Why Waste Time When You Know What God Wants

Abraham’s servant and Rebekah’s family celebrated her engagement to Isaac.  Having accomplished his purpose in going, the servant was ready to leave, as Genesis 24:54-56 explains.  “And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.  And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master..” While they were excited for her, it suddenly dawned on her family that they might not see her again.  They wanted to prolong the celebration.   

In an effort to prevent conflict they suggested they ask Rebekah what she wanted in Genesis 24:57-58.  “And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.”  Rebekah was excited about going and didn’t see any point in waiting another ten days.  Like the servant, she believed God had directed and wanted to finish what God was leading her to do.    The family yielded to her wishes, sending her on her way in Genesis 24:59-61.  “And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.  And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.  And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.”  They blessed her, asking that God give her a strong and plentiful family, without wasting more time. 

Isaac was not living with his father, but had established his own place.  With no one to talk to, he had gone out to walk and think about things the day that Rebekah and the servant arrived. According to Genesis 24:62-66.  “And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.   And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.  And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.  For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself.  And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.” 

Though she had agreed to marry Isaac, Rebekah had never met him, and she was a shy at first around him.  After the servant explained what God had done the shyness went away, and they accepted each other as husband and wife without further ado, in Genesis 24:67.  “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.”  There was no formal wedding celebration mentioned, just a clear intention by both to be husband and wife, recognized by both families.   I Corinthians 6:13-17 tells us, “…Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”  By coming together sexually we form that marriage bond, even when it is for the purpose of prostitution.  Though there was not a formal wedding, Isaac and Rebekah were married.  For three years, Isaac had missed his mother, but when Rebekah came into his life, his focus changed and he stopped mourning his mother.   

Seeking Confirmation

Abraham’s servant was thrilled and thanking God for bringing him to the right place.  When he asked about whether her family would be able to give him lodging she had said she was sure they would, and went to get permission as Genesis 24:28-31 describes.  “And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.  And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.  And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.  And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.” 

Her brother, Laban was amazed at how much he had given Rebekah for watering his camels.  How much would he be willing to pay for a night’s lodging for himself and his men?  Laban was determined to take advantage of the opportunity for such a profit, and made a special effort to make the servant feel welcome. 

Abraham’s servant did not want there to be any misunderstanding about why he was there and insisted on explaining his mission even before they ate, in Genesis 24:32-49.  “And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.  And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand.

And he said, Speak on.

And he said, I am Abraham's servant.  And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.  And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.  And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.  And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house: Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.  And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.

And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.  And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.  And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou?  And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.  And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”

The servant believed that God had clearly shown him Rebekah was the proper woman for Isaac.   He also recognized that we can misinterpret signs and jump to false conclusions.  While it was unlikely a girl would volunteer to water his camels, it was not impossible, so the sign could not be taken as absolute.  When decisions are based completely on signs, Satan can use false signs or natural events to mislead us.  Other people were involved and he needed to know whether they believed it was God’s will and were willing to work with him or not.  If they were not it was probable that he was misinterpreting the signs and jumping to a false conclusion.

Rebekah’s father and brother were convinced this was the will of God and agreed that Rebekah hould marry Isaac, according to Genesis 24:50-53.  “Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.  Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.   And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.”  Their response confirmed the servant’s conclusion that Rebekah was the right woman, and he celebrated God’s having blessed his errand by giving each of those involved various gifts as a token of appreciation after the decision had been made.  The decision was based solely on the information and was not affected by the gifts.

The Obedient Servant

Sarah had died when Isaac was thirty seven, and Abraham was a hundred when Isaac was born, and A couple of years after Sarah’s death, Abraham became concerned about Isaac’s future,   Isaac had never been around people of his own race and religious beliefs to meet a woman with similar customs and standards.  It is difficult to make a marriage work when people have similar customs and standards, but it becomes much more difficult when the customs, standards, or beliefs create conflict.  

Since there was no way either Abraham or Isaac could take months away from their cattle business to go out and try to find a wife of similar background, Abraham decided to send his most trusted servant back to Haran where his relatives could help find a woman with similar beliefs and standards.  Genesis 24:1-8 describes his instructions to the servant.  “And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.  The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.  And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.”

Abraham was very rich and he was concerned that If Isaac went back, he might well fall for some girl who was only interested in his money or get caught up in living the city lifestyle and not want to return to the livestock business, much as Lot had done, forgetting about the Lord.   If the servant could not find a girl who was willing to take the chance, he was not to take Isaac back to Haran. 

The servant agreed to do his best to fulfill the commission, in Genesis 24:9-11.  “And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.  And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.  And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.” 

Since they had to physically carry the water, the women tended to wait until it started cooling off in the evening to go for it.  It also gave them a chance to visit with the other women when most of their work was done.  The well was a perfect place for the servant to observe and meet the young women and girls from Haran.  He prayed for God to direct him to the right girl, in Genesis 24:12-14.  “And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.  Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.” 

The servant asked that God show him a girl who was polite and friendly, and a willing worker.  A camel can drink up to fifteen gallons at one time, and he had ten of them.  It would be a major job to carry that much water.  While many of them might give him a drink, few would offer to water the camels.  A woman who would do so would definitely not be lazy, or greedy for money, and thus would be worth consideration. 

The very first girl he asked for a drink was a girl named Rebekah, as Genesis 24:15-27 tells us.   “And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.  And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.  And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.  And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.  And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.  And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?

And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.  She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.  And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.”

The servant worshipped God, bowing down and recognizing his power to bring him so quickly to the right girl.  Not only had she done the things he had asked as a sign, she was beautiful, and was related to Abraham’s family. Their customs and practices would be very similar, and visiting in their home would give him a chance to get to know the family and observe how she got along with other people.  The servant had simply gone where he was directed, and God had blessed his obedience.   
Sometimes he surprises us with how quickly it happens, while other times we may have to wait for years for the results, but he always blesses when we obey.

Paying Our Own Way

As Solomon explained in Ecclesiastes 2, Good people die just like wicked ones.  Sarah died when Isaac was thirty seven years old.   Genesis 23:1-4 tells the story.  “And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.  And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.  And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,  I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 

For sixty two years, Abraham and Sarah had lived in Canaan.  While they had had an agreement to use the land and live at Beersheba, they did not own the land.   Before Isaac’s birth that hadn’t mattered, because they had no descendants t remember them anyway.  After Isaac’s birth they recognized the importance of knowing about one’s ancestry.    Abraham asked for a place to bury Sarah where their descendants could come and be reminded of their heritage. Genesis 22:5-20 describes how he acquired a place for his family to remember. 

“And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.  And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.

And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.  And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.  And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.  And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.  And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.” 

The Hittites offered to donate a piece of land for Abraham to use as a cemetery.  Abraham insisted on paying for it so that he had an actual claim on the land and was not just dependent on the whims of the people at the moment.   Even though they would have given him title to the land, There would have been a sense of obligation to them had he not paid for it.  That sense of obligation can lead to doing things we might not do otherwise.  Exodus 23:8 warns, “And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.”  It is impossible to guess how many people have gotten themselves into trouble because they felt obligated to do something for someone who gave them a gift, even if the giver had no such intention. 

Unfortunately, some people deliberately give gifts to try to pressure one to do what they want.    Proverbs 17:23 warns, “A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.”  This can range from a salesman offering you some gift to get you to try his product or a boy buying gifts for a girl to get her to have sex, to a business offering bribes to a politician or government official.  This is especially problematic when it involves those in positions of authority, as Proverbs 29:4 warns.  “The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.”  Ultimately their corruption will destroy the group or organization they represent.  Deuteronomy 16:19 commands, “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.” 

A great many of the problems in America today are the result of people in authority, whether in government, in business, or in religious circles receiving gifts or donations from lobbyists or special interest groups.  Abraham avoided the problem, refusing to accept even a piece of ground to bury Sarah without paying for it.  He insisted on paying the Philistines for the use of their land and the right ot live at Beersheba, and refused to even take payment from the king of Sodom for getting back their stuff, paying the expenses out of his own pocket.   We need to be careful who we accept gifts from.  When we pay our own way, we avoid obligations to others that might lead to problems. 

Testing Abraham’s Faith

The human body becomes weaker if it is not used.  This is true whether we are talking about the muscles, the digestive system, the immune system, the eyes, the emotions, or the intellect.    By our limits, we increase our ability to deal with the things life places in our way.  When we are not challenged, there is no reason for us to grow stronger.   This is one of reasons why a homeless person who gets his food by dumpster diving can eat things that are loaded with salmonella and other pathogens, while other people who go out of their way to avoid germs die after eating lettuce which has almost undetectable amounts of salmonella.  Our immune system needs exposure to germs in order to develop the ability to protect people.  One of the biggest problems in modern society is that we try to protect people from everything, and as a result, they have become weaker, physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Today, instead of embracing the challenges of life as an adult, college graduates are remaining at home and avoiding the challenges of taking responsibility for themselves.  

Because God wants our faith to grow and mature, he challenges it.  Sometimes, we fail, like Abraham and Sarah using Hagar as a surrogate, but even those failures can result in growth, both by making us aware of our weakness, and by stretching our faith until we see God’s power, as when Isaac was finally born.  In Genesis 22:1-2, God again challenged Abraham’s faith.   “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” 

This statement that God tempted Abraham seems in direct contradiction of James 1:12-15.  “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”  The Greek word translated tempted in James refers to trying to seduce or persuade a person to do something that is wrong.  The Hebrew word in Genesis refers to trying or testing a person.  As a test, God may put us in a position where we have to choose between good and evil, but he never tries to get us to do evil.   That pressure comes from our own lusts or cravings. 

The test for Abraham was whether he was going to obey God, or try to save his son.  Genesis 22:3-10 describes Abraham’s response.  “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.  Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.  And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.  And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.  And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.’ 

Abraham’s response was not some spur of the moment decision.  It took three days to get to the place, carrying the supplies they would need.  When Isaac questioned his father, Abraham was forced to re-examine his commitment, and when he tied up Isaac and laid him on the altar, it must have been very hard to continue, but he was committed to doing what God commanded.   

God honored that commitment to obey as if Abraham had actually offered Isaac, in Genesis 22:11-13.  “And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

One can only imagine the relief Abraham felt when the angel told him to stop.  His sacrifice of the ram in Isaac’s place must have been a joyous event.  God had accounted Abraham’s faith for righteousness  many years before, in Genesis 15:6.  By offering Isaac, Abraham demonstrated the reality of his faith, as James 2:21-22 explains.  “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”  Until the faith is tested we don’t know how strong it is, any more than we knows how strong a man is until he tries to lift a heavy weight.  Until faith has been demonstrated by obedience, it is just words, and as James 2:17 says, it is dead.

Because of Abraham’s obedience in faith, God refreshed and strengthened his promises to him and his descendants, in Genesis 22:14-18.  “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.  And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

A Treaty With The Philistines

When Abraham went to Canaan, it was occupied by a number of other groups.  Eventually, competition for grazing rights for their cattle forced he and Lot to separate.  The Philistines had given him permission to live ing their land, but as Abraham’s herds grew, there began to be competition for pasturage.  Knowing how thoroughly Abraham had defeated the Sumero-Akkadian army, the Philistines became concerned that the competition might result in conflict.   In Genesis 21:22-23, they came to Abraham asking to make a treaty with him.  

“And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:  Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.”  They recognized that God was blessing him, and they did not want to try to fight him or his son at some time in the future. 

Abraham was well aware of the potential for conflict and readily agreed to make such a treaty.  He brought up an incident that had already occurred, in Genesis 21:24-25.  “And Abraham said, I will swear.  And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.”  Though Abraham had permission to use the land, some of the Philistines had gotten angry that he was making improvements on the land and had violently seized a well he had dug to water the cattle. 

The guilty parties had no official standing, and Abimelech had been unaware of such conflicts, according to Genesis 21:26.  “And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.”    Clearly a formal agreement was needed to limit further conflict.  They signed the agreement, and Abraham gave Abimelech a herd of cattle and sheep in payment for the use of the land, in Genesis 21:27.  “And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.”

Part of the agreement was that Abraham had full rights to the well he had dug as a home site.  Genesis 21:28-32 describes the terms.  “And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.  Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.   Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.”

With official permission to be there, Abraham made additional improvements at Beersheba.  Genesis 21:33-34 tells us, “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.  And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.”  He planted an orchard, and built permanent structures because although they would sometimes camp in other areas while feeding their herds, Beersheba would be their home base.  After Abraham’s death, Both Isaac and Jacob would make it their home base as well, for about two hundred years. 

The Philistines had wanted a treaty because they saw God’s power in Abraham’s life.  Proverbs 16:7 tells us, “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  This story demonstrates that very clearly.  Though there were minor conflicts, the treaty with the Philistines would last for hundreds of years, until Israel stopped serving God during the period of the Judges.  

Ishmael Cast Out

Twenty five years after Abraham had moved to Canaan, God gave them a son, in Genesis 21:1-5.  “And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.  And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.”  Abraham immediately circumcised his son, fulfilling the terms of his covenant with God. 

Sarah was ninety years old when Isaac was born and had given up hope of ever having a baby.  As a result, fourteen or fifteen years before they had used her maid, Hagar as a surrogate mother to have a child.  Genesis 21:6-7 tells us She was thrilled to have a baby of her own.  “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.  And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.”  When Isaac was old enough to be weaned, they made a great feast of celebration in Genesis 21:8.  “And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.” 

There had been a great deal of jealousy between Hagar and Sarah after Hagar got pregnant.  Ishmael was fourteen, and like most big brothers, he began to tease the smaller boy.  When Sarah saw him teasing Isaac, it just added to the conflict between her and Hagar, according to Genesis 21:9-10.  “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.  Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”  Every time she saw Ishmael, Sarah was reminded of Abraham’s affair with Hagar, and the teasing made it unbearable.  She demanded that Abraham send Ishmael away because she didn’t want an illegitimate son to share with her son, even though the affair had been her idea. 

Abraham loved both his sons, and being forced to choose between them was very painful, as Genesis 21:11-13 tells us.  “And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.  And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. After fourteen years of conflict it was obvious the problem wasn’t going to go away.  Sarah was legally Abraham’s wife and his first responsibility was to her and her children.  God commanded him to accede to her demands and send Ishmael and Hagar away.   While polygamy was not forbidden, Exodus 12:10 makes it clear the primary responsibility is to the first wife.  “If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.” 

While it may seem unimportant, this story teaches a very important point as Paul describes in Galatians 4:21-5:4.  “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Ga 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

Ishmael’s birth was completely natural, but unfortunately Abraham and Sarah had tried to use the natural process for something it was not designed for.  In the same way, the Old Testament Law was something god had designed to make man aware of their sinfuol nature.  Unfortunately people try to use it as a way to get to heaven.  By doing so, they make themselves slaves to the Law, rather than receiving God’s gift of forgiveness.  Unfortunately that will never get them right with God, because Romans 3:20 tells us, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  The law only points out what is wrong, but does nothing to fix the problems.  Romans 9:31-32 tells us, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.   Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law…”

Abraham Lies Again

In order to keep livestock healthy it is necessary to regularly move them to different areas so that the grass and plants can recover.   While many modern herdsmen can use fencing to exclude the animals from an area which has been grazed, the traditional way was to move the entire herd to a more distant area, forcing the herdsmen to live a nomadic lifestyle.   After the destruction of Sodom, Abraham move further south, into what was then Philistine land, seeking fresh pasturage for his livestock, as described in Genesis 20:1-2.  “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.   And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.”  For a change, they camped near the city of Gerar, where Sarah could visit with the local people.

Twenty three years before when they went into Egypt, Abraham told peoplee Sarah was his sister rather than telling them she was his wife because he was afraid somebody would be jealous and kill him, as described in Genesis 12.  When the lie was discovered, they were expelled from Egypt and forced to return to Canaan.    Einstein is often credited with having said doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results is insanity.  Unfortunately, unless the consequences are very severe, people tend to repeat the same mistakes.  In Gerar, he told the lie again, and once again the king decided to take Sarah as his wife.

God had revealed the lie to Pharaoh in Egypt, and he revealed it to The Philistine leader, in Genesis 20:3-8.  “But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?  Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.  Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.  Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.” 

Abraham had assumed the Philistines had no fear of God and would not hesitate to kill him.   In reality, they had a very strong respect for God, and worshipped him at the time.  God knew Abimelech had no intention of committing adultery and had protected him from doing so.  He told him to give Sarah back to her husband, warning that if he did not, he and his people would die.  The people were horrified at how close they had come to offending God. 

Abimelech was quite concerned as to why Abraham had put them in such danger of God’s judgment, as Genesis 20:9-10 tells us.  “Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.  And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?”  Everyone knew that adultery was wrong, and was to be judged harshly.  Knowing that, why had Abraham lied and set them up to bring God’s judgment on them?  Had they done something that made him angry at them? The lie almost resulted in someone unintentionally committing adultery with Sarah, and bringing God’s judgment on the Philistine nation.     

Abraham explained that he had made a false assumption, that they had no respect for and would kill him for his wife, in Genesis 20:11-13.   “And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.  And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.  And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.”   

Concerned about his own safety, he had not even considered the effects of his actions on anyone else.  He was only thinking about himself.  When confronted, he tried to justify the lie by pointing out that was also his half-sister.  That in no way changed the implication that she was not his wife and was free to marry someone else.   Abraham had believed and obeyed God when he began his journey to Canaan, but had never trusted God to protect him completely.  As a result, he and Sarah had agreed to tell that same lie every time they thought there might be such danger.      

Unlike Pharaoh, Abimelech did not kick them out of his country, as we see in Genesis 20:14-15. “And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.  And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. “  Instead, he gave Abraham a large amount of property to make up ofr the mental and emotional stress he might have experienced, giving them permission to live wherever they wanted to.

Abimelech realized it was not all Abraham’s fault.  Sarah had willingly gone along with Abraham’s idea, even if it meant committing adultery.  Contrary to what some have taught, she was responsible for her own actions, even though Abraham had wanted her to do it.  She had been wrong to even consider the sin as he made clear in Genesis 20:16.  “And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.”   Submission to her husband did not free Sarah from her responsibility to be faithful.  She should not even consider looking at other men in that way.  We cannot blame our sin on someone else. 

The consequences of sin often go much further than we expect, as Genesis 20:17-18 make very clear.  “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.  For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.”  Abraham’s lie endangered the lives of the entire population of Gerar.  It also led to complications in the women’s ability to conceive and bear children.  More than forty years later, Isaac would follow his father’s example, in Genesis 26.

If we are willing to take responsibility for our own sin and forgive others, God can work out the problems resulting from our sin.  Isaac prayed for the Philistines, and God restored their health and peace.   I John 1:8-10 tells us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  If we refuse to accept responsibility, we are only fooling ourselves, and God’s promises of forgiveness do not apply to us.   

The Destruction Of Sodom

Lot’s arguing and holding back had delayed God’s plans because he would not do anything until they were safe.  As soon as Lot entered the city, God cause fire and brimstone to rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah, much like the flaming gases, molten rock, and ash from a volcanic eruption, according to Genesis 19:24-25.   “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.”  Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding area was completely wiped out, except for Zoar, at the southern edge of the Dead Sea. 

Even Zoar experienced a deadly blast of heat, although those inside were protected by the walls.  Lot’s wife was upset about losing their home and stopped to look back, as Genesis 19:26 tells us. “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”  Because she was not protected by the walls, she was killed, and the heat and molten minerals in the air left only lump of mineral salts of her body.   

The eruption took place shortly after sunrise.  Abraham was camped about thirty miles west of the Dead Sea.  Genesis 19:27-28 tells us, “And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.”  The cloud of smoke and ash caught Abraham’s attention.   It is quite possible that the eruption ultimately resulted in the valley subsiding below sea level and leading to the formation of what is known as the Dead Sea today. 

Though Lot knew the Lord and still had a moral standard, he had deliberately chosen to Go to Sodom and go along with the wickedness of the people there.  Abraham’s prayers and intercession were the main reason he was not destroyed along with the rest of the people in the area, according to Genesis 19:29.  “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.”   Sometimes we feel that there is no point in praying for some people because they have gone too far.  James 5:16 commands, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  Even though lot had gotten that far from God, God still answered Abraham’s prayer for him and still answers our prayers for others.  Ephesians 6:18 instructs us to be “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

After seeing the effects of the eruption that destroyed Sodom, Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar, for fear there might be another eruption.  He decided to Go to where God had originally told him to go, as Genesis 19:30 tells us.  “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.” 

Unfortunately, his daughters moral attitudes and standards had been shaped by the standards and sexual attitudes of the Sodomites.   Since there were no other guys around, they decided to have incestuous sex with their father with the deliberate intention of getting pregnant, According to Genesis 19:31-38.   “And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.  And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.  And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.  Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.  And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.” 

Lot’s willingness to overlook the wickedness of the people of Sodom to further his own goals had destroyed his own testimony and corrupted his morals, resulting in the deaths of his wife and some of his daughters and their families.   Even the ones who were not killed had little concern for what was right or wrong, and their children would reject God for centuries.  The Moabites and Ammonites would become some of Israel’s most implacable enemies.

Even Lot and his family had not taken God’s warning seriously, and the Sodomites ignored it completely.  Nevertheless, God did exactly what he had said.  He is able to do it again if people will not listen.  II Peter 2:9-10 warns, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”  II Peter 3:10 warns that what happened I Sodom is just a small sample of God’s final Judgment.  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  Unfortunately, Like Lot’s family, many of those who consider themselves Christians don’t take the warnings seriously. 

Losing His Testimony

Having seen the level of wickedness in Sodom, that the people not only were rejecting God’s plan but were trying to get others involved as well, even to the point of destroying their lives if they didn’t go along, it was obvious to the two angels that Sodom would have to be destroyed.  Genesis 19:12-13 tells us, “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.”

The warned that if Lot had any family members or friends that lived elsewhere in the city, he should get them to leave Sodom, and Lot acted on the warning, in Genesis 19:14.  “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.”   Unfortunately, after twenty years of living in Sodom without taking a stand against homosexuality and other sin, he had completely lost his testimony.  His sons in law thought he was just kidding around and didn’t take his warning seriously, and why should they?  After all, he lived the same way as the other people, laughing at their jokes and participating in their activities, and even adopting some of their moral standards, as shown by his offering his daughters to be gang raped.    

Even Lot and his family did not take the angel’s warning very seriously, as we see in Genesis 19:15-16.  “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”  They just kept dithering around stalling  and doing one more thing until finally the angels forcibly drug them out of the city. 

Even after being forcibly drug from the city, Lot and his family had no sense of urgency, as is clear from Genesis 19:17-20.  “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” 

Lot had lived in the city, with all its conveniences so long he dreaded  having to fend for himself without all the others around to come to his aid if something went wrong.  He thanked God for saving him and begged him to allow him to stop in the little town of Zoar, rather than going into the mountains where God had said for him to go.  The angels had more important things to do than to drag Lotinto the mountains, so they allowed him to go to Zoar, as Genesis 19:21-23 tells us.  “And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.  Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.  The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.” 

Many refer to this as being in the permissive will of God.  Lot was refusing to obey God, and rather than waste time arguing over it, God allowed him to go to Zoar, but it was not his will.   God gives us a great deal of freedom as Christians, often allowing us to choose which job or car or home we want.  When he has not told us specifically what he wants, we have his permission to make those choices.  When he has told us what he wants, and we insist on doing something else instead, we are in deliberate disobedience, even though he may allow us to get by with what we are doing because it simply isn’t important enough for him to deal with at the moment.  It is like a teenager insisting on wearing an inappropriate tee shirt to an important meeting at the last moment.  Sometimes it is more important to get to the meeting on time than to waste the time making them change.  It does not mean they have their parent’s approval. 

Lot is typical of many Christians.  He had been raised by Abraham’s father, almost like Abraham’s brother.  He had been closely associated with Abraham, accompanying him on his journey to Canaan, but when the opportunity arose he focused on his own desires rather than what was good for everyone.  He chose to take the most productive land for himself and let Abraham have the desert.  Although he knew Sodom was a wicked place, he gradually moved closer, finally getting fully involved in the city to the point of taking a place of prominence.  In order to do so, he had deliberately ignored his own conscience in order to fit in, though he was vexed by the sin around him.  Eventually even his own moral standards were compromised and he lost his testimony as a believer in God so completely even his own family didn’t believe him.    Finally God intervened on his behalf, forcing him out of the city, and still he did not surrender to God, insisting on doing what he wanted rather than what God wanted.  He was no longer a light to the world, or even to his own family, as we see in the rest of this chapter. 

Investigating Sodom’s Wickedness

II Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord … is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Though he knew “…the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly,” as Genesis 13:13 tells us, he would not completely destroy them without making sure they were beyond salvage.  The Lord and two angels had appeared to Abraham, as ordinary men.  While the Lord finished talking to Abraham, the two angels went on to Sodom to investigate.

When the angels came to Sodom, they found Lot sitting in the gate, in a place of authority, as we see in Genesis 19:1-2.  “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways.

 And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.” 

Lot had lived in Sodom for about twenty years.  He was very familiar with the wickedness of the city, as we see in II Peter 2:8.  “For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.”  The angels were planning on camping in the street where they wouldn’t bother anyone, but Lot knew the risk they would be taking and invited them into his house where they would be safer.   

Genesis 19:3-5 tells us Lot prevailed on them to come into his house.  “And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.  But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”  The men of the city had seen the angels, and before long surrounded Lot’s house, demanding that he bring the men out so they could gangbang them.  

 God allows mankind to choose whether they want to please him or do as they please, and they had chosen to reject him, even perverting his plan for sex and reproduction.  Because that was their choice, Romans 1:24-27 tells us, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.” 

God may allow them to continue in their sin for a while, giving them an opportunity to repent, but they seldom appreciate it, as Romans 2:4 says.  “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”  Lot tried to convince them to change their attitudes in Genesis 19:6-8.  “And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.  Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.” 

Lot had lived so closely with the people of Sodom that his own ideas of right and wrong had been distorted, as I Corinthians 15:33 warns.  “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”  He thought it would be okay if they gangbanged his daughter instead.  Sadly, many people today who oppose homosexuality and same sex marriage feel that promiscuity and adultery are acceptable.  God’s law specified that those who perverted the sex act were to be executed, whichever form it took. 

Instead of considering Lot’s warning, the men of Sodom turned on him, accusing him of thinking he was better than they were, as Genesis 19:9-11 describes.  “And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.  But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.  And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.”   Had the angels not had supernatural power, the men would have destroyed Lot’s home in their determination to force the angels into homosexual activity.  Even the loss of their eyesight did not deter them, but they finally gave up because they couldn’t find a way in. 

Unfortunately people who become deeply involved in sin often ignore even the obvious consequences.  It is amazing how many drug addicts, gamblers, or sexual sinners refuse to stop regardless how much it hurts them or their families.   Their sin takes such control of their mind they can no longer make logical decisions, as Romans 1:28 tells us.   “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”   Rather than warning others of the danger, they begin to actively get others involved, as Romans 1:32 says.  “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  At this point, they have become effectively unsalvageable.  Destroying them is the only way to prevent spreading their wickedness, just as it is necessary to destroy an animal with rabies.    

Abraham Intercedes

There is an old story of three blind men trying to find out what an elephant was like.  One felt the tail and said and elephant is like a rope.  The second felt one of his legs and said the elephant is like a tree.  The third felt his trunk and said the elephant was like a hose.  All three had an idea about one part of the elephant, yet none had any real understanding. 

Today, politicians, media experts, and activists often complain that the common people don’t understand the big picture.  Unfortunately, they tend to be much like the blind man who felt the leg, thinking he knows more about elephants because the leg was bigger than the tail or the trunk.   In reality the one who felt the tail had just as much reason for his opinion at the one who felt the leg.  Neither one can see the whole picture.  The elephant is so big that even a person who can see may need to move away in order to see the whole animal. 

Humans are much too close to life in this world to clearly see the entire picture, no matter how intelligent they may be.  Fortunately, God is able to get far enough away to see the entire picture, but like an elephant keeper, he can get close enough to address the problems.    Sometimes he allows us to know what needs to be done so we can prevent the problem in the future.  In Genesis 18:16-21, God informed Abraham of a problem and what he was going to do about it.  “And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.  And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I 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 know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

Abraham was not directly involved in Sodom or Gomorrah, and would not be greatly affected by what happened.  However, he would try to teach his children what was right and knowing what was going on would provide a valuable lesson for his descendants.  Although God sees everything and already knew what was going on, he would not judge until he had double checked because he wanted to be completely fair. 

Although he was not directly involved with Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham’s was concerned about the people there, and especially his nephew, Lot.  He expresses those concerns in Genesis 18:22-33, intervening on their behalf. “And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.  And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?  That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?

And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there.

And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.

And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.  And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.”

God is not unjust.  He loves people and agreed to save entire region if there were just ten people who were doing what was right in the five cities and the surrounding area.  Even Zoar, the smallest of the cities, and the only one to survive appears to have had a couple of thousand inhabitants at the time.  Knowing that Lot had several daughters who might have families, Abraham felt sure there would be at least ten who served God and did not press anymore.   Abraham had been doing exactly what I Timothy 2:1-4 commands Christians to do.  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”