2019.09.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 18:16-19

Read Genesis 18:16-19

Questions from the Scripture text: Who rise in Genesis 18:16? Where do they look? Who goes with them? To do what? Who speaks in Genesis 18:17? What question does He ask? What will Abraham become (Genesis 18:18)? Who will be blessed in him? What has Yahweh done to Abraham (Genesis 18:19)? So that Abraham might do what? To whom? What is Abraham to command them to do? What will Yahweh bring about through this? 

It is an extraordinary blessing to have the Word of God.

Here, the Lord’s reasoning for revealing His plans to Abraham is that Abraham is the earthly representative of the covenant of grace at this time, and indeed has an unique place in the covenant of grace throughout history. He is the one through whom blessing shall come to all the nations of the earth. And he himself shall surely become a great and mighty nation.

Also, when the Lord highlights the great privileges of Israel, he lists first (“chiefly”) among them that they have the sayings of God (Romans 3:2, cf. Romans 9:4). And this blessing has come down, now, to the church.

For, it is the church that has received the fullness of God’s Word, given by God to Christ and given by Christ to the apostles, and completed for the apostles by the ministry of the Spirit (cf. John 16:12-15; John 17:6-8, John 17:13-20).

Of course, with great privileges come great responsibility. Abraham’s unique relationship with the Lord (I have known Him) demands a response (that he may command his children and his household after him).

He is to lead his household—with a special focus upon his children—to “keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice.” Of course, this must begin with faith—as we have seen since at least Genesis 15:6 and, really, ever since chapter 12. But using the double word (righteousness and justice) presses us to include not only righteous standing through faith in Christ, but also righteous living that is the fruit of that same faith in Christ.

In fact, the Scripture says that this was a means by which Yahweh would “bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” The Lord has not only a specific Savior by whom we are saved; He has also a specific mechanism through which He carries out His plan to bring the Savior into a sinful world, and to bring sinners to the Savior. As He sustains us in following His ways, He uses that way to bring us, and our children, and as many as will join us, into a life of dependence upon Jesus and also devotion to Jesus.

What is the way by which the Lord has planned to bring you what He has spoken to you?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH234 “The God of Abraham Praise”