Genesis 18: A Promise and a Plea for Sodom
The Lord visits Abraham, reaffirms the promised son, and Abraham intercedes for Sodom's righteous.
Genesis 18 (WEB)
1 Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
3 and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
4 Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5 I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”
6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
7 Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
8 He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
9 They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “See, in the tent.”
10 He said, “I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12 Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13 Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’
14 Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
16 The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17 Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
18 since Abraham has surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
20 Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
23 Abraham drew near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
25 Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26 Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there.”
29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”
30 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”
31 He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
32 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
33 Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis 18 (KJV)
1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Genesis 18 (ASV)
1 And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
3 and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on: forasmuch as ye are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?
14 Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do;
18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah.
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes:
28 peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty’s sake.
30 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.
33 And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Summary
Yahweh appears to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre as three men in the heat of the day. Abraham hurries to show hospitality, preparing cakes, a tender calf, butter, and milk, and waits on his guests under the tree. They ask about Sarah and announce that she will have a son when the season returns. Sarah, listening at the tent door, laughs to herself at the thought, for she is past childbearing, prompting the searching question, 'Is anything too hard for Yahweh?' As the men set out toward Sodom, Yahweh chooses to disclose his plan to Abraham, since through him all nations will be blessed. Hearing that Sodom's sin is grievous, Abraham draws near and intercedes, appealing to God as the Judge of all the earth who will do right. Step by step he pleads from fifty righteous down to ten, and God agrees to spare the city for ten.
Main Characters
- Abraham — The hospitable host who welcomes the Lord and boldly intercedes for the righteous in Sodom.
- Yahweh — The Lord who reaffirms the promised son, judges Sodom's sin, and answers Abraham's pleading.
- Sarah — Abraham's wife, who laughs in disbelief at the promise of a son in her old age.
Key Verse
Genesis 18:14 (WEB)
Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.”
Lessons Learned
- Generous hospitality welcomes others and may welcome the Lord himself.
- Nothing is too hard for God; he fulfills promises that seem impossible to us.
- God invites his friends into his purposes and welcomes honest, humble intercession.
- God is the righteous Judge of all the earth who always does what is right.
- Hospitality serves others eagerly. Abraham runs to meet the visitors and hurries to prepare a generous meal, modeling glad, attentive welcome (Genesis 18:2, WEB).
- Nothing is too hard for God. The Lord answers Sarah's doubt with the searching question, 'Is anything too hard for Yahweh?' affirming his unlimited power (Genesis 18:14, WEB).
- God confides his purposes to his friends. Yahweh chooses not to hide from Abraham what he is about to do, drawing him into his plans (Genesis 18:17, WEB).
- God shapes families in his ways. God has known Abraham so that he will command his children to keep the way of Yahweh in righteousness and justice (Genesis 18:19, WEB).
- Intercession appeals to God's righteous character. Abraham asks, 'Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do right?' grounding his prayer in God's justice (Genesis 18:25, WEB).
- Humble persistence honors God in prayer. Confessing himself but dust and ashes, Abraham keeps pleading down to ten righteous, and God listens (Genesis 18:27, WEB).
- How does Abraham respond when he sees the three visitors, and what does it show about him (Genesis 18:2-8)?
- Why does Sarah laugh, and how does the Lord answer her doubt (Genesis 18:12-14)?
- On what grounds does Abraham appeal as he intercedes for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-25)?
- Where is God asking you to trust that nothing is too hard for him?
- How does Abraham's intercession encourage you to pray boldly and humbly for others?
- Abraham runs to meet the strangers, bows, and hurries to prepare cakes, a choice calf, butter, and milk, then waits on them under the tree. His eager, generous hospitality reveals a humble and welcoming heart.
- Sarah laughs because she is past childbearing and thinks the promise impossible. The Lord gently confronts her with the question, 'Is anything too hard for Yahweh?' and reaffirms that she will have a son at the set time.
- Abraham appeals to God's character as the Judge of all the earth who will do right, asking whether he would sweep away the righteous with the wicked. He grounds his plea in God's justice and mercy, not his own merit.
- Personal: invite members to name situations that feel impossible. Encourage them to anchor their hope in God's power, recalling that he kept his word to give Abraham and Sarah a son.
- Personal: let members reflect on their prayers for others. Encourage bold yet humble intercession like Abraham's, appealing to God's mercy and justice while persisting in faith on behalf of those in need.