EHP Day 14-Friendship With God Part 1
Genesis 18:17-19, 22-25
The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to 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 have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”…Abraham still stood before the LORD.
Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
Why God feels the need to consult with anyone about anything He needs to do reveals mystery. Yet such a mystery unfolds here. Honoring His friendship with Abram, Yahweh takes minutes to air it out with His friend (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23b). Did Abraham feel compassion for people despite their entrenched debauchery? Acknowledging God’s righteousness, this patriarch respectfully leverages God’s merciful heart to extend more and more grace. At the same time, God demonstrates that indeed the Judge of all the earth is supremely just.
In the end, only three make it out of the wickedness—Lot and two grown daughters (Gen. 14:24-26,30)—only to perpetuate the fornication in the cave of rescue (Gen. 14:31-38). As the fiery consumption finished, the Lord and Abraham stand together on a rise in early morning hours. Smoke, fire flashes, charred buildings and bodies envelop the landscape. The God Abraham knew was both patient and powerful. Always true to His word. Always worthy of believing. Also…always ready to disclose and discuss His will with those who draw near.
Journal Notes