18:1-2 Abraham is resting in the extreme heat by the terebinth trees when God and two angels manifest before him. As soon as Abraham notices the figures suddenly standing near him, he rushes up to greet them. Immediately he bows. The reason why Abraham bows, the reason why any soul feels automatically inclined to bow before God is because to be in His presence is to be in the presence of compassion manifested. Love manifested. Wisdom manifested. To be in His presence is the be in the presence of the creative hand of the universe.
God has blessed Abraham's life. He has led Abraham. He has made and fulfilled promises to Abraham that extend even beyond Abraham's life on earth. Even more than that, He has done all of those things selflessly. Without requirement, God blesses us. To enact His blessings, we give Him our permission but to us He gives so much more. So when Abraham finds himself suddenly in the presence of God, he feels moved to exude zealous reverence and gratitude.
18:3 Abraham asks God: will you let me serve you? God will you find me worthy enough to serve you? For God's mission is a bold and divine mission, arching far beyond the limits of humanity. To be a part of His mission is a humbling honor. Abraham requests that God, His presence, remain with him.
18:4 Abraham asks if he may be able to bring water to these angels and God. He asks for the opportunity to wash their feet after a presumed long and dusty travel. He requests that they rest and allow Abraham to, in the only way he can, serve them as they have served him.
18:5 Abraham hopes to feed them as he has been fed by them so they too are prepared to continue their own journey. We may not have the capabilities of God but we do have the capacity for compassion and gratitude. God does His best for Abraham and in return, Abraham does his best for God. It may seem that compared to Him, our capabilities are without value but God has taught us repeatedly that we have the most important ability: the ability to express love. With their assent, Abraham does so.
18:6 Abraham runs into the tent for Sarah's help in preparing a meal for them.
18:7 Abraham himself runs to the herd for a meat portion to the meal. Abraham does work to prepare an acceptable meal or a last minute meal or an easy meal. He immediately begins to put together the best of what he has for his visitors.
18:8 He brings the prepared meal to his angelic visitors. For this is how we are meant to receive family and friends. We are meant to bestow them our appreciation and hospitality.
18:9 "Where is Sarah?" They ask Abraham. He assures them that she is nearby in their tent. This question explains to us the reason for their visit to Abraham.
18:10 They explain to Abraham that they have come to announce Sarah's imminent pregnancy. The reason why this announcement is so formally announced is because through Abraham and Sarah would come the tribes of people who would eventual populate the entire world. Tribes of people who God would claim as His own if they (we) would accept Him. Also through this line of descendants would come our messiah.
18:11-12 At the news that she would conceive, Sarah laughed. It was a laugh of utter disbelief and shock. Sarah at this point was older, certainly beyond natural child-bearing age. We often react similarly when we contemplate our own dreams coming into fruition. We ask God for something but deep down it still feels unreachable. We cannot imagine actually receiving the things we ask for. We do not have the quality of hope that God assures us we can latch onto. They seem impossible to us, unlikely at best. We do not often enough have the patience or perspective to understand that through God, our prayers are always inevitably answered.
18:13-14 With solemnity, God asks this question (and realize that He is speaking directly to you, as well): Is anything too hard for the Lord? It is a rhetorical question. Look around. Look at and within yourself. You are a living, breathing miracle of manifested life... and so is everything, the entire world and universe around you. What is impossible to us is easy for God. We cannot see beyond our limits and our barriers and because of that we forget that He has no limits. He has no barriers.
18:15 Sarah is not in the presence of Him but God knows of her reaction. She does not even have to express herself aloud for Him to know her thoughts. God knows what we are thinking; He knows the character of our souls. Sarah is ashamed of her disbelief. She regrets that her faith in God dwindled in a weak moment. God does not revoke His promise because of it, though. He knows that Sarah did not mean harm or laugh maliciously. She's in shock. No, He remains committed because He does not abandon us. He does not scoff at us. Even though he as abundant reason to, He never doubts our ability to be and do better. He believes in our capability; He arms us with purpose and opportunity because He has faith in us. Surely based on that alone we can return the faith in Him.
18:16 The angels and God have other business to attend to: the region of Sodom. Abraham rises to join them on their travel to Sodom.
18:17-18 God is on a constant effort of working with humanity, hearing and answering our prayers. After His business with Abraham, He looks to Sodom. There is distress in Sodom, separate from Abraham. God considers keeping the two separate. Abraham is faithful and God is abound to attend to business concerning the faithless. A region filled with evil.
18:19 God knows Abraham. He knows how Abraham will raise his family. God knows our souls to intimately because we have been with Him far longer than we realize. Ephesians 1:4 God explains that He has known us and loved us even before the creation of this planet we now inhabit. He knows our souls. Every detail. The evil in Sodom has nothing to do with Abraham, could never influence or derail him and therefore God considers keeping his business with Sodom separate from Abraham.
18:20 God hears an outcry of prayers about Sodom and Gomorrah. The events taking place there are causing many to despair. There are regions in our world today which reflect the severity of evil that took place in Sodom and Gomorrah and we can be sure that God hears the outcry. He always has and He always will.
18:21 God ventured to Sodom and Gomorrah to get a personal account of the events there. He analyzes situations with his perfect perspective. Take comfort in this fact, that our God gathers evidence for Himself. He acts and judges based on facts and truths.
Wonderful words from God: And if not, I will know. If the truth is not apparent, He will know. No matter what works to obscure our truth, be it our own deception or the deception of others, God knows the truth. Nothing is hidden from Him. Nothing is beyond His reach.
18:22 By now Abraham knows what business the angels and God are on: to destroy the wicked city of Sodom. In our world today, there are crevices of evil within our regions. Abraham is about to subconsciously explain to us why those places are allowed to exist.
18:23 Abraham wonders if the righteous souls amid the evil will also be destroyed.
18:22 By now Abraham knows what business the angels and God are on: to destroy the wicked city of Sodom. In our world today, there are crevices of evil within our regions. Abraham is about to subconsciously explain to us why those places are allowed to exist.
18:23 Abraham wonders if the righteous souls amid the evil will also be destroyed.
18:24-25 Abraham knows our God. He knows that our God is a God of justice and compassion. He knows that something is not adding up... He knows that God would never punish good souls simply because they happen to be in the wrong place. What if there are fifty righteous souls, Abraham asks, would you still destroy the entire city?
18:26 Of course not. God proclaims to Abraham that He would certainly not destroy any place where they are fifty righteous souls (even if they were the extreme minority).
18:27 Abraham reveals the strength and compassionate beauty of his character. For even though he feels and knows he is unworthy of questioning God, he knows it is his duty to stand up for these righteous souls. Abraham cannot ignore or waste his opportunity to ensure their well-being.
Are we so bold and committed to justice in our own lives? Abraham found the gumption even to confront God. Surely we can confront our neighbor, our friend, our government, our family if we feel that there is a statement that must be said.
Are we so bold and committed to justice in our own lives? Abraham found the gumption even to confront God. Surely we can confront our neighbor, our friend, our government, our family if we feel that there is a statement that must be said.
18:28 Abraham continues, would you save less than fifty? Would you save a mere forty-five? God assures Abraham that He would not destroy a place if there were even just forty-five righteous souls living within it.
18:29 Abraham reveals to us his kind and compassionate soul. He is still concerned for the minority. What about forty? Would you save the entire city if there were only forty righteous souls?
God assures Abraham that He would not destroy a city if there were forty good souls.
God assures Abraham that He would not destroy a city if there were forty good souls.
18:30 Abraham is going to keep pushing; he's going to keep ensuring that he's doing his best to protect and speak for the lives of these people. Would you save the entire city for the sake of thirty good souls?
No. God will not ever destroy anything if there are even just thirty good people amidst thousands of bad.
No. God will not ever destroy anything if there are even just thirty good people amidst thousands of bad.
18:31 Abraham continues: for twenty people, God, would you save the entire city? Even for twenty, God would not destroy the city.
18:32 Abraham has a final question and it will reveal the love God has for each individual. Abraham asks if God would leave the entire wicked city in order to save only ten good people.
I will not destroy it for the sake of ten, responds God. Evil exists here in our world and the only reason it is not destroyed in this very moment is because God has compassion for each soul. He will never ever allow a single good soul to be punished because of the work of the evil.
If God destroys something, we can be sure that the entirety of that thing was evil. We can be sure that every action He does is for our benefit. Is done out of love and protection for us. No matter where you are, God sees you. He knows you and He knows what and who are around you. You are seen. You are not forgotten, ever. You are an individual. A cherished individual and you will always be loved and dealt with as an individual. You will never be clumped into a group; you are never anonymous.
I will not destroy it for the sake of ten, responds God. Evil exists here in our world and the only reason it is not destroyed in this very moment is because God has compassion for each soul. He will never ever allow a single good soul to be punished because of the work of the evil.
If God destroys something, we can be sure that the entirety of that thing was evil. We can be sure that every action He does is for our benefit. Is done out of love and protection for us. No matter where you are, God sees you. He knows you and He knows what and who are around you. You are seen. You are not forgotten, ever. You are an individual. A cherished individual and you will always be loved and dealt with as an individual. You will never be clumped into a group; you are never anonymous.
18:33 Reassured, Abraham returns home. God resumes His business. He's constantly working. Observing. Listening. Answering. God does not visit us in physical form right now as He has done before but the promises and the love is the same. His presence is just as real and emphatic. Through your faith you will come to know Him, to feel Him, to see Him manifested before you in so many ways.
Abraham teaches us to be intimately committed to protecting the lives of others. These people had nothing to do with Abraham. He did not know them, they did not know him. He did not know their faces, their interests, their religion, their features, their desires... all he needed to know was that they were good souls and they deserved to be recognized as such. Demand, as Abraham did, that justice is not overlooked. Even for strangers.
Abraham teaches us to be intimately committed to protecting the lives of others. These people had nothing to do with Abraham. He did not know them, they did not know him. He did not know their faces, their interests, their religion, their features, their desires... all he needed to know was that they were good souls and they deserved to be recognized as such. Demand, as Abraham did, that justice is not overlooked. Even for strangers.
