A Tale of Two Invitations
- Chapters 18 and 19 provide a contrast of two very different ways people receive the presence of God in their lives.
- When Abram is visited it is during the day. He responds with complete humility and willingness to serve. He brings his very best to the Lord while providing a place of safety and refreshing to his company.
- This experience is to be compared to Lot's visitation which happened in the evening. Lot's invitation follows the pattern of Abrams, but the differences are glaring.
- He provides unleavened bread for his meal.
- Then the men of the town try to harm his heavenly visitors.
- There are clear differences between the righteous and the wicked.
- God is preparing us for an upcoming scene containing His righteous and just judgment.
A Personal God
- God does not create us and then leave us to ourselves (Deism).
- He loves us and deeply involves Himself in every facet of our lives. We see this clearly in His relationship with Abram. Abram is called, "a friend of God.” — 2 Chron. 20:7; Isaiah 41:8
- God should always be held in reverence and worshipped for His perfection and holiness. However, we are also meant to experience His devotion and camaraderie.
- God makes Himself present with Abram. He confides in and spends time with Abram. These are things a friend does.
- For those with faith, Jesus makes us His friends. — John 15:15
Our Existence Matters
- God has placed His seed of righteousness in a world that knows only evil and wickedness. This seed is the Righteous One, Jesus Christ, and our faith in Him. — Gen. 15:6; I John 2:1
- We see in Abrams intercessory prayer that God patiently withholds His just wrath on sinners in light of the presence of His people among them — vs. 18:22-33.
- Our existence works as salt (preservation) for the earth and its inhabitants. — Matthew 5:13
- God is not slow to judge, but through us, He simply has more people to save. — 2 Peter 3:9
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