January 25, 2013
IT'S A HARD-KNOCK LIFE
Genesis 18:16-33
Ashley Shopbell
Central Truth
God is faithful and just and wants us to turn to Him and repent.
Key Verse | Genesis 18:26
So the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account." (Genesis 18:26)
Genesis 18:16-33
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen 1 18:19 Hebrew known 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.” 20 Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether 2 18:21 Or they deserve destruction; Hebrew they have made a complete end according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 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? 25 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?” 26 And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Dive Deeper | Genesis 18:16-33
Life is hard. I don't think anyone would disagree with that statement. As Christians, we are bombarded with messages, situations, and temptations that aim at driving a wedge between us and God. This definitely doesn't make life any easier. But God equips us from His Word to repent and ask for forgiveness when we do make an unwise decision and sin.
Acts 3:19 tells us to repent of our sins and seek God; then our sins will be wiped clean. We need to ask the Lord to cleanse us of our sins, and He will. Sin separates us from God. Anything that is displeasing to God is sin.
Not long ago, I asked a friend if my body image issues were a sin. She answered with a resounding "Yes!" I was letting images and messages from the world wreck my thoughts about who I was and how I looked. It was so easy to forget that I was fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and that my gentle spirit is worth more than brand name clothes (1 Peter 3:3-4). A continual war was being waged in my head. I was sinning against my heavenly Father. Since this revelation, I have confessed to God when these negative thoughts creep into my head (1 John 1:9). I know through His grace and mercy He will forgive me and redirect my thoughts to be more pleasing.
God wants nothing more than to forgive us and draw us even closer to Him. But God had run out of patience with the inhabitants of Sodom, and He was ready to destroy the town because of their sin. Still, He told Abraham that if even ten righteous people could be found in the city, He would not destroy it (Genesis 18:32). He was willing to show His love and mercy to the people of Sodom, but they were not willing to repent.
He is also willing to show us His love and mercy as we seek His forgiveness.
Discussion Questions
1. Is there an area of sin in your life that you need to confess to God?
2. Have you asked God to reveal any sin in your life?
3. Have you felt God's love and mercy through His forgiveness?