Genesis 18:23

ABRAHAM PLEADING FOR SODOM. -- Genesis 18:23-33.

GOLDEN TEXT. -- In wrath remember mercy. -- Habakkuk 3:2. TIME. --About B. C. 1897. PLACE. --At Abraham's encampment; near Hebron. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 13:10-13; Genesis 14:1-13; Genesis 18:1-22; James 5:1-6. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. Sodom Doomed; 2. A Righteous Man's Prayer; 3. The Righteous the Salt of the Earth.

INTRODUCTION.

At least fourteen years had passed since the ratification of the covenant, during which interval. son, Ishmael, had been born to Abraham by Hagar, whom he had taken at the solicitation of the childless Sarah, in accordance with an eastern custom. There is something singularly beautiful in the attachment of Abraham to the first child. He would readily have accepted Ishmael as the child of promise, but it was the purpose of God that the race of Abraham should spring from the wife of his youth, whom he had led from the Chaldean home. The patriarch, before called Abram, is commanded to assume the name Abraham, meaning "father of. multitude." The rite of circumcision was established, as. mark to distinguish the tribe and family of Abraham from the rest of the world.

The most of this period was passed near Hebron, where Abraham's tent was pitched under the "oaks of Mamre," in almost permanent encampment. Here, one day, as he sat at noon in the door of his tent, under the shade of the oaks, three mysterious strangers appeared, whom Abraham, with the courtly hospitality characteristic of the best representatives of the Arabian race, received and entertained, "thereby entertaining angels unawares." The chief of the three, either. divine manifestation or an angel sent to speak for the Almighty, renewed the promise of. son to be born to Sarah,. promise that seemed so ridiculous to the aged woman, now ninety years of age, that she received it with concealed laughter. After the entertainment the guests set their faces toward Sodom, and Abraham accompanied, probably to. height near Hebron, that commanded. view of the valley and plain in which stood the doomed cities. Two of the strangers passed on, while the superior imparted to Abraham the knowledge that the cities of the plain were on the very eve of destruction on account of their sins. Milman justly says: "No passage, even in the sacred writings, exhibits. more exalted notion of the Divinity, than that in which Abraham is permitted to expostulate on the apparent injustice of involving the innocent in the ruin of the guilty."

I. SODOM DOOMED.

23. And Abraham drew near and said.

The student must keep in mind the circumstances. The three mysterious guests had arisen from their entertainment, and had "looked toward Sodom," and Abraham had walked with them. short distance on their way. Then the Lord, probably by means of these celestial visitants, reveals to Abraham the impending catastrophe, as well as the reason why the judgment is to be inflicted--"Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is very great, and because their sin is very grievous." The cry was. loud call for punishment for terrible wickedness. Let it be noted, 1. That God takes note of the condition of cities, states and nations; 2. That their sins cry aloud to him for the intervention of the Divine Ruler and Judge; 3. That he looks closely before inflicting his extreme penalties--"I will go down and see"--language adapted to human understanding; 4. God's penalties for national sins are not always capital. He sends calamities, famines, pestilence, invasion, revolution, and it is only when other means fail and reform is hopeless, that he blots out of existence. Misfortunes, while the seeds of virtue remain, only develop new energies and life. But the hopelessly rotten must be destroyed. God destroyed Sodom, Jerusalem, Rome; 6. When. nation or city is swept out of existence, either by natural catastrophe or by war, we may be assured that it was unfit to exist.

The announcement being made of the dread catastrophe about to befall the wicked cities, two of the strangers went on to Sodom, as if to verify the terrible corruption of its inhabitants. "Abraham remained before the Lord," probably in the presence of his representative, the superior visitant. His heart is deeply stirred over the fate of Sodom. He had been on friendly terms with its king; it was the home of Lot and his family. Cannot something be done to avert its fate? So he "drew near" in intercession, and began the most remarkable communion with the Divine Ruler that is on record.

Wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Surely amid the thousands who inhabit Sodom there must be some righteous men! Is it right, is it in harmony with divine justice, that there should be no discrimination made, and the righteous suffer also? It may be noted that the righteous, from association with the wicked, are sometimes involved in the earthly calamities sent upon the wicked. Separation cannot always be made here; all will be adjusted at the great day of accounts, which comes after death.