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Genesis 18 Commentary

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Genesis 18:1-5

God and two others visit Abraham. Abraham humbly provides hospitality for the needs of his guests.

Genesis 18:6-8

Abraham, the good host, quickly asks Sarah to prepare bread and asks a servant to prepare a calf to eat. He then brought his guests something refreshing to drink.

Genesis 18:9-13

The promise of Sarah having a son in a year’s time is given. Sarah overhearing what was said, laughed to herself because she was past the childbearing age.

Genesis 18:14-18

Sarah, being afraid, denied that she had laughed. God knew the truth. God ponders whether to tell Abraham about His plans for Sodom.

Genesis 18:19-22

God tells Abraham about the report of the great sin in Sodom and Gomorrah and that they plan on visiting the cities to see if it is true.

Genesis 18:23-26

Abraham bargains with God to spare them from judgement. if He will destroy the righteous with the wicked sinners.

Genesis 18:27-30

Abraham humbly continues to question God. What if there is 45, 40, or even 30 righteous? God replies that He would not destroy the city if there are 30 righteous.

Genesis 18:31-33

Abraham continued to ask, what if there are 20 or 10 righteous people? God replied He would not destroy the city if 10 righteous are found. Then God departed, and Abraham returned home.

Additional Resources

Genesis is a book about many beginnings. The beginnings of the world, the human race, sin and redemption, and the nation of Israel to name a few. In fact, the word Genesis from the Greek means “origin,” and in Hebrew it means “beginning.” The book of Genesis contains the events of the flood, tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the lives of the Patriarchs.

In the beginning, God created everything by simply speaking, “God said…and it was so” (Genesis 1:6-7, 9, 11, 14-15). This is not a scientific technical account of creation, but it shows a loving God creating a universe and mankind to rule it and fellowship with God. Man was formed especially from the ground and given the breath of life from God. The woman was made from the man’s rib (Genesis 2:7).

After man fell into sin, things began to spin out of control quickly. Cain murdered his brother Abel and the human race became so violent that God decided to destroy them all with a flood. God saved one righteous man (Noah) and his family in an ark filled with animals to deliver the human race from extinction. God chose Abraham and blessed a special group of people named “Israel.” God began to unfold a plan of salvation from a coming famine by sending Joseph to rule in Egypt. The failure of man in every circumstance is met by the salvation of God. We fail, but the good news is God saves us.