Verse for the day

My son, Jared, has been struggling with his job because he really doesn't like it. I was encouraging him on the phone but then I wanted to send him a verse that would encourage him. When I checked my e-mail, the verse that Pastor Steve sent that day was Jeremiah 29:11! It was the exact verse that I was thinking to send him...there it was!! I forwarded it right away!! God works in even the small details to answer our needs!!

Genesis

Please read Genesis Chapter 18 before you begin or blog.

The chapter begins by stating that Abraham was visited by the Lord. He noticed three men standing nearby from the entrance of his tent. The first thing Abraham did was to run out to greet them by bowing to them to show respect. However, he does not stop there; he showed humility by serving them, washing their feet, preparing a meal and inviting them to rest in the shade for the hottest part of the day.

In verse 3, Abraham addressed the men as “Lord.” The Hebrew word for “Lord” here is “Adonay” showing that Abraham probably recognized that these men were sent by the God. Since he had encountered God before he was likely sensitive to realizing when God showed up to meet with him. Therefore, understanding that God sent these men, he treated them the way he would treat God as if He came to visit.

Evidently the main reason these men came was to inform Abraham and Sarah that she would be pregnant with Isaac round this time next year. Since the Bible only mentions Sarah’s skeptical nature, not Abraham’s. So it seems that Abraham showed the spiritual leaders honor by accepting the prophetic word of these men as if the Lord spoke.

After the meal however, the men looked out toward Sodom as if something else was on their minds (v16).

While Abraham escorted the men down the road, the Lord asked a question. He asked “Should I hide my plan from Abraham (v17-19)?” It is not clear if God is speaking to a divine counsel in heaven or the men He sent to Abraham. Since the Bible doesn’t make it clear then we know that is not important to the story. What is important is that God was going to reveal something important to Abraham that would teach him something about God.

The plans God revealed to Abraham was the He was going to judge Sodom and Gomorrah for their flagrant sin. Abraham shows that he is very uncomfortable with God’s judgment by respectfully asking God how many innocent people He would destroy in the judgment of the wicked. God pledged that He would not kill more that 50 innocent lives in order to judge the wicked. Abraham seems to have talked God down to only 10 people (v20-33).

1. If you have ever encountered God in a significant way? Please share your story.
2. What can we learn from Abraham’s encounter with God that we can put to use in our own lives (v3-15)?
3. Why do you think that Abraham was so uncomfortable with God’s judgment and what do you think God taught him (v16-33)?
4. Did God hold to the promise He made to Abraham? Why or why not (v16-33)?

Please choose at least one question to respond to. Don’t forget, you can interact with me as well as you can with others. Have fun and enjoy the discussion.