense in
which the sins of all may be
characterized as beyond computation
(Psalm 40:12), but in the sense
that their
hearts were set in
them to do evil
(Ecclesiastes 8:11), so that they worked all
manner
of uncleanness
with greediness (Ephesians 4:19).
Ø
Exceedingly clear as to its commission. Though God speaks of
making
investigation into the sins of
moral degeneracy
of the inhabitants of the
the “all things” that are
ever “naked
and manifest” unto His eye.
(Hebrews 4:13) So nothing can hide sin from God (II
Chronicles 16:9;
Proverbs 15:3; Amos 9:8).
Ø
Exceedingly patent as to ITS
why God employed the
language of v. 21. He meant that though
the guilt of
until it should be seen to
be perfectly just. Nothing would be done
in haste, BUT ALL WOULD BE DONE WITH JUDICIAL
CALMNESS.
- LESSONS:
1. The impotence of anything but true religion to purify the heart or
refine
a people.
2. God is specially observant of the wickedness of great
cities.
3. When great cities sink to a certain depth in their
wickedness they are
doomed to perish. (See below on the status of
4. When God’s judgments overtake a nation they are ever characterized by
JUSTICE!
18 “Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great
and mighty nation,
and all the nations
of the earth shall be blessed in him?” Seeing that Abraham
shall surely become (literally, becoming shall become) a great and mighty nation
(compare ch. 12:2; 17:4-6), and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
The import of Jehovah's self-interrogation was, that since Abraham had already
been promoted to so distinguished a position, not only was there no sufficient
reason why the Divine purpose concerning
but, on the contrary, the gracious
footing of intimacy which subsisted between
Himself and his humble friend almost
necessitated some sort of friendly
communication on the subject, and all the more for the reason next appended.
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”
For I know him, that - literally, for I have known (or chosen, יָדַע being - dilexi, as
in Amos 3:2) him to the end that (לְמַעַן conveying the idea of purpose; vide Ewald,
§ 357), the language expressing the idea that Abraham had been the object of
Divine foreknowledge and election (Gesenius, Rosenmüller, Delitzsch, Keil,
Oehler, Kalisch, Lange), although the reading of the text is substantially adopted
by many (Septuagint, Vulgate, Targums, Luther, Calvin, Dathe, et alii). The latter
interpretation assigns as the reason of the Divine communication the knowledge
which Jehovah then possessed of Abraham's piety; the former grounds the Divine
resolution on the prior fact that Divine grace had elected him to the high destiny
described in the language following. It is generally agreed that this clause connects
with v. 17; Bush regards it as exhibiting the means by which the future promised to
Abraham in v. 18 should be realized - he will (rather, may) command
his children
and his household after him (by parental authority as well as by personal example),
and they shall keep (rather, that they may keep) the way of the Lord, - i.e. the religion
of Jehovah (compare Judges 2:22; II Kings 21:22; Psalm 119:1; Acts 18:25), of which
the practical outcome is - to do justice and judgment;
- or righteousness and judgment,
that which accords with right or
the sense of oughtness in intelligent and moral beings,
and that which harmonizes with THE DIVINE LAW! (compare Ezekiel 18:5) - that
(literally, to the end that, in order that, לְמַעַן,
as shown above) the Lord may bring
upon Abraham that which He hath
spoken of him.
God’s Rule in the Family (v. 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.” (I have often wish that God
could say this about me.
CY – 2019) The promise to Abraham included:
(1) understanding of God’s acts;
(2) that he should become a mighty nation;
(3) that he should be ancestor of the promised Seed;
(4)
that he himself should
be a blessing to others.
Of these points two at least are not confined to him
personally, but belong
to ALL WHO WILL! To know what God
doeth a man must be taught of the
Spirit (I Corinthians 2:14;
compare Isaiah 7:12). There is a wide
difference between seeing an event, or even foreseeing it, and
understanding God’s lessons therein. To be able in everything to mark
the
love, and care, and wisdom of God; to walk with Him as a child, accepting
what He sends not merely as inevitable, but as loving; to learn lessons from
all
that happens, and through the works of His hands to see our Father’s
face — this is peace, and this is what the wisdom of this world cannot
teach (Matthew 11:25; I Corinthians 1:20-21). Again, Abraham
was
to be not merely the ancestor of a nation, but the father of a spiritual
family by influence and example (Matthew 3:9; Galatians 3:7). In
this his calling
is that of EVERY CHRISTIAN! (Daniel 12:3;
Matthew 5:13-14). Text connects
the
godly rule of a family with both these blessings. Christianity is not to be a
selfish, but a diffusive
thing (ibid. v. 15; 13:33); and the influence must needs
begin at home (compare Numbers 10:29; Acts 1:8), among those
whom God has
placed with us.
- THINGS NEEDFUL FOR THIS WORK.
Ø
Care for his own soul. If that is not
cared for a man cannot desire the
spiritual good of others. He may desire and try to train his
children and
household in honesty and prudence; to make them good members of
society, successful, respected; and may cultivate all kindly
feelings; but
not till he realizes eternity will he really aim at training others for
eternity. You might say
that only one who has found peace can fully
perform this work. A
man may be aroused with desire that his family
should be
saved, but he cannot press the full truth as it is in Jesus.
Ø
Love for the souls of others. Christians are
sometimes so wrapped up in
care for their own souls as to have few thoughts for the state
of others.
Perhaps from a lengthened
conflict the mind has been too much turned
upon its own state. But this is not the mind of Christ (I Corinthians
10:24). It is not a close following
of him. It tells of a halting in the “work
of faith” (II
Corinthians 5:13-14; compare Romans 10:1).
Ø
Desire to advance the kingdom of Christ. When a man has
this he sees
in every one a soul for which Christ died (compare John
4:35), and those
with whom he is closely connected must chiefly call forth this
feeling.
- THE MANNER OF THE WORK. Family
worship; acknowledgment
of God as ruling in the household; His will a regulating
principle and bond
of union. Let this be a reality, not a form. Let the sacrificial
work of Christ
be ever put forward in instruction
and in prayer. Personal example —
constantly aiming at a holy life. To
pray in the family and yet to be
evidently making no effort to live in the spirit of the prayer is
to do positive
evil;
encouraging the belief that God may be worshipped with words,
without deeds; and tending to separate religion from daily life. Prayer in
private for each member — children, servants, etc; and
watchfulness to
deal with each as God shall give opportunity (Proverbs 15:23). Let
prayer always accompany such efforts.
Abraham and Family Training (v. 19)
“For I know
him, that he will command his children and his household
after him.” Under the shady terebinth
tree celestial visitants partake, or
appear to do so, of a meal hastily provided by the patriarch. The
whole
narrative is given in such a way that, — after the manner of the
time, — to
God are ascribed human passions,
desires, hesitancy, and resolve. Hence
God is described as resolving, on two grounds, to reveal to
Abraham that
which He is about to do in the destruction of
(1) that he would become a great and mighty nation;
(2)
that he would direct his
household to follow in the ways of
righteousness and truth. Notice:
- THE VALUE GOD PLACES ON EARLY SPIRITUAL
TRAINING.
Children and servants are both
to be brought under spiritual influence. The
heart will not become pure naturally, any more than the boat
left to itself
would make headway against a strong current. The set of the
world-tide
IS IN AN EVIL
DIRECTION! Abraham had no written book to aid him in
his work. His unwritten
Bible was the tradition of God’s dealings with the
race and with himself. He could tell of the promises of God and
of the way of
approach to Him by sacrifice. Evidently there had been careful
training in
this respect; for when Isaac was going with his father to the
mount of
sacrifice he noticed that, although the fire and wood were carried,
they had
no lamb for a burnt offering.
(ch. 22:7)
- GOD NOTICES HOW SPIRITUAL TRAINING IS CARRIED ON.
“I know him.” He could trust Abraham, for he would “command,” his
children after him, not in the dictatorial tones of a tyrant, but
by the power
of a consistent life.
Many children of religious parents go back to the world
because of the imperious style of training they have received. In
training,
every word, look, and act tells. In many homes there is, alas,
no training
given and no holy example set. (If
the parent does not do his work, IT
IS
FOREVER UNDONE! – I read
this somewhere – CY – 2019)
Parents are
held accountable for failure, and should therefore be firm and
loving in
training. They should not readily delegate to others the work of
training,
either in secular or religions knowledge. Sunday-school teaching
should
supplement, NOT TRANSPLANT, home training.
- GOD MADE THE BESTOWMENT OF INTENDED
BLESSINGS
CONTINGENT ON THE FAITHFUL DISCHARGE OF DUTY. “That
the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of
him.” If
Abraham had not been faithful
his name would have died out, and there
would have been no handing on of the narrative of his devoted
life and
tenacious hold of THE DIVINE
PROMISES! Isaac followed in his
father’s steps and was a meditative man. Jacob cherished the
promises and
handed them on to his sons. The Jews preserved a knowledge of God
when
all other races were sunk in polytheism. From them came THE ONE WHO
WAS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD! All, however, depended on the
right training of Isaac.
The rill flowed to the streamlet, the streamlet to the
creek, the creek to the river, the river to the ocean. Influence ever widened,
and God’s aim with respect to Abraham was carried out. Let all strive
so to
act that the character of the life may not undo the teachings of the lip.
20 “And the LORD said, Because
the cry of
and because their sin
is very grievous;” And the Lord said, Because the cry
of
(compare ch. 4:10), because it is (not, it is indeed, Baumgarten, Keil) multiplied;
the place of emphasis being conceded to the subject of
discourse, viz., the cry of
because it is:
·
heavy,
·
abundant and
·
heinous.
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.” I will go down now
(compare ch. 11:5), and see (judicial investigation ever precedes judicial infliction
at the Divine tribunal) whether they have done altogether - literally, whether they
have made completeness, i.e. carried their iniquity to perfection, to the highest pitch
of wickedness (Calvin, Delitzsch, Keil); or consummated their wickedness, by
carrying it to that pitch of fullness which works death (Ainsworth, Kalisch,
Rosenmüller). (These are things of
which
Just this week – this being January 20-26, 2019,
abortions of children in any circumstance – See photo below – CY – 2019)
(
The received rendering, which regards כלה as an adverb, has the authority
of Luther and Gesenius - according
to the cry of it, which has come unto me;
and if not, I will know. The Septuagint render ἵνα γνῶ - hina gno - , meaning,
"should it not be so, I will still go down, that I may ascertain the exact truth;"
the Chaldee paraphrases, "and if they repent, I will not exact punishment."
The entire verse is anthropomorphic, and designed to express the Divine
solicitude that the strictest justice should characterize all His dealings both
with men and nations.
22 “And the men turned their faces from thence, and
went toward
but Abraham stood yet
before the LORD.” And the men turned their faces
from thence, and went toward
way towards the
probably on the heights overlooking the plain, for a sublime act of intercession
which is thus briefly but suggestively described): but
Abraham stood yet before
the Lord. According to the Masorites the text originally read, "And the Lord
stood before Abraham, and was changed because it did not seem becoming to
speak of God standing in the presence of a creature. This, however, is a mere
Rabbinical conceit. As Abraham is not said to have stood before the three men,
the expression points to spiritual rather than to local
contiguity.
23 “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also
destroy the righteous with
the wicked?” And Abraham drew near. I.e. to Jehovah; not simply locally, but also
spiritually. The religious use of יִגַּשּׁ as a performing religious services to God, or a
pious turning of the mind to God, is found in Exodus 30:20; Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah
30:21; and in a similar sense ἐγγίζω – engizo – come near; draw nigh - is employed
in the New Testament (compare Hebrews 4:16; 10:22; James 4:8). The Jonathan
Targum explains, "and Abraham prayed." And said. Commencing the sublimest
act of human intercession of which Scripture preserves a record, being moved
thereto, if not by an immediate regard for
compassion towards the inhabitants of
misericordia" (Calvin), which was heightened and intensified by his own previous
experience of forgiving grace (Keil).
Wilt
thou also destroy the righteous with the
wicked? The question presupposes that God had, according to the resolution of
v. 17, explained to the patriarch his intention to destroy the cities of the plain.
The object the patriarch contemplated in his intercession was not simply the
preservation of any godly remnant that might be found within the doomed towns,
but the rescue of their entire populations from the impending judgment, - only he
does not at first discover his complete design, perhaps regarding such an absolute
reversal of the Divine purpose as exceeding the legitimate bounds of creature
supplication; but with what might be characterized as holy adroitness he veils
his ulterior aim, and commences his petition at a Point somewhat removed from
that to which he hopes to come. Assuming it as settled that the fair Pentapolis
(five cities of the
a strange mixture of humility and boldness, if Jehovah has considered that this
will involve a sad commingling in one gigantic overthrow of both the righteous
and 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?” Peradventure
there be fifty righteous within the city. A charitable supposition, as the event
showed, though at first sight it might not appear so to Abraham; and the bare
possibility of
so many good men was enough to afford a basis for the argument which followed.
Wilt thou also destroy and not spare - literally, take away (sc. the iniquity) i.e.
remove the punishment from - the place (not the godly portion of the city merely,
but the entire population; a complete discovery of Abraham s
design) 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?” That be far from thee –
literally to profane things (be it) to thee - nefas sit tibi = absit a te! an exclamation
of abhorrence, too feebly rendered by μηδαμῶς – maedamos – never;
not at all
(Septuagint) - to do after this manner (literally,
according to this word), to slay
the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked
(literally, and that it should be - as the righteous, so the
wicked), that be far from
thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? The patriarch appeals not to
Jehovah's covenant grace (Kurtz), but to HIS ABSOLUTE JUDICIAL EQUITY
(Keil). It does not, however, follow that the Divine righteousness would have
been compromised by consigning pious and wicked to the same temporal destruction.
This must have been a spectacle not infrequently observed in Abraham's day as well
as ours. Yet the mind of Abraham appears to have been perplexed, as men's minds
often are still, by the magnitude of the proposed illustration of a common principle
in
confined to solitary cases, or cases of no great amplitude, yet instinctively the
human mind feels that there must be a limit to the commingling of the righteous
and the wicked in calamity, though it should be only of a temporal description.
That limit Abraham conceived, or perhaps feared that others might conceive,
would be passed if good and bad in
and in this spirit the closing utterance of his first supplication may be regarded as
giving expression to the hope that Jehovah would do nothing that would even
seem to tarnish His Divine righteousness. Abraham of course regarded this as
impossible, consequently he believed that
26 “And the LORD said, If I find in
I will spare all the
place for their sakes.” And the Lord said, If I find in
fifty righteous within the city (thus accepting the test proposed by Abraham, but not
necessarily thereby acquiescing in the absolute soundness of his logic), then I will spare
(not as an act of justice, but as an exercise of mercy, and not because of any suspicions
that might otherwise attach to my rectitude, but solely in vindication of my clemency)
all the place (not the righteous merely, which was all that justice could have
legitimately demanded) for their sakes, i.e. because of the claims upon my mercy
which grace admits the righteous to prefer.
27 “And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I
have taken upon me to speak
unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:” And Abraham answered and said
(being emboldened by the success of his first petition),
Behold now, I have taken
upon me, literally, I have begun, though here perhaps used in a more emphatic sense:
I have undertaken or ventured (see Gesenius, p. 326) - to speak unto the Lord - Adonai
(ch. 15:2) - which am but dust and ashes. "Dust in his origin and ashes in his end"
(Delitzsch;
see ch. 3:19).
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.” Peradventure
there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the
city for lack of five? Literally, on account of five, i.e. because they are wanting.
A rare example of holy ingenuity in prayer. Abraham, instead of pleading for the city's
safety on account of forty-five, deprecates its destruction
on account 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.”
And he spoke unto him
yet again - literally, and he added yet to speak to Him (compare ch. 4:2; 8:10, 12;
25:1) and said (increasing in his boldness as God abounded in His grace),
Peradventure there shall be forty found there. Does Abraham hesitate to add the
query, "Wilt thou also?" etc., as if fearing he had at last touched the limit of the
Divine condescension. If so, he must have been surprised by the continued gracious
response which his supplication received. And H
e said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 “And he said unto Him, Oh let not the Lord be angry literally, let there not be
burning with anger to the Lord (Adonai)
,
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:
(literally, only this time more, as in Exodus 10:17) Peradventure
ten shall be found
there. And He said, I
will not destroy it for ten's sake.”
33 “And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had
left communing with
Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.” And the Lord (Jehovah)
went His way, - i.e. vanished (Keil); not to avoid further entreaties on the part of
Abraham (Delitzsch), but for the
reason specified in the next words - as soon as
He had left communing with Abraham (because Abraham's supplications were
ended): and Abraham returned unto his
place (viz., Mamre near
Abraham’s Intercession for
The whole wonderful scene springs out of the theophany. Abraham’s faith has given
him
a special position with the Lord. “Shall I hide from Abraham that
thug which
I do?” The true
priesthood and mediatorship is friendship with God.
The grace of God
first gives the likeness and then exalts it. The Lord knew
Abraham because Abraham
knew the Lord. The superior angel, the Lord, remains behind His
companions that
Abraham might have the opportunity of intercession; so the
Lord lingers in His
providence that He may reveal His righteousness and mercy. As to the
pleading of
the
patriarch and the answers of the Lord to it, we may take it:
—
- AS IT BEARS ON THE CHARACTER OF GOD.
Ø
He is open to
entreaty.
Ø
He is unwilling to
destroy.
Ø
He spares for the
sake of righteousness.
Ø
He “does
right” as “Judge of the earth,” even though to the eyes of the
best men there is awful mystery in His doings.
- AS IT REVEALS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PATRIARCHAL PIETY.
Ø
It was bold with the boldness of simplicity and faith.
Ø
It was full of true
humanity while deeply
reverential towards God.
Abraham was no fanatic.
Ø
It waited for and
humbly accepted Divine judgments and appointments
not without reason, not without the exercise of thought and feeling,
but all the more so as he prayed and talked with God.
Ø
The one living
principle of the patriarchal religion was that entire
confidence in God’s righteousness and love, in separating the wicked
and
the good, in both His judgments and His mercy, which is the
essence of
Christianity
as well. “The
right” which the Judge of all the earth will
do is not the right of mere blind law, or rough human
administration of
law, but the right of Him who discerneth
between the evil and the good,
“too wise to err, too good to be unkind.”
Abraham’s Intercession (vs. 23-33)
- THE OBJECT OF HIS INTERCESSION.
Not simply the rescue of
from the doomed cities, but the
salvation of the cities themselves,
with
their miserable
inhabitants. A request evincing:
Ø Tender sympathy. Though doubtless the righteous character
of the
impending
retribution had been explained to him, its appalling severity was
such as
to thrill his feeling heart with anguish, which would certainly not be
lessened,
but intensified, if he allowed his thoughts to dwell upon the future
into
which that overwhelming calamity would forthwith launch its unhappy
victims.
Ø Unselfish charity. Not blindly shutting his eyes to the
miseries of the
Sodomites, as
many would have done, on the plea that they were richly
merited,
or that they were no concern of his, or that it was little he could
do to
avert them, he actively bestirs himself, if possible, to prevent them.
Nor does he say
that, having delivered them once from the devouring
sword of
war, without their having profited
by either the judgment or the
mercy that had then been measured out to them, he will now leave them to
be
engulfed by the approaching storm of Almighty wrath; but, on the
contrary,
he rather seeks a second time to effect their rescue. (See
chapter
14)
Ø Amazing universality. Not content with asking
rescue of
the righteous, he aims at nothing short of the complete
preservation of the cities. He solicits not a few of their inhabitants only,
but
their
entire population. One wonders whether to admire most the greatness
of the
love or the grandeur of the faith herein displayed.
- THE SPIRIT OF HIS INTERCESSION.
Ø Holy boldness. Abraham “drew near.” The expression
intimates:
o
confidential
familiarity,
o
earnestness
of entreaty,
o
unrestrained
freedom of discourse,
o
almost
venturesome audacity in prayer;
all
of which characteristics should be found in a believer’s prayers, especially
when
interceding in behalf of others (Hebrews 10:22).
Ø Reverent humility. Three times he deprecates Jehovah’s
anger, and
acknowledges personal unworthiness; and that this self-abasement was not
affected,
but real, is apparent from the circumstance that the more his
supplication prospers, the deeper does he sink in self-prostration. Gracious
souls
are ever humble under
a sense of God’s mercies:
o
Jacob
(ch. 32:10),
o
David
(II Samuel 7:18; compare Luke 7:6).
Ø Fervent importunity. With a sanctified dexterity he, as it
were,
endeavors
to shut up the heart of God to grant the deliverance he solicits.
Nor does he
rest contented with the first response to his entreaty, but with
greater
vehemence returns to the charge, increasing his demands as God
enlarges
His concessions (compare Matthew 15:22).
- THE LOGIC OF HIS INTERCESSION.
Ø The argument. The principle on which the patriarch stands is not the
grace of
the covenant, but the
righteousness of the Judge. His meaning is
that in
moral goodness there is a certain dynamic force which operates
towards
the preservation of the wicked, and which the Divine
righteousness itself is bound to take into its calculations. Where this force
reaches a
certain limit in intensity, a regard to judicial equity seems to
require
that it shall be allowed to exercise its legitimate sway — a principle
which God
admitted to the patriarch when He said that the Amorites were
spared
because their iniquity was not full (ch. 15:16), and
which He
here
endorses by consenting to spare
be found
within its gates.
Ø The application. The patriarch conducts his case with singular
directness,
going straight to the logical issues of the principle with which
he
starts; with marvelous ingenuity pitching the hypothetical number of
pious
Sodomites so high as to insure a favorable response, and gradually
diminishing
as grace enlarges, and with unwearied attention refusing to
discontinue
his holy argument so long as a chance remains of saving
- THE SUCCESS OF HIS INTERCESSION.
Ø
He got all he asked.
He did not crave the unconditional sparing
of the
city, but only its preservation on certain suggested
conditions. Those
conditions too were of his own framing; and yet against them not so
much as one single condition was entered by God.
Ø
He ceased asking before God
stopped giving. It may be
rash to
speculate as to what would have happened had Abraham continued to
reduce the number on which he periled the salvation of
God’s glory it is only just to observe
that it was not He who discontinued
answering the patriarch’s petitions, so much as the patriarch
himself, who
felt that he had reached the limit of that liberty which God
accords to
believing suppliants at His throne.
- LESSONS:
1. The liberty which saints have to approach God in prayer.
2. The Divinely-taught art of wrestling with God in prayer.
3. The great encouragement which saints have to pray without ceasing.
(I Thessalonians 5:17)
4. The profound
interest which
saints should ever take in the welfare of
their fellow-men.
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