Monday, September 23, 2019

2019.09.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 18:20-33

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Yahweh say has been very great in Genesis 18:20? What does He say about their sin? Whom does He say will go down and see (Genesis 18:21)? Whom does Genesis 18:22 say turned away and went toward Sodom? Yet, before whom does Abraham continue to stand? What does Abraham ask in Genesis 18:23? What does he propose in Genesis 18:24? What reason does he argue in favor of his proposal (Genesis 18:25)? How does Yahweh respond in Genesis 18:26? What does Abraham call himself in Genesis 18:27? What modified proposal does he make in Genesis 18:28? What answer does he get? What proposal and answer in Genesis 18:29? What proposal and answer in Genesis 18:30? What does he acknowledge as remarkable in Genesis 18:31? What proposal and answer in verse 31? What does he ask at the beginning of Genesis 18:32? What does he say about this request? What proposal and answer in this verse? Who leaves in Genesis 18:33? Where does Abraham go?  
The sin of the Amorites was not yet complete (Genesis 15:16), but the sin of Sodom sure was! Did the Lord really need to “go down to Sodom” to see if it was as bad as He had heard? Of course not! But, in speaking in this manner, the Lord was provoking Abraham to intercede.

By God’s own words, Abraham knew himself to be one in whom all of the nations were to be blessed. Now, God repeats that in Abraham’s hearing and immediately follows up by bringing to Abraham’s attention one nation that most certainly needed blessing.

As Abraham responds, he is unto us a picture of Christ, who perfectly intercedes for His people; but, he is also a picture of all of the children of Abraham, who bear the family resemblance. We are to be those who are prompted by God’s saving mission to pray for all nations (1 Timothy 2:1-8).

We see Abraham praying upon the basis of who God is. The God who has known him (Genesis 18:19). The God who is the Judge of all the earth. The God who is mercifully redeeming sinners and making them righteous. The God who sees and hears all things in all places at all time. This God has prompted Abraham with His Word, bringing Abraham into His counsels, and thus calling Abraham to prayer.

Abraham’s awe at the God to Whom he prays is magnified by his recognition of his own smallness and unworthiness. He knows himself to be “dust and ashes,” and so he is the more amazed at the privilege he has of calling upon God’s name and having God heed what He says. Let us, his children by faith, be awed at our God and humbled about ourselves. And, recognizing our great privilege, let us be instant and constant at the ministry of prayer!
Who hears you when you pray? What is He like? Why would He listen to you?
Suggested Songs: ARP5 “Listen to My Words, O Lord” or TPH518 “Come, My Soul, with Every Care”

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