GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 18 by Jerry Simmons

GRIFFIN COMMENTS—GEN 18 (Gen 18:1) And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; Jehovah appeared to Abraham in chapter 17 in a visible form, a Shekinah, and now appears to him as a man, with two others with Him. Apparently the Angel of the Lord and two other angels. ABRAHAM'S VISION (Gen_18:1-2) 1.

MOSES THE LEADER (Exo_3:2)

ISAIAH THE PROPHET (Isa_6:1)

PAUL THE APOSTLE (Act_9:3-5)

PETER THE FISHERMAN (Luk_5:8)

JOHN THE DISCIPLE (Rev_1:17)

GIDEON THE WARRIOR (Jdg_6:12)

JACOB THE PRINCE (Gen_32:24-30)

(Gen 18:2) And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, Whether Abraham always greeted his guests in this manner, or whether he recognized that this was an unusual visitation, we do not know, but before the conversation was over Abraham knew who they were. The Talmud claimed that these three were Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Actually none of their names are disclosed here, but we do know that when two of them left, only the angel of the Lord was left. (Gen 18:3) And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

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This sounds like the common type of greeting expected of people in those days. There was expected to be a hearty welcome of someone who came to visit. There would probably be few visitors ever come through like this so it would be looked upon as a special occasion. Abraham had plenty and could well afford to entertain many visitors at one time. (Gen 18:4) Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: It does not appear that the custom was then that a servant washed the guests feet as Jesus mentioned later in the Gospels, so Abraham got the water for them to wash their own. Then he showed the hospitality required by asking them to relax while he took care of all their comfort. When divinity has loosed His shoe mercy is about to come. (Gen 18:5) And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. Usually in the east there was a reluctance shown on the side of the visitor so as not to impose on the host, as was shown in the next chapter when the two came before Lot, but this time they accepted readily which would say to Abraham, they have some urgent reason to come that they have no time for the common show of reluctance. (Gen 18:6) And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. He offered to give them some fresh bread and prepared an animal for the meal. That was going to take some time, so he made ready for a lengthy discussion and stay. At this point he did not know whether the visit would be hours or days, but he was preparing for whatever. We must take into account also that in those days everything was done much slower than today.

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(Gen 18:7) And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. This was going to take some time to dress and cook a calf, besides the bread and all the trimmings, so without doubt he spent his time now discussing things that were of common interest for the angels would not reveal the purpose of their visit until they finished eating. Such long discussions are still common among many cultures. (Gen 18:8) And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. He stood at some distance from where they ate as was the custom, not to disturb the dinner of your guest, and would not sit for standing shows an attitude of a servant, and Abraham was at their service. It must have been common also to eat out of doors which is customary among many people even to this day. For one thing the house was always warmer so it was more comfortable outside. (Gen 18:9) And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. Once they had eaten it was time to reveal the purpose for the visit so the Angel of the Lord asked about the whereabouts of Sarah, probably because he wanted to be sure she was aware of what he said. He did not ask of her whereabouts because he did not know, for he would know anything necessary since he was an angel. She was in her own tent for a family like this would have several tents. (Gen 18:10) And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. He had appeared in the last chapter to let him know that within a year a child would be born to Sarah, and now he reconfirmed this. From two witnesses every word is established. He also knew that Sarah heard what he said and I am sure that is what he wanted. CHURCH - IN ISAAC

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1. Isaac's supernatural birth illustrates our new birth. Gen_18:10-14; Heb_11:11-12 "As good as dead." Joh_3:3, Joh_3:6 "Born again.. born of the Spirit." Joh_1:12-13 "Not.. flesh nor of the will of man." NOTE: Isaac's birth and our regeneration are alike impossible to nature. Both are wholly of God (1Jo_5:1). 2. Isaac's position illustrates our position as free born ones. Gen_22:2 "Thy son, thine only son Isaac." Gal_3:26 "Ye are all sons of God by faith." Gen_25:5 "Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac." Gal_4:7 "Thou.. .an heir of God through Christ" (Rom_8:17). Gen_21:12 "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." (contrast with Gen_21:13, "son of the bondwoman." Gal_4:21-28 "Which things are an allegory" of our position; free sons of God, not under the law. Gal_5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty." 3. Isaac's life illustrates how we should live. (1)

He was separated to God.

Heb_11:9 "Dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac. 1Pe_2:11 "As strangers and pilgrims." (2)

He was humble.

Gen_26:19-22 He did not insist upon his own rights. 1Pe_2:1920 "Ye suffer patiently." (3)

He was prayerful.

Gen_24:63 "Isaac went out to meditate." Gen_26:25 "Builded an altar.. called upon.. the Lord." 1Th_5:17 "Pray without ceasing." 4. Isaac's failures illustrate how we might fail. (1)

He left the place of blessing when tested.

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Gen_26:1-6 "And Isaac dwelt in Gerar." Joh_15:4, Joh_15:7 "Abide in me" Rom_12:2 "Be not conformed." (2)

He lied. One sin leads to another.

Gen_26:7 "He said, she is my sister." Eph_4:25 "Putting away lying, speak.. truth." 3) He chose according to his own feelings. Although God had chosen Jacob, "Isaac loved Esau and wished to give him the blessing." (Gen_25:28; Gen_27:4; Eph_5:17 "Be ye not unwise.. the will of the Lord." NOTE: Isaac duplicated Abraham's failures (Gen_13:10, Gen_13:13; Gen_17:18). 5. Isaac's faith illustrates how we should trust God's Word. Gen_17:19; Gen_26:2-4 God made great promises to Isaac. Heb_11:9, Heb_11:13 Isaac believed God's promises. 2Pe_1:4 "Given unto us.. .great promises." Heb_6:13-20 "We might have a strong consolation." (Gen 18:11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. She was now ninety years old and well beyond the age of child bearing. Such a thing would be unthinkable. Several of the special women in the Bible were barren, such as Rebekah and Elizabeth. Their cases were certainly difficult, yet none of them could be so impossible as a virgin having a child, which came to pass when Jesus was born of Mary. (Gen 18:12) Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? She had no idea anyone could hear an inward laugh. She made no noise and thinking these were men, she felt nobody would know. LAUGHTER

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Gen_18:12 Gen_21:6 Lev_23:2 There are various kinds of laughter. There is a happy laughter like that of carefree children in their play. Zechariah's vision of the redeemed society was of a city "full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof" (Zec_8:5). Jesus made little children the symbol of the Kingdom of God. There is a beauty in God's creation and exhilaration in existence that can give all of life an essential joyousness. My wife laughed when she received the Holy Ghost. Psa_126:2 Mouth filled with laughter and tongue with song. Too often religion is supposed to be represented by severity and somberness and a dour face. There is a laughter which comes with seeing the little absurdities of life, including especially our own. There is a laughter that goes hand in hand with real religion. Some look at it all with a suspicious grimness. Some are too self-important to recognize that life may be ridiculous. But men who are conscious of the greatness of God can be simple-hearted enough to laugh at what might be the exaggerated pretensions of their own littleness. (Was this why God put a thorn in Paul's side?) It is a sign of a wholesome spirit when any individual or nation is capable of that kind of laughter. • Helps save from the delusion of grandeur. • Helps make ready to face the challenge of new things. SOME NOT WHOLESOME There is a laughter that is careless, the less it is carefree. There is the loud, coarse laughter of men and women whose feverish efforts to amuse themselves still leave them empty and miserable.

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They are looking for escape from thinking, escape from themselves. They think if they can laugh loud enough, perhaps they can drown out their inner voice that tells them that their life can have some satisfying purpose and that they should be finding it. For the moment it is easier and seems less painful to let everything be covered up by the kind of laughter that can be got out of a bottle of gin or out of the coarse humor of a night club show. That kind of laughter has nothing in it to warm the heart. Ecc_7:6 This is like a crackling of thorns under a pot There is the laughter of disbelief. (Sarah and Abraham (Gen_17:17). The promise seems to be absurd. "You cannot fool me" kind of laughter. Then when God fulfilled the promise she cried out in great and wonderful happiness, "God has made me laugh." Seat of the scornful (Psa_1:1). Meet fresh opportunities for their souls with an embarrassed smirk instead of independent courage. They surrender to the thought that the great hopes God has kindled in them are too good to be true. Laughter of deliberate evil-Hitler dancing about the surrender of France. Paul appealed to rejoice in the Lord. God will laugh (Psa_2:4). We are to rejoice in the goodness of God's world. Keep our spirit humble and our hearts sensitive to what is lovely, true, of good report. (Gen 18:13) And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? This would reveal to Sarah, and to Abraham as well, that this was not a mere man, but that it was indeed the Angel of the Lord. It also

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reveals to us that he did not have to ask of the whereabouts of Sarah as he did earlier for he already knew where she was, what she was doing, and what she was saying in her heart. Nothing is hidden from the Lord. (Gen 18:14) Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. He declared to them a glorious fact that Jehovah is a God that can accomplish His will regardless how hard it may appear to men, and nothing is impossible with Him. IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? INTRODUCTION: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" is found in Gen_18:14. The answer to his most important question is found in Jer_32:17, "There is nothing too hard for thee." 1.

THERE IS NO PROMISE TOO HARD FOR GOD TO FULFILL I like for God to give me one that I can claim for any phase of my life. Here is a wonderful verse: "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" (Num_23:19).

THERE IS NO PRAYER TOO HARD FOR GOD TO ANSWER Now notice something else. There is no promise too hard for God to fulfill. There is no prayer too hard for God to answer. There is nothing that God cannot do in answer to prayer. Have you learned to claim the prayer promises? (Mat_21:22) "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

THERE IS NO PROBLEM TOO HARD FOR GOD TO SOLVE I believe God will solve the Christian's problems if he will put first things first in his life. Psa_37:3-5 would solve most

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problems in a believer's life. "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." 4.

THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE GOD CANNOT SEND A REVIVAL I have been to many places where I did not have a revival. I am not going to be a hypocrite, nor lie to you. I have been to places where I failed. We need today to pray the prayer of Hab_3:2, "O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years." Listen! There is no place on earth God cannot send a revival.

THERE IS NO PERSON TOO HARD FOR GOD TO SAVE There is nobody God cannot save; there is no person too hard for the Lord to save. There is one incident in the Bible that gives me as much thrill as anything I ever read, and that is the four men who got the paralytic to Jesus (Mar_2:1-5). This fellow is looking down at his feet saying, "I was carried over here, but look at me! I can walk! Praise God! I can see him popping his heels together, shouting and praising God. Why? Because somebody believed.

(Gen 18:15) Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. Sarah realized that she was in serious trouble. She had not recognized before that this was the Lord and now that she realized it was, she was afraid, so she denied the laughter, which got her into double trouble. She may have considered herself telling the truth since the laugh was inside and not out loud where others could, but God knows even the thoughts. (Gen 18:16) And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

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Once their mission was accomplished they wasted no time in departing. Two of them went on to Sodom while the Angel of the Lord walked along the road with Abraham as though departing. THE WEIGHT OF ONE CHRISTIAN (Gen_18:16-22) Napoleon had a great name—lost one battle—exiled on an island, soon forgotten, only a name in history. Babe Ruth was a great name in baseball—died in a hospital without God. Money does not make a person great or happy, nor does it bring favor with God. Why did Abraham have such influence with God? 1.

BECAUSE HE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH GOD Joh_3:7 "Marvel not that I say unto thee; ye must be born again."

BECAUSE HE LEFT FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO FOLLOW GOD Luk_14:26-27 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father and his mother, and his wife, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doeth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

(1)

Paul left family teaching

(2)

Moses chose the affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

BECAUSE HE PRACTICED STEWARDSHIP

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Gen_14:20 "And blessed the most High God which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." 4.

BECAUSE HE TOOK HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS HEAD OF THE HOUSE Gen_18:19 "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord" Sarah called him Lord with respect

(1)

Eli's priesthood was taken away because he refused to restrain his children.

(2)

1Sa_3:13 "For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not.

BECAUSE HE WAS GREAT IN PRAYER Jam_5:17 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT FAITH IN GOD Heb_11:8-19

(Gen 18:17) And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; What a wonderful confidence God had in a man. Who is Abraham, who is any man that God should feel obligated to tell him what He is doing? And yet here God was making the statement to Abraham. What a wonderful privilege it would be to have such a relationship with God that He would not do anything without first consulting you. (Gen 18:18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

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God saw down through the future of many generations and knew all that would come from Abraham. He knew of the coming of the Messiah through him and that the heel of the Savior would be bruised by the serpent. He knew that eventually He would destroy the serpent. He knew that all the earth would be blessed in Abraham. (Gen 18:19) 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. He had eight children altogether and I am sure he did his best, but with Ishmael he found a son who was against every man and every man against him. Then the sons of Keturah were problematic and it is doubtful that he had much influence on them before he finally gave up and sent them away. So the only child that actually fulfilled this verse was Isaac. Heb_11:1 FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH Mal_2:15 UNITED FAMILY 3.Follow winners—do not follow losers (Gen_18:19). Listen to those who have succeeded and are succeeding. Do not listen to the failures. Let a winner lead the way. Do not listen to the negative advice of people who have failed. Listen to the award winners and let the champions inspire you. There are millions of families that are strong and solid fortresses of faith, hope and love. Listen to people like the Urshans, Mangans, Enseys, Keatings, Hunts, Holleys, and Neelys. You will find that, with rare exception, the winning families are families that live by the Bible, pray, and practice a vital religion. Successful homes are imbued with the Spirit of God. We are speaking of following their successful family life, not necessarily their official life. 2Sa_6:20-23 DAVIDS FAMILY LIFE (Gen 18:20) And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

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Apparently God hears all the complaints and vexations that men send to Him. He heard the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah. Who did the calling out and how this was done is not known, but God knew about their condition. If He heard the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah, He must also hear the cries of the great cities of our day that are just as wicked. (Gen 18:21) 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. The spirit [attitude] of a man is the candle of the Lord to search the inner man (Pro_20:7). He would now go and see by experience what men were actually doing in Sodom; how they were living, listen to their conversation and watch their activities. This ought to be a lesson to all judges of our day, to go and check out reports instead of going by rumor. (Gen 18:22) And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. These two angels now left Abraham and the Lord to discuss the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that Jehovah was already considering. Such a decision having been made already, shows that His sending angels to check out the report was not so He could know personally about their condition, but for them to secure adequate evidence from experience to be used against them in judgment. (Gen 18:23) And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? It is not clear whether the Lord told Abraham more than is recorded here, or if Abraham gathered from what had been said that God was going to destroy the cities. WILT THOU ALSO DESTROY THE RIGHTEOUS WITH THE WICKED? (Gen_18:23) George L. Glass, Sr. INTRODUCTION: A question long been asked by most all people. A question I think the Scripture answers.

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In the time of the flood.

He translated Enoch before (Gen_5:24).

He saved Noah and his family (Genesis 6-7).

In the time of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen_18:20).

God revealed His plan to Abraham.

Abraham asked the question. [Text].

Here explain Abraham's prayer of intercession.

a. There was not found ten, so God brought the righteous that were there out. [Text] b. The angel of the Lord told Lot to make haste, escape thither, I cannot do anything until thou be come hither. He could not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot was out. c.

He cannot destroy this world until we are safely out. Glory!

In the time of Jericho, Rahab.

A. Go into Rahab's house and bring out the woman and all that she hath (Jos_6:22). 4.

This present world is to be destroyed.

A. The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2Pe_3:10). Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? He never has! B. It would be foolish for one to say the world is not in a position to destroy herself today. The weapons are there, the ability to use

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them is there, the men with the courage to use them are there. And we all know the time is here. C. But thank God for our hope. Just before they do, God is coming after His people to lead them out. He never has and He never will, allow the righteous to be destroyed with the wicked. CONCLUSION: That is why we beg you in His stead to be saved. -386(Gen 18:24) Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? Abraham then, began to bargain with the Angel to see if the city could at all be spared. After all, he had relatives there and he would hate to see them destroyed. He must have considered that they and their family and friends must surely make up a group of fifty that would be righteous. It is surprising how many even in our own day consider themselves righteous enough to be saved without any acknowledgement of God in their lives. (Gen 18:25) 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? He did know something about the character of God. He was an honest and just God, and there is no moral reason to justify destroying righteous people if it can be avoided, and surely there must be a way of saving them. He knew God to be the one who originates all good in the world, and the one who controls all the evil, so He would act justly. (Gen 18:26) And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. I am sure Abraham was shocked to hear this, for that told him that there were not fifty righteous people in the city. That probably seemed impossible to a man who had lived godly all of his life and knew many others that did the same. But to God righteous means

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living in obedience to His commands and being faithful in all they did. (Gen 18:27) And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: He openly and publicly now recognized that the one he was speaking to was the Lord. In doing so, he realized his own frailty and the awesomeness of the one to whom he spoke. As someone said, he was lying low and aiming high. This was no ordinary person that would take no notice of any errors in his life, but the living God Himself. (Gen 18:28) 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. Abraham felt that if his number was too high, surely there must be nearly that many so he dropped it by five, but again he received the same answer. This is the first occasion we find in scripture of someone interceding for others. Moses would become known later as perhaps the greatest intercessor as he pled for Israel. There were many others as Daniel and Nehemiah. (Gen 18:29) 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. There were five cities involved and this let Abraham know that there are not even ten people per city that were righteous. We should be found approaching the throne of grace (Heb_4:16) in our own day for the souls of the lost. There are very likely many cities in our world also in which there could not be found forty righteous. (Gen 18:30) 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. As he continued to come down on the number of righteous required to stop the destruction of the cities, it was probably becoming obvious to Abraham, that God knew more about people than he did and that He would consider men defiled that Abraham may not have. Such a

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state speaks loudly of the depravity men reach when they turn from God. (Gen 18:31) 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. Abraham realized that he had entered into an intercession with one that would listen to him, and that his intercession could have an effect, so he was willing to try to the limit. But again he found that there were not even twenty righteous in the city, though the cities were probably inhabited with hundreds of thousands of people. (Gen 18:32) 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. Abraham must have felt that he had reached the limit. If there were not ten righteous, then the city might as well be destroyed and find a way to remove the ten. A city that depraved, even Abraham could see would be a detriment to the world. This says something about the value of godly men. Jesus compared His disciples with salt which also requires little to influence much. (Gen 18:33) And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. Abraham knew his intercession was unavailing for the condition of a city that wicked should not continue, so he ceased his plea and the Lord then departed as He had done in the last chapter, leaving Abraham to contemplate all these unusual events. Now the question arises: Why didn't Abraham come on down below ten? I'll tell you why: At this point he is afraid that Lot is lost, and this disturbs him a great deal; so he is not going to come down any further. But he could have come down to one. He could have said, "Lord, if there is one in that city who is righteous, would You destroy the city?" Do you know what God would have said? He would have said, "If there is one who is righteous in that city, I am going to get him out of that city, because I would not destroy a righteous man

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with the city." How do I know that is the way it would have been? Because that is the way it worked out. There was one righteous man there; Abraham didn't believe it, but God knew him; and that one was Lot. God said to Lot, "Get out of the city. I cannot destroy it until you are out." Do you know that the Great Tribulation period cannot come as long as the church is in the world? It just cannot come, my friend, because Christ bore our judgment, and the great tribulation is part of the judgment that is coming. This is the reason that the church cannot go through it. This is a glorious picture of that truth. We are going to see that Sodom and Gomorrah are a picture of the world; and what a picture! What a condition the world is in today; it is very much like Sodom and Gomorrah. That does not mean that the Lord is going to come tomorrow. I do not know; and no one else knows; when He will come. But He could come tomorrow, and it certainly would be in keeping with the carrying out of the picture which is before us here in Genesis. (J. Vernon McGee: Preaching through the Bible)

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