Genesis 18-20
Genesis 18 opens with the event of the foretelling of Abraham and Sarah's son. As three men (whom one of them are often referred to as "the Lord") ate the food that Abraham so hospitably had prepared for them, they shared with him that in one year, Sarah will give birth. Sarah overheard this announcement and laughed at the thought because at their age, it was physically impossible to give birth. However, we know by faith (as well as it is said here) that "nothing is too hard for the Lord" (Genesis 18:14) for "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength" (Philippians 4:13).
The conversation with Abraham and the Lord in Genesis 18:16-33 is quite interesting. It reminds me of the age old question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" God is God and nothing is too hard for Him! However, we live in an evil world where vil runs free. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were incredibly wicked. All kinds of immoral sexual acts were performed with no moral boundaries (as we see in Genesis 19:5). Due to their incessant evil, God considers destroying the cities. The Great Flood had to be on Abraham's mind when he heard the Lord suggest it. The Flood was no more than 400 years ago and at Abraham's age of 100, his forefathers were from the Ark. So he begins to question if God would destroy innocent people. Is Abraham attempting to change God's mind? I doubt that. However, it has been suggested before that God was rather changing Abraham's mind. Abraham knew that God was just-he will punish sin. However, maybe Abraham was doubting somewhat the mercy of God. God used this as an opportunity to teach Abraham just how God's mercy really works. Just as we pray, we are not going to change God's mind through our prayers. Rather, when we pray, we come in tune with God's mind and that changes ours too!
Genesis 19, we see striking similarities between the hospitality of Abraham and Lot. Perhaps this is a way they were brought up? It is also a cultural mentality to take the utmost care and protection of guests. We see this obvious fact when the town's perverts wanted to molest the visitors. Lot rather offers them his daughters. Such a dreadful thing! This suggests the evil that was rampant in the city. At his defense, could Lot be plotting because he knew they were homosexual, they would not want his daughters? Whatever the case, the sin of the city is obvious!
God's mercy spared the only innocent people in the city-Lot's family. As they ran from the city, Lot's wife looked back and it killed her. Have you turned back to your former life before Christ and longingly looked to your sin? If so, God cannot compete with your former way of life. Jesus said Himself, "No one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). The sin however, did rub off onto Lot's daughters. Their actions of having sex with their father shows of their upbringing in a sinful environment. As parents, we must attempt to raise our children in the Lord-even in a sinful environment. A note is given that their sons became the fathers of the nations called Moab and Ammon. These tow nations became pagan worshipping nations that Israel later defeated (Judges 3). The pagan god they worshipped was the god called Moelch who was worshipped an offering of burning little children. Do you see how sin can evil can spread through the generations if it is not caught and dealt with now!
Genesis 21 is another instance of Abraham using his own means for getting out of trouble. However, God delivered him and saved him once again. God usually doesn't reward us for our attempt to do life on our own; however, God will always see us through-even if we have to endure some trials along the way for attempting to do life without involving Him. No matter how much we love God, temptation does happen. We all have our own personal weaknesses; trust God in those times of weakness when you know you are especially vulnerable to sin.
This Psalm falls chronologically before David is king of Israel. The heading of the Psalm makes reference to "Cush of the tribe of Benjamin". This is probably one of the officers of King Saul's army (Saul was king before David) who was pursuing David to kill him because David was accused of attempting to kill king Saul (1 Samuel 24:9-11). Therefore, this Psalm is written out of a heart that has been wrongly accused of a crime. Have you ever been wrongly accused? Has anyone ever falsely blamed you for something? Doesn't that produce a vengeful feeling inside of you? "Wait until I get back at them..." Instead of having that mentality, David cries out to God! He petitions God to be the judge and to be the issue a sentence of punishment for their wrong-doing. Psalm 7:9 says, "For you look deep within the mind and heart O righteous God" (NLT). No matter what, God sees what is inside. He knows what you think. He knows you inner feelings. He knows your motives. You cannot hide from God! Have you attempted to hide something from someone because you didn't want them to find you out? You cannot do that with God! Psalm 7:12-16 tells us that those whose sin will eventually be allowed to run its course and its evil will eventually destroy itself. Those who are violent will die of violence; those who are liars will eventually become victims of others' deceit. And finally Psalm 7:17 tells us that when we pray for God to be just when we have been unjustly treated, we should follow David's example and thank God when we turn to Him!
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