Genesis 18 It’s A Deal
Abraham has just finished entertaining the angels of God. They are on their way to Sodom to render judgment. Abraham bargains with God. “It’s a deal!” Ten righteous men is all it takes.
Just in case you didn’t know; God LISTENS to His children. And He WANTS us to bring our requests to Him. But I don’t know if I could have engaged in the ‘bargaining’ that Abraham did. By the wording contained in God’s story, it looks like he had to grab all his courage to do it too. Let’s rejoin our story and see these men on their mission.
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Sarah watches as Abraham and the three men disappear from sight. She is silently relieved that they are gone. Her stomach is still in knots from the white lie she told and how the man responded. “He spoke the truth, but HOW did he hear me” she wonders. Sarah had indeed laughed. She vows to put it out of her mind before Abraham returns. “I wonder if he will bring it up” muses Sarah.
Abraham and the three men stop at the top of a rise. Below them lies the valley that Lot had chosen. The valley containing all the people Abraham had rescued not too long ago. It is a beautiful lush valley with several towns dotting its length.
While everyone stands around ‘enjoying the view’, the leader of the three men (the angel of the Lord) speaks what is heavy on his heart. “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him” (verses 17-19).
Abraham is intrigued. The long day of covenanting with God and promising to practice righteousness and justice. That was the promise made on Abraham’s household’s part during the circumcision act. So, what is happening? Why have these men come? Abraham truly wants to know, but he has refrained from asking so far.
The angel of the Lord speaks facing the valley below. “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know” (verses 20-21).
Abraham is shocked by these words. He had refused to allow the king of Sodom to give him any spoils, lest the man boast that he had made Abraham rich. Also, because Abraham had heard stories coming out about that city. Stories he wanted NO part of. But also stories he wasn’t sure were accurate. Apparently, the angel of the Lord wanted to know if they were true.
The angel of the Lord remained with Abraham as his two companions began the descent into the valley. They would personally visit these cities and report the truth of the matter.
Abraham was heartsick! “What of all the good people that I rescued? Are they to die with the wicked?” These are the thoughts running through his mind. He can stand it no longer; he MUST say something. “What will you do if you find it to be true? ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (verses 23-25).
The angel of the Lord nods his head in recognition of Abraham’s words and his heart behind them. Then he answers; “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake” (verse 26).
Abraham stands with that answer for a moment. Grateful that he is being heard. Then his mind whirls again as he thinks that maybe there are not enough righteous men to make the 50. When Abraham speaks this time, he makes certain that the angel of the Lord KNOW that he KNOWS that he is not truly worthy to be making such a request, but ask he must. “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” (verses 27-28a).
The Lord continued to look out over the valley. “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there” (verse 28b).
Abraham breathes deep before raising his next question. “Suppose forty are found there?” (verse 29a).
“For the sake of forty I will not do it” (verse 29b) the angel of the Lord answers.
“Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there” (verse 30a) Abram offers.
“I will not do it, if I find thirty there” (verse 30b) answers the angel.
Abraham feels compelled to go on with his requests. “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there” (verse 31a).
The angel of the Lord continues to respond with great love. “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it” (verse 31b).
“One more time please” thinks Abraham before asking one last time. “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there” (verse 32a).
The angel of the Lord turns to look Abraham in the eyes. “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it” (verse 32b).
Abraham released the breath he had been holding. “Surely there are ten left” Abraham thinks.
“It is time I go and see for myself” says the angel. And he turns and walks down the hill towards the valley.
Abraham watches him for a few minutes then turns and heads back to his camp. He can do no more. He will have to wait and see what happens.
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It is not always easy to grab the courage to ask God for something so detailed. Sometimes I’m afraid to ask at all. But I KNOW my God LOVES me and cares about the things that matter to me. I have to share a conversation I had with Him today. Strange that my conversation and our story of Abraham’s conversation happened on the same day. Yes, I knew what the story was today, but it didn’t enter into my mind as I was speaking with Him.
I have a solar array in my yard. As with anything, it works best when it is clean. Mine sits beside my chicken run and therefore gets dusty. My well water has minerals in it and therefore leaves a film on it when I hose it down. I was told by the company to let the rain water wash it for me. But it doesn’t rain all the time. I have been very tempted to hose it down but haven’t found the time.
A few days ago, we had a very cloudy day. I wondered if it was going to rain. I hoped it would but that was as far as it went. We had a second cloudy day and then went back to clear skies with no rain. Today started clear but then the clouds rolled in. I looked to heaven and asked God, “Where is that rain I was asking for?” Within an hour, while I was giving my chickens their dried bug treats, I felt a rain drop.
I thanked God for the raindrops but asked again if He could send enough to wash off my solar array. I told Him; “I want it to rain enough that it runs off of things.” The rain increased. I looked out and it wasn’t raining heavy but the whole ground was wet. I said a quick thanks, then asked for more.
I got busy writing and dealing with the things in the house. My husband called me for help after a while. After getting him out of bed and into his wheelchair, I walked by the kitchen window. It was raining so HARD that the water was arching off the side of the roof on my back porch. I have seen it sheeting straight down from the porch but never to fast moving that it arched!
I went out to give the chickens their midday snack, I walked by my solar array. It is sparkling clean! God REALLY listened to my request.
Father God, thank You for hearing my requests. I KNOW that You always hear me but today You demonstrated it so clearly. There have been many times in my life when You have answered exactly as I have asked. This should be proof enough that You hear me so that my faith never waivers. But it often does. Forgive me Lord for ever doubting You.
I have another request I want to present to You Father God. My friend’s great grandson is sick. He’s just a baby. Heal him Father God. Give his parents wisdom on ways to keep him from getting sick again. Don’t let there be ANY lasting damage from this illness Father God.
