Joe Dude's Bible Thoughts: Genesis 18

Abraham's visit is quite interesting, probably on a number of levels. But the level that maks me wonder the most is the LORD'S appearance to Abraham as a man. It's not insane -- after all Jesus came to earth, becoming God in the flesh.

I think what's most strange to me is Abraham's calmness about the whole thing. It seems like he looked up and thought "Oh look, it's the LORD and two angels. Let's make them dinner." This is GOD we're talking about, the creator of the universe who breathed out stars and also knows how many hairs are on your head. And here he comes walking up as a man without an indication of this being just a tad bit odd from Abraham. Though we do know Abraham has encountered the LORD before, so maybe it was in a similar form.

Whatever the case here, I am always reminded of Hebrews 13:2 - "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." The writer of Hebrews almost certainly had to be thinking about this when putting pen to paper.

I am also sometimes reminded of that time when Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah in the New Testament, and Peter says they should put up three shelters. I think Peter gets a bad rap for his comment. Is that really so different than giving the LORD and his angels a meal when they show up? I don't know for sure, but I think we should give the poor guy a break on this one.

"Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans." "Want to make Sarah laugh? Tell her God's plans." How often do we doubt God? Yes we acknowledge that his is sovereign. We sing songs about his power. We tell people that God is in control. But do we really believe it?

I love God's question here: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Well, that answer is yes. It's probably too hard for God to make a square circle, a married bacheolor, or a burrito so hot that he couldn't lift it. Nonsense questions, all of them. Aside from such mumbo jumbo, no, there is nothing too hard for the LORD. But do we really believe it? And believe that he's for us and not against us? And believe that all things for for those who love him and are called according to his purpose?

Much of the rest of the account shows Abraham asking God the conditions under which he's going to destroy Sodom. He says that if there are ten righteous people found there, he wouldn't destory it. Reading ahead we know that God did destroy the cities because of their wickedness. So it seems that there were not even ten righteous in the city. "No one is righteous, not one." So if Abraham got God down from 10 to 1 -- I still think the city would have been destroyed.

Well then, some may say. Why doesn't God destroy other cities if no one is righteous? The time for wrath and judgment will come, and it's not pretty. I don't get a lot of that symbolism in Revelation, but I get enough of the descriptions to know I don't want to be an unbeliever going through that kinds of chaos. But, I digress. Back to the question. Jesus answered this in Luke 13 -- "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Remember, it's not about our performance, it's about the cross and repentance. The performance comes from the change!