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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 18:16 - 18:22
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The Lord reveals his plan regarding Sodom
v. 16. And the men rose up from thence and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. The rising of the Lord and His two companions and their looking over into the direction of Sodom was a signal to Abraham that their mission in his house had been accomplished, and so he, as a thoughtful host, accompanied them for some distance.
v. 17. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do,
v. 18. seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
v. 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. These words of the Lord were apparently addressed to the angels. The question was whether He should let Abraham know at once that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was an act of His avenging justice. He had destined Abraham to be not only the father of a great and mighty nation, the children of Israel, but also the spiritual father of the true Israel of all times. Besides, Abraham not only led a life conforming to the will of the Lord for himself, but the Lord also knew, in prevenient love, and had chosen him for that purpose, that he would teach his children and all his progeny carefully to keep the way of Jehovah, of true piety, to exercise righteousness and judgment, and the Lord could thus fulfill all His promises upon them. Thus the destruction of Sodom and the surrounding country should be before the eyes of the children of Israel always as a monument of God's avenging justice, as an example of the end of the wicked. In revealing to Abraham the reason for the destruction of the wicked cities, the Lord wanted Abraham to see the justice of the punishment, which no intercession could hope to turn aside.
v. 20. And the Lord said, turning now directly to Abraham, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
v. 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. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were of a nature to cry to heaven for revenge and punishment: "The cry about Sodom and Gomorrah—yea, it is great; and their sin—truly it is very heavy!" The Lord's purpose, therefore, was to convince Himself whether the inhabitants of these cities, according to the cry that had come to Him, had reached the limit of wickedness or not. It was a case of mercy's meeting together with righteousness.
v. 22. And the men turned their faces from thence and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. As the two angels continued their journey toward Sodom alone, Abraham stood before the Lord, his bold attitude signifying that he had an important matter to communicate. As the friend of God, a designation which is shared by all believers, Jam_2:23, he dared to enter a bold plea in behalf of such children of God as might possibly be found in the doomed cities.