Genesis 28
Last week we went through a chapter of reminders. Reminders given to Abraham and his descendants of who God is, the Almighty God, and what He expects from His people, complete obedience. The reminders were through God’s Word, meaningful names and the sign of the covenant.
This week we’re going through part one of a couple of chapters that fully display the difference between the righteous and the unrighteous; Between God’s friends and God’s foes; Between Abraham and Lot; Between Israel and Sodom. Glaring differences between the godly and the ungodly. Let’s start with the godly represented by Abraham who’s also called the friend of God. What an amazing thing to be called – the friend of God.
[Read James 2:23, II Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8.]
Think about that for a moment. Abraham is called the friend of God. And friendship is a two-way street. God wasn’t just his friend – he was God’s friend as well. Wow. This friendship with God is highlighted in the passage we’ll be in tonight, Genesis 18. This chapter shows us a few of the dynamics of their friendship. First of all it shows us:
1. God’s friendship with Abraham was initiated by God
[Read Genesis 12:1, 15:1, 17:1, 18:1.]
You know if I was the Lord and was looking for a friend I wouldn’t have come knocking on Abraham’s door. Here’s this pagan man who has very little to offer God. I mean, just what can Abraham bring to the table? Just what would they talk about? Here’s God…and here’s Abraham. Nevertheless, God sought him out to not only use him to bring forth Israel and the Savior, but also to be His friend.
And that’s just how God is. He seeks, He initiates, He searches for those that would follow Him and become His friend.
[Read John 4:23.]
Isn’t that great? We don’t have to go on some cosmic journey to find God. He seeks us. And if we’re open to Him, He’ll reveal Himself to us through His Word, His Spirit, creation, our conscience and even the miraculous. All to show us that He is real. God’s friendship with Abraham was initiated by God. The second aspect of their friendship that we see is:
2. God’s friendship with Abraham was strengthened by fellowship
[Read Genesis 18:2-8.]
There’s an overwhelming amount of respect given from Abraham towards the Lord and the angels with Him. So much so that it was even a worshipful event. Look at what Abraham’s efforts were:
- bowed before them
- running everywhere
- begging the Lord to stay
- had their feet washed
- provided a place for them to rest
- had a meal prepared with “fine flour” and a “calf”
- stood while they ate
But what’s amazing is that the way the Lord accepted Abraham’s efforts it made this meal of appreciation a meal of fellowship.
- the Lord agreed to stay
- the Lord accepted whatever Abraham gave Him
- the Lord “ate” the meal
This meal of appreciation became a meal of fellowship when the Lord accepted and
participated in what Abraham had done for Him.
You see, God isn’t just about our worship and obedience. He wants to have relationship with us. And not just in Heaven some day – but now!
[Read Revelation 3:20.]
Our fellowship with the Lord now is through the Word, through prayer, through meditation, through worship, and even through His presence by the Holy Spirit. That fellowship continues to strengthen our relationship with God. But one day this earthly fellowship will be heavenly as we sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
So, God’s friendship with Abraham was initiated by God and it was strengthened by fellowship. Also:
3. God’s friendship with Abraham was open and honest
You know you have a true friend when they’re willing to be open and honest with you. A good friend is someone who’ll tell you:
- when you’ve got broccoli stuck in between your teeth
- your deodorant wore off two days ago
Well, God was sure open and honest with Abraham, (and his wife).
[Read Genesis 18:9-15.]
Now try and picture what’s going on here. Sarah’s behind the tent door listening to God confirm to him again that Sarah would have his child. When Sarah hears this she laughed to herself at this outrageous and humanly impossible ability. When the Bible says she laughed to herself it means that she laughed secretly or quietly or even within herself.
She didn’t bust out from behind the tent door and laugh uncontrollably. She laughed and thought to herself, “Now that just aint gonna happen!”
But God knew her thoughts and asked Abraham why Sarah was laughing. Now how come God didn’t ask Sarah why she was laughing? Why ask Abraham?
Because the last time God told this to Abraham he laughed out loud. I think the Lord was reminding Abraham of how he reacted the last time God told him how it would all play out. Maybe even giving Abraham the message that he should have already talked with Sarah about this. “Why is your wife laughing Abraham. Lead her in faith so she accepts my Word instead of laughing at it.”
After the Lord asked Abraham why his wife laughed Sarah comes out from behind the tent door and claims she didn’t laugh. But the Lord addresses her openly and honestly and said, “No, but you did laugh.”
That might have been an awkward moment at the dinner party. But the truth was needed and God, a true friend, gave it.
Now I thin she got the message. I think this really built her faith.
[Read Hebrews 11:11.]
Somewhere between laughing at the Lord’s claims and Isaac’s birth Sarah believed the Lord would give her a son. I think it was the truth that set her free to believe.
I’m so glad we have a God that will be honest with us. Honesty isn’t something that’s very prevalent anymore in our society. Nowadays:
- truth is only what can be proven
- truth is what’s expedient for the hearer
- truth is relative
- truth isn’t even knowable
But those kinds of truths are lies and only lead to death. But our God will always be
truthful with us when we read His Word and when He confronts us with His Spirit. And when He does we can rest assured that the Message we’re getting from God is not only truthful but it’s something we need to hear. God’s friendship with Abraham was open and honest. Finally:
4. God’s friendship with Abraham was built on communication
Now communication is a two-way street, and a good relationship is built on healthy communication. Communication where both parties get to speak and both parties listen as the other one speaks. That’s just how it works. And it works the same way with our relationship with God. When He speaks we listen. When we speak, He listens. Let’s see that played out between God and Abraham. First where God talks and Abraham listens.
[Read Genesis 18:16-22.]
God let Abraham know that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Their wickedness was so bad that it cried out to God. God told Abraham that He would see for Himself the wickedness and then judge them for their deeds. (Now, God didn’t have to actually go there and see it. He’s omniscient. Their wickedness was already before Him. But He sent His angels there as His ambassadors to display His justice in the situation.)
So God speaks and Abraham listens.
In response to what God had just told him, Abraham pleads with God to spare the people there if there be found some righteous amongst them. Abraham offers a humble ‘prayer’ out of concern for the people and obviously out of concern for Lot and his family there. And as Abraham speaks, God listens.
[Read Genesis 18:23-33.]
Oh how patient the Lord is. He already knows the answers to Abraham’s request. He already knows that there isn’t ten righteous people there in Sodom. (Next week we’ll see that the Lord does destroy the cities but saves the few, I mean few righteous people in the land.)
But even though He knows the beginning from the end, He listens anyway. He listens to the heart of His friend and even comforts him with His responses.
Our Lord, our friend listens to us. Sometimes He answers our prayers with a:
- “I’m sorry, but the wheels are already in motion.”
- “No, that’s not what’s best.”
- “Yes, I’ll grant your request.”
- “Just wait. It will happen.”
But no matter what the answer is, He always listens to us. That’s what friends do. And
God is the ultimate friend for you and I.
Now, He’s not like the friends we hang out with here at church. He’s not like the friends we had while we were in school. He’s the friend you can’t believe you have.
[President Bush saying we’re friends illustration.]
We worship God, we obey His every Word, we stand in reverence of Him. And if we do that, He calls us His friend.
[Read John 15:14.]
Our friend who initiates our relationship, fellowships with us, is open and honest with us and communicates with us. Oh what a friend we have in Jesus.
