Genesis 18:16-19

2007.Jun.09 20:55

In God’s Confidence

Read Genesis 18:16-19 Full Chapter

Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” (Genesis 18:20-33, NASB)

I’m going to throw in a summary here of a rather short passage just to help me get my head around what exactly is going on (although I don’t anticipate succeeding). Previously, three men show up, possibly including Jehovah, or possibly all messengers from him. Abraham has them stop by his tent, gives them food and drink, they discuss geriatric child-bearing, yadda, yadda. Now, the men get up to leave and Abraham walks with them for a time. Jehovah, besides informing Abraham and Sarah that their long-awaited child will be born in a year, is planning to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. God asks himself whether he ought to tell Abraham his intentions.

God does tell Abraham and in my next entry, I’ll look at Abraham’s response. But I want to look now at Jehovah’s rationale for confiding in Abraham his intentions.

1. Abraham will have many descendants, among which will be a powerful nation (assume, Israel)
2. Abraham’s line will bless the entire earth (although not the only way in which it does so, to me this particularly reflects the offer of salvation to all through Jesus Christ).
3. God has chosen him for these things.
4. Abraham will teach God’s law to others.

In other words, Abraham is going to influence a lot of people, throughout generations. So, God’s choosing to confide in him is probably as much about Abraham sharing his personal tales of God’s justice, righteousness and power as about God simply wanting to confide in Abraham.

And yet, that second point, that Jehovah does confide in Abraham should not be overlooked. Jehovah often chooses to work through the weak, it is true, but the weak must be at least somewhat willing. And there is a key (or maybe just a stretch of logic–you decide!): Jehovah confides in Abraham because Abraham and Sarah (whose part in this is essential) have proven themselves willing to walk in faith and do as Jehovah commands; not perfectly, to be certain, but in their weaknesses, they have consistently returned to God after their failures and grown through the experience. Abraham and Sarah are excellent examples of what God can and will do with broken but willing vessels. He does such impressive things throughout their lives, and he talks personally with them, often confiding in them and reassuring them as a friend.

Genesis 19:12-14

2007.Jul.29 01:40

You’re Joking…Right?

Read Genesis 19:12-14 Full Chapter

Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. (Genesis 19:12-14, ESV)

One of the favorite cries against God is unfairness. Well, Lot at least can’t claim that here. Jehovah’s messengers tell Lot that the city will be destroyed and to get himself and all those he cares about out. Lot, for his part, believes them, and goes out the find some guys about to marry some of his daughters, in order to share the warning. His sons-in-law listen to Lot and assume he’s joking.

I find Lot fascinating. He’s the sort of husband and father I do not want to be. And, yet, I see a lot of him in myself. The security of the cities of the plains would sound inviting. Trusting my own reason to save me could well be my first reaction to situation clearly beyond my abilities. Wanting to go out on my own and prove myself: check. So, I’m going to spend a little time digging into a few words in this passage. I may over extrapolate and over interpret but I think there’s at least some good reminders for me in here.

If my father-in-law came to me and said “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city,” I’ll admit my first thought would be that he was joking. But I know my father-in-law would not leave it at that, but make it clear that he was not joking. Once assured of that, I believe I’d get up and leave the city. I know I can trust my father-in-law. That Lot’s son-in-laws persist in assuming he’s joking makes me believe there’s something significantly (but not perhaps surprisingly) wrong with their relationship. Either his sons-in-law don’t respect their elders particularly, or Lot has not acted so as to gain their trust. Or both. That would be my guess: both. Lot strikes me as the type of guy who could justify to himself making fools of his sons-in-law just for a few laughs.

I want to live in such a way as to earn the trust of others. Why should I expect Jehovah to speak to me, or especially through me, if I have not shown throughout my life that I can be trusted? It’s tempting to ignore the “little” things, the just living right things, focusing instead on the “big success stories”. How many people have wanted to change the world, and forget to live right. Lot focused on building his wealth and his comforts. His sons-in-law will only be the first relationship he loses.

In contrast, I look at my father-in-law. Why is it that I would easily trust him and get out of the city? Because, I know, by the way he lives his life, that he values other people, especially his family, more than worldly success. He would not make such a joke because no matter how much fun he may have gotten out of it, it would have damaged a relationship, and I know him enough to know he wouldn’t do that. And I hope that throughout my life, people could say that about me.