Genesis 18:1−19:38
Failure to keep the way of God results in punishment, but the prayers (and life) of one keeping that way precludes it.
This section is essentially the story of Lot and of Sodom and Gomorrah, with divine justice as a distinct theme.
Abraham’s household is called to be characterized by keeping Yahweh’s way in righteousness and justice, in contrast to the depravity and turpitude characterizing the locale where Lot is situated—described as wicked and evil (19:7, 9). Aligning to the demand of God results in life abundant, blessed by God. The criterion for this prospering is described as “keeping the way of the Lord,” and “doing righteousness and justice” (18:19). Failure to so align oneself and to walk in God’s way demonstrating such qualities only results in loss of blessing and incurring divine punitive justice as illustrated by the story of Lot.
Abraham and Lot are tacitly compared in Gen 18 and 19. Both chapters have the same characters—Yahweh and the men with him (identified as angels in 19:1, 15), Abraham (in a cameo role in 19:27–29), and Lot (who is bargained for in 18:16–33).
In Gen 18, the patriarch is the gracious and lavish host (18:1–8), a confidant of Yahweh (18:17–21), and a solicitous pleader (18:22–33)—the philanthropic and altruistic attitude of the patriarch here is remarkable. Even if he was focused on the safety of his kinsman, their salvation out of a city marked for destruction is not what he appeals for. Rather, he would have Yahweh save the entire city just because of the presence of his kinsman there. As a result, God “chooses” the patriarch and spells out his purpose—the creation of a godly community that keeps “the way of Yahweh by doing righteousness and justice” (18:19). This is to abide by divine demand, and to be aligned to the will of God, thus bringing about promised blessing. And besides, the salutary effects of one keeping God’s way are experienced by all those around that righteous one. At the end of our current story, rather than “God remembered Lot,” we have, in 19:29, “God remembered Abraham” and therefore saved Lot—a case of the righteousness of one impacting the lives of many. While the compassion of Yahweh was upon Lot (19:16), the ground of divine saving grace was Abraham and his intercession. The intercession of a righteous man surely availeth much (Jas 5:16).
On the other hand is Lot. His collegiality with the Sodomites is seen in his address of his fellow citizens as “my brothers” (19:7). This is quite a revelation: earlier Abraham had attempted to make peace with Lot in the strife between their herdsmen, by recalling that they were all “brothers” (13:8). The text here seems to be indicating that Lot had, in effect, sacrificed his relationship with his uncle, and relocated to Sodom to forge another fraternity with evildoers. Besides, he is less bountiful to the angels than his uncle was (19:1–3), he is rejected as head of his household and as a citizen (19:4–9), and he is focused only on his own survival (19:18–22). Later, in shameful circumstances, Lot is inebriated and abysmally ignorant about his own misdeeds (19:30–38). And his final disposition, as far as we are told, is in a cave (19:30). Lot’s ruin is complete.
The whole tragic episode closes with Abraham looking down at the devastated plain (19:27–28). Genesis 18, by the way, is the only chapter in the Abrahamic saga in which the patriarch does not utter a word. He is a silent spectator of the consequences of wickedness and great evil.
[For more detail on this passage see the appropriate section of Genesis: A Theological Commentary for Preachers.]
Abe Kuruvilla is the Carl E. Bates Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), and a dermatologist in private practice. His passion is to explore, explain, and exemplify preaching.
3 Comments
P.S. the beauty, symmetry, types/anti-types, prophecy, foreshadowing, and literary perfection of the Bible is one of the greatest miracles of all. Perhaps the greatest of all next the the resurrection of Jesus.
Thanks for your blog in bringing these to light.
Thanks, Rod.
You’re going to have to buy my Genesis commentary to see how those pericopes you referred to are preached.
I like the biblical theology (following a thread through the pages of the Holy Writ), but for preaching, that will not do. One needs “pericopal theology.” Oh, so you will need to buy my Privilege the Text as well! 🙂
The world’s wickedness was so great that God decided to wipe it out. Though He found one righteous man Noah and started over with him and his family. Yet that didn’t change the heart of man. But still God graciously covenanted not to destroy the world again.
The world soon became wicked again and God again found one righteous man Abram and decided to use him and his family to “start again” to try and change the heart of man.
Abraham focused on saving the people and not just the kin. Just as God was focused on saving the race and not just His kin. Abraham pleaded for the city(ies). God pleaded for the world.
What if God had not covenanted not to destroy the world? Would this be an endless loop? God did threaten the destruction of Israel to Moses. Would that have become and endless loop? I don’t see evidence that any race since would have done a better job at “changing hearts/being blessings”.
The Jews failed to be a blessing to all the nations and the law failed to change the hearts of man, so God SENT one righteous man Jesus to start over one final time. Jesus pleaded for the world, and His church still does. But there is still one more world-wide destruction that remains. And one final “start over” that remains.
Revelation 21:4b ‘… for the old order of things has passed away.” 5a He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (c.f. 2 Corinthians 5:17)