Genesis 18:1-33

“Let Me Speak Just Once More”

Genesis 18:1-33 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
Key Verse: 18:32 5-16-10 DuPage UBF

“Then he said, ‘May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?’”
In the last passage God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, planting in his heart the vision to be a father of many nations. How does a father of many nations live? Does he sit on a throne and let his extended family serve him hand and foot? No way! In this passage we discover what the practical life of a father and mother of many nations actually is. In it we will find the Lord coming to visit Abraham through three visitors. Abraham welcomed the visitors with his whole heart. Through his serving we find a wonderful example of God centered family. We also find Sarah in need of an infusion of faith. God will help her to repent of her fatalism and unbelief and put her trust in the Lord. We will see Abraham's personal relationship with God deepened as he converses with God as God’s friend. We will also learn how a father of many nations prays prayers that move the heart of God. May God grant us vision for our own house church ministries and grant us "nothing is too hard for the Lord " faith. May we grow in our friendship with God and learn how to be effective prayer servants for the people of our times.
Part l: A Beautiful House Church In Action. (1-8)

My heart is always moved when I see the inner workings of Abraham’s family or house church. They are so hospitable and sacrificial and so unified. So, I’d like to spend some time on this portion of the text.

God could not ignore such a great man of God. The Bible says that Abraham was God’s friend (James 2:23; Isa 41:8). Friends visit each other, dropping by even without an invite. And that is exactly what God did. Look at verses 1-2a, “The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby…” Who were these three men? The passage says that the “Lord” appeared to Abraham. Hebrews 13:2 reads, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” I believe that this was the Lord revealing himself through three angels who appeared as ordinary travelers, even strangers, to Abraham.

Enough about that. Let’s learn more about this generous hearted man. Look at verse 2b, “…When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.” It was in the heat of the day, in the afternoon, the time that most people want to have a little siesta after lunch. The last thing one would want is hurry to do anything, except to run off to bed. But Abraham hurried from the entrance of his tent. This senior citizen had more zeal in his step than some teenagers. Abraham was also eager to show respect and hospitality to these three visitors. In ancient times, hospitality towards total strangers was practiced. They were to be treated like honored guests. But Abraham wasn’t showing respect just because it was the custom. He respected others, from his heart, because he knew the God who honored and respected him. It was not easy to show such respect. Who was Abraham? He was the leader of more than 1,000 people. He was their spiritual leader, a rich rancher and a military general who conquered the regional bully, Kedorlaomer in Genesis 14. He was the one whom kings made treaties with. (Gen 14:21) He should demand respect from others but he did not. He reminds me of some of our UBF leaders who are professional people, holding prestigious positions in society and yet sincerely honoring and respecting young students like they were VIP’s.
Abraham sincerely invited them to his home in full expectation that they would accept his invite. Let’s read verses 3-5a, “He said, ‘If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.’…” These visitors could not ignore such a sincere and warm invitation. And so they said, “Very well, do as you say.” (5b) Students will not ignore your invite either if it is warm and sincere and if you fully intend to carry through with what you propose.
Abraham understood the needs of his guests. He knew they were thirsty and so he offered them water. He knew that their feet were dirty and so he provided a means to wash them. He sensed they were tired and so he offered them rest in the guest tent. He knew they were hungry and so he offered to feed them. He knew they were busy men and so promised that he would not burden them, but send them on their way when they felt it was the right time. Jesus saw our needs and served us accordingly. As ministers of the gospel to campus students we must have spiritual insight to see students’ needs and serve them accordingly. We are here, not to burden them, but to be a source of blessing and encouragement to them. May God inspire each of you with ways that you can bless those who God has brought into your life.

His family worked together as a unit. Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick. Get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Sarah didn’t say, “I beg your pardon. Who are you saying, “Quick” to? By the way, I’m taking a little nap and I can’t kneed any dough…I just did my nails.” No, Sarah was not such a woman. She was a sincere woman of God who co-worked well with Abraham. She jumped into action, along all her other servants and even young Ishmael. They were willing and eager to serve. The words, "hurried" and "quick" and "ran" describe how Abraham and his family served his guests. They worked hard and fast. They served together as a house church.

They were very generous. Look at the menu. Three seahs of fine flour. (6) That is about 20 quarts. Do you known how much bread 20 quarts makes? Maybe 100 loaves! Next, curds and milk. Curds are cheese. Curds and milk were valuable commodities. A choice tender calf. This was not a scrawny, half dead cow that was already on it’s last legs. It was the best that they could offer. Indeed, there was no stinginess in the hearts of Abraham’s house church. When we serve we must give generously, reflecting the very heart of God who is so generous to each of us. They remind me of our DuPage UBF co-workers, serving delicious food every time we come to visit.

When the guests were eating, Abraham stood near them under a tree. (9b) When we serve we just don’t fill Styrofoam, “to go” boxes with food, collect money and quickly send people on their way. Abraham didn’t jump to the front of the serving line making sure he got some of the succulent beef barbeque before it all ran out. He stood by, like a servant, waiting for further opportunities to serve, like refilling water and passing out napkins. He engaged them in interesting conversation, listening intently more than talking. Their conversation went on well after the plates were cleared from the table. They sat on pillows, sipped Turkish coffee, smoked a Hookah pipe and talked on and on about spiritual things. What a beautiful dinner party. Abraham and his family remind me of the words of Jesus who said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

God has called each of us and our homes to serve others in much the same way. Some people say they can not be hospitable because their homes are not big enough or nice enough. But even if you have a table and two chairs in a small dorm room, there are people who would be very thankful to spend time with you, enjoying an evening of conversation and sharing a meal. There could be visiting missionaries and other visiting servants of God whom would love to come and visit your family. There are students who long for one sincere friend to spend time with. This is all about opening your doors and helping others feel hospitable in your home and showing them the love of Jesus, even strangers. Be generous. Be gracious. Work together and who knows, they may even accept the gospel through you and believe.

Part ll: Good News For Sarah (18:1-15)
The Lord was not just making a social vist. There was some important business to discuss…some good new and then some bad news. First, the good news. Let’s read verses 9-10, “’Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘There, in the tent,’ he said. 10 Then the LORD said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’ Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.” It may be hard for a woman from our society to understand why Sarah had to be in a tent, away from the main conversation. But that’s just the way it was back then. It is not the way it is now and I am glad. Anyway… the three visitors understood this and they talked loudly for Sarah to overhear.
What was the good news? Look at verse 10a again, “Then the LORD said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’…” At this time Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was 89. Sarah had been called by God when she was 65. She really wanted to bear Abraham a son! But she could not. Now she as 89; well advanced in years…definitely past the age of childbearing. (11) No amount of estrogen injections and invitro procedures could ever make this happen. And so, when she over heard this fantastic news she, “…laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?’" (12) Her laughter was laughter of unbelief and pessimism. But she liked the idea. She called giving birth to a child, at the age of 90, “a pleasure.” I guess I will never understand women.
Sarah needed to take God’s word of promise seriously. Look at verses 13-14, “Then the LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.’" God doesn’t joke around very much. Can you find God making jokes in the Bible? I know he joked around once when he created the duck billed platapus. But this time he was not joking. In fact he called her out in regards to her unbelief. She tried to deny her sin of unbelief, but God would not let it go. He said to her, “Yes, you did laugh.” Why make this old lady uncomfortable? It was because unbelief is a very serious matter. God wanted Sarah to repent and take his promise to heart.
This promise is linked to the previous promise that God had made to Abraham in Genesis 17:15-16, which reads, “God also said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’" Abraham had laughed too. (17:17) But later he accepted God’s word and entered into the covenant of circumcision. (17:23) Now it was time for Sarah to believe the promise for herself personally. God changed her name from Sarai to Sarah. Traditionally the name Sarah means “princess” but in the context of this passage we can say that Sarah practically means “mother of many nations.” God wanted her to believe this promise and know that nothing is impossible with God. When she trusted in God her laughter of unbelief would changed into laughter of joy; of faith and victory when Isaac was born.
Who is God? He is the Almighty Creator God. He is the sovereign Lord and ruler of the whole universe. He is the source of all life and the author and perfector of our faith. When you think of it, is anything too hard for the Lord? The God who created the heavens and the earth can surely create a viable womb in order to conceive a child. He can surely give an old lady the strength to carry and deliver a healthy baby. This is no problem for our God? What is your situation right now? Do you believe that God will bring about the impossible in your life? Do you think you can not bear fruit in your life and ministry? Do you think it is impossible for you to become a mother, or a father of many nations? Do you think calculus is too hard to pass? Well you are wrong. The truth of the matter is, “nothing is too hard for the Lord.” When we accept these words, we can overcome all fatalism and despair and accept God’s vision for ourselves and our families and ministries. We can embrace all that God has in store for us and live according our calling.
Part lll: Abraham Pleads For Sodom (16-33)
The Lord had something on his mind. He said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" (17) God wanted to share with Abraham some bad news. But first he reviewed the good news. Let’s read verses 18-19 together. “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.’" Here is a secret. If you ever want to share some bad news with a friend, then share some good news first. This makes the bad news more palatable. In these verses God confirms the promise he made to Abraham. He also revealed the secret as to why Abraham’s house church was so blessed and worked together like a well oil machine…it was because he taught his children and his household the ways of the Lord, verbally, but mostly through his practical daily life. This is a whole new message that I hope I can write and deliver one day, but not now. What God really wanted to share was his plans for Sodom and Gomorrah so that Abraham could share in his heart and pray. Look at verses 20-21, “Then the LORD said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.’" Apparently there was an outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah. God was grieved so much that he was bound and determined to do something about it. But first he came to check it out. This is what I like about God. God does not listen to hearsay. He comes and checks things out, to find out what is really going on. God is truthful and just.

Abraham realized that his beloved but foolish nephew was on the verge of perishing under the wrath of God and this galvanized him to pray. Let’s see verses 22-23, “The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said:” This means that Abraham prayed to God on Lot’s behalf. There was nothing else he could do. He tried his best. He even went to war to rescue Lot, but Lot and his family went back to their compromised lifestyle. And so he prayed. Sometimes this is all we can do for some people. Actually it is the best thing that we can do. Because God can change hearts only when we pray.

Though Abraham’s prayer we can learn several things about praying to God for others. First, we need to have the correct viewpoint of ourselves. Look at verse 27. “Then Abraham spoke up again: ‘Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes’” Abraham knew that without God, he was simply dust and ashes. He also knew that his own sins could stimulate the anger and wrath of God (30a, 32) and so he was very humble before God. God saw his attitude and listened to his prayers. We should never approach God thinking that we are all that. We are forgiven sinners. We must be humble, for God apposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Second, we need to know who God is. Look at verse 25. “Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Abraham knew that God is the Judge of all the earth and that he is righteous. He also knew that God makes a distinction between those who are righteous and those who are wicked and he treats them differently. Based on God’s character, Abraham prayed. The more we study the Bible and obey it’s teachings the more we know who God is. The more we know who God is the more effectively we can pray. So let’s study the Bible deeply and become very effective prayer servants for this generation.

Third, we need to be persistent. Abraham approached God in prayer six times in this passage, basically praying the same thing. When we pray we sometimes peel off one quick pray and then forget about it, thinking that is enough. But when we pray we need to pray again and again. We need to learn persistent prayer for our family, friends, campus’, community and nation and for all those whom God has brought into our lives…never giving up.

Fourth, we need to pray with a shepherd heart, a heart full of concern for others. Abraham prayed for Lot. In his six prayers he started off with praying for the salvation of fifty people, then forty, then thirty, then twenty, and then ten. What was he doing? I really feel that Abraham was not sure how many people were associated with Lot. There was his wife, two daughters and their two husbands. That is six people. What if Lot had some grandkids? What if a miracle happened and Lot had been reaching out to others and had a small church meeting in his home? Could there be 50 people gathering there? Abraham didn’t know. But he was concerned with Lot’s whole family and so he prayed for every possibility. Finally, God agreed to spare Sodom if as many as ten righteous men could be found in the city. Surely God listens to the sincere prayers of those who have a shepherd heart for others. May God grant each of us the same concern to pray for entire families and small house churches everywhere, especially in DeKalb. Hint…Hint.

In this passage we see what the lives of a father and mother of many nations is like. They serve whole heartedly. They believe the word of God and embrace all that God has in store for them knowing the nothing is impossible with the Lord. They are certain God will bless them as they live by faith. They are close friends with God and pray many prayers to him born out of their love and concern for others. Such was the house church of Abraham and Sarah. And such can be your house church. Yes, even for you singles out there, this blessed life can also be yours as you follow in the footsteps of Abraham. Believe God’s promises to you and embark on the adventure of faith today.