Genesis 18:16-33 (NLT)
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16 Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18 “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.
Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 18:16-33 (NLT)
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16 Then the men
The Lord and two angels. (last lesson)
got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18 “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.
My plan
Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. (God’s plan repeated.) Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4 Acts 3:25
Galatians 3:8 (NLT)
What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”
19 I have singled him out
- God had a plan for Abraham.
1 Corinthians 12 (NLT)
One Body with Many Parts
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
- God has a plan for us.
so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.
- Abraham’s role:
Be a good father and grandfather.
He will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.
Do what is right and just.
What scriptures pop into your minds?
Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.
Deuteronomy 6 (NLT)
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
1 “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3 Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
Psalm 78:4-7 (NLT)
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
5 For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.
Summarize the above.
Redeemer Day School. (One of the school’s core values)
Redeemer Day School partners with parents and comes alongside them as they rear their children. We believe that a child’s home, church, and school should work together to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6). Teachers and parents must rely on the Holy Spirit to develop Christ-like character in these precious children. We are looking down the road at what each child will become as they grow into the person that the Lord has created them to be. Our prayer is that they will never know a time that they do not love, serve, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NLT)
15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.
- God carries out His promises.
20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard.
Jeremiah 23:24 (NLT)
Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?
Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”
says the Lord.
Job 34:21 (NLT)
“For God watches how people live;
he sees everything they do.
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
- God knows everything we do.
If not, I want to know.”
Genesis 13:13 (NLT)
But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.
Contrast
Blessings and curses
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (NLT)
26 “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. 28 But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.
- You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord. You will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord.
22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?
- The Lord remained with Abraham.
Abraham approached God
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)
Christ Is Our High Priest
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
- Because of all that Jesus has done for us we can come boldly to God’s throne of grace.
24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?
Proverbs 14:34 (NIV)
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.
25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same!
- Abraham was genuinely concerned for the righteous. (Lot)
Genesis 14:16 (NLT)
Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.
Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Psalm 11:7 (NLT)
For the righteous Lord loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face.
Psalm 89:14 (NLT)
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
Psalm 7:11 (NLT)
God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalm 7:11 (NIV)
God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
- God is a righteous judge. He does what is right.
26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord,
even though I am but dust and ashes.
Insignificant compared to God.
28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
It was turning out that Sodom was truly an intensely wicked city.
Genesis 13:13 (NLT)
But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.
Genesis 19:16 (NLT)
When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful.
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.
