February 22, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Almighty Father

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

I praise You, Lord, for Your extravagant hospitality toward me today and every day.

Read Genesis 18:16–33

[16] When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. [17] Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? [18] 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.” [20] 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.” [22] The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. [23] Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? [24] What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? [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?” [26] The LORD said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” [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, [28] what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” [29] Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” [30] Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” [31] Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” [32] Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” [33] When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?… I have chosen him” (Gen. 18:17,19).

In this passage we see the way that God and Abraham work out their roles in their relationship. God decides that he will consult Abraham with regard to his plans and Abraham experiments with asking God for a request. In one sense we get the idea that Abraham becomes more confident in approaching God. He starts by arguing the case, appealing to God’s own nature, for saving the city if 50 righteous people are found there. When God agrees, he asks about five less than 50 and when God agrees to 45, he dares to drop in tens (perhaps a balance between asking for too much and tiring God with the tedious process of reducing the number by five each time!). At the same time, he is never presumptuous and admits (27) that he is but dust and ashes (word play, for the two words in Hebrew sound similar to each other) and asks that God not be angry with him (30,32). The balance of approaching God as our heavenly Father, but also as God Almighty, is probably one we will never get quite right—with some seeing God as remote and others tending towards inappropriate familiarity with God. Indeed, it is difficult to strike that balance, not least because God’s nature is somewhat elusive to humans, as is portrayed in these two chapters. The Lord appears to Abraham in verse 1, but when Abraham looks up, he sees three visitors. They speak to him, either as a group (5,9) or individually (10), though it is the Lord who speaks in verse 13. The “men” go towards Sodom in verse 22 while Abraham remains with the Lord, who then departs from him in verse 33. Then, 19:1 tells us that “two angels” (messengers) arrived in Sodom. Nevertheless, what is clear is that the Lord was present.

Apply

For whom is God calling you to intercede as Abraham did?

Closing prayer

Almighty God and Heavenly Father, please lead me into a greater and deeper understanding of who You are and help me to approach You humbly, but confidently.

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