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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Gen. 16
I noted yesterday that God assured Abram of His promise by making a covenant that was fully dependent on God alone. Abram had no part in the making or keeping of that covenant, he only needed to believe it. This is, of course, how it is with our salvation. It is fully dependent on Christ; we have no part in it outside of faith. In fact, Paul spoke quite a bit about how relying on our own efforts undermines God’s grace.
We see the representation of that truth in this story about Hagar. Sarai clearly did not believe that faith was enough, so she took matters into her own hands. Note that her efforts not only failed to produce righteousness, but they actually produced the opposite. God said of Ishmael, “This man will be like a wild donkey. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him” (Gen. 16:12a). The beautiful thing is that we continue to see God’s grace, even when we repeatedly get it wrong.
Gen. 17
“I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless.” (Gen. 17:1). Wow – what an awesome statement! It comes across as a command, but because of the impossibility of it I see it as more of a blessing and a promise. Interesting that God immediately follows that statement with the impossible promise of a son, born from a couple to whom children were no longer possible. It was through that impossible son that God would bring forth the One who would make the first promise possible. It’s as if He gave the second promise, which was obviously fulfilled, to confirm that He would keep the first. Because that first promise, for us to live in God’s presence and be blameless, is the goal and Jesus is the plan to achieve it.
Gen. 18
All I’ve got from this chapter this morning is a few questions. First, why did God choose to tell Abraham what He was getting ready to do to Sodom and Gomorrah? Was it to give Abraham a glimpse of the final judgment; the consequences of not keeping the way of the LORD? Since he was responsible to teach his children the way of the LORD so they could teach their children to do the same, it seems reasonable that God would reveal the outcome for those who chose to go their own way instead. Or perhaps it was to give Abraham a chance to intercede for the cities’ residents. What better way for all the nations of the earth to be blessed through him than through his intercession to God on their behalf?
Another question I have is where the outcry that went up to God against Sodom and Gomorrah came from. I would think that it came from the righteous, but we know that Lot and his daughters were the only righteous ones found, and they still literally had to be dragged out of the place. Perhaps it was creation itself that groaned at the curse of man’s wickedness (see Rom. 8:22). And my last question is how did Abraham know that God intended to sweep away these cities? As far as I can tell, God never specifically stated that as His plan. Maybe we all inherently know that sin leads to destruction. After all, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened and they knew good and evil.