Abraham pleads for the city

Genesis 18:16-33 ESV

Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." Then the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know." So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord . Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake." Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Why he pleads

God leads Abraham to plead. God starts off with an internal debate. He considers whether to discuss the issue with Abraham. So God decides to wait and talk with Abraham. He wants to teach Abraham how to live in righteousness. A way of living in community that promotes the life of all its members.

Because of his compassion for the lost. Abraham could have pleaded for his relative, Lot. But instead he pleads for the entire city. He could have pleaded for the righteous to be saved only. But no, he asks for the wicked to be spared on behalf of the wicked. Not only this, but pleads for other peoples, not just his own. Prophets only cry out for their own people, but Abraham calls out for foreigners. Foreign people may become enemies, who do not worship God.

Because of his role in redemption. This is a minority tribe outnumbered by a world full of tribes who do not worship the one true God. So how many? Abraham wanted to know how many believers would stay the destruction of the city. They went back and forth. And when they hit the number ten, God ends the conversation. Commentators say that ten is minimum for a synagogue or a church. One church is enough for the redemption of an entire city. They are enough to preserve a city.

Why he is able to plead

God was a friend to Abraham. So they can go back and forth. They can discuss the nitty gritty. Because Jesus was abandoned, we can all be friends with God.

Why we should plead for our own cities

Because God leads us to. God desires the redemption of the lost and sinners. He wishes for their salvation. Our hearts should be troubled by those living in sin, those who do not know the Lord.

Matthew 9:37-38 ESV

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

We are troubled by God. But we do not plead with God over these things. We stop by wishing someone would be caught. We stop short of praying. God troubles us so that we would pray.

Because of our compassion for the lost. We are different from the people out there because God opened our eyes. We are just like those outside the church. The only thing different is the grace of God. One sign of spiritual maturity is the knowledge that we are just as sinful as those outside the church.

The gospel according to Abraham: The greatest test of Faith and the greatest testament to Love

Genesis 22:1-19 ESV

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."  And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord , because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This is the climactic moment in the life of Abraham. It is a very dramatic event.

Faith Tested

God told Abraham that he was to be tested. God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. This sounds insane. But during these times, the Canaanite worldview said that the god that provided fertility was also entitled to a portion of what had been provided. This included animals, grains, and even children. This would have been a normal request to Abraham. It must have made no sense. God promised to make a great nation through this son. And now, God asks for Isaac as a burnt offering. But God knows that Abraham will obey. So why does God ask for this? God knows what will happen, but God still asks Abraham for his son.

God wanted the expression of Abraham's devotion. Not just the emotion. Isaac is the symbol of all of Abraham's hopes and joy. Abraham has been waiting for his entire lifetime. And God asks it. He wants to know, will God be sufficient. Does Abraham follow God because of God's promise or is it because God is enough? Would we follow God, if all we got was pain? This is the test of devotion and love for God. As believers, we are called to leave everything, take up our cross, and follow God.

The second test is one of trust. Does Abraham trust God enough to follow through even when the instructions make no sense, cruel, and painful?

Faith Proved

This is the heart of faith. Abraham did not argue with God. He did not delay. He woke up early in the morning. The mountain was a three days trip. There was plenty of time to turn back and to change his mind. But Abraham does not turn back. He does not hesitate. We can only imagine how Abraham struggled internally. It is possible that Abraham believed that God could raise the dead. So even if Abraham sacrificed his son, Good could raise him from the dead.

Hebrews 11:17-19 ESV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Abraham has failed to believe in God. Plenty of tests where Abraham failed to believe. But now, Abraham has such a mature faIsaac, Not only this, but God is working out this kind of faith in us as well.

Testament to Love

This passage does not only speak of Abraham's love and devotion to God. It also speaks of God's love and devotion to us. God provides and sees to the blessing of Abraham's descendants. Even though Abraham and his descendants are sinful and difficult, God sees to it. He does it. God would provide through a substitute. Since the ram was sacrificed instead of Isaac, Abraham knew that God would provide a sacrifice in our stead.

John 8:56 ESV

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."

Another man also carried wood up this same mountain range. He was also silent as he was prepared for sacrifice. And just like Abraham agonized for three days, God experienced this same pain. But there was no one to stay the knife. God allowed his only son to be tortured and beaten beyond recognition. Not only that, but willed it. To die for the enemies of God. What kind of love is this?

Romans 8:32 ESV

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

The gospel according to Abraham:

Genesis 18:1-15 ESV

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, "O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on— since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes." And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent." The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?" The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, "Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?" Is anything too hard for the Lord ? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

Genesis 21:1-7 ESV

The Lord  visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me." And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Hospitality was a big deal in these times and places. Abraham was resting in the middle of the day, much like the way some cultures have a siesta. And during the siesta, he is visited by three strangers. They were two angels and the Lord, but Abraham did not know it. We should, however, consider the greater hospitality of God. God welcomed Abraham in... a pagan and sinner. He went out of His way to come for sinners.

The laugh of doubt

God had already told Abraham that Sarah was going to bear a child. But for some reason, Abraham had not told his wife. So this announcement was not for Abraham. God came to announce this to Sara who was eavesdropping nearby. God wanted to meet Sara. She was not only barren, but by this time Sara had hit menopause. And some bible commentators think that Sara and Abraham had stopped having sex. Not only was bearing children a distant possibility but the couple may have stopped having any sexual relationships.

The idea behind this is one that says the situation is hopeless. There is nothing that can be done. But the unspoken assumption is that God is not powerful enough. It makes God seem weaker than he is. God becomes smaller in our eyes.

Not only that, but our lives shrink. We limit ourselves by looking at the situations based on what we can do. We do not attempt things that require more than we are capable of. We do not attempt things because we do not have faith.

Laugh of faith

A year later, Sara has a son. A ninety year old woman nursing her son. That is such a strange picture. An impossibility of impossibilities. Sara is still laughing, but it is because life is full of more possibilities than one can imagine. It is a laughter of awe and joy.

But we need to balance this idea. Not all of our circumstances will end in miraculous events. There is nothing that God cannot do, but there are things that God will not do. Some of our prayers for healing or intervention will not be answered as we hope.

The ultimate basis of our laughter

Another woman was told she would have a child. But this was no old woman, but rather a virgin. Yet another impossibility. But this son, would do infinitely more for us. He would save us. His death and resurrection would tell us that we have a hope and miracle that we can laugh about regardless the circumstances.

The cross secures our ultimate hope. The world seems so hopeless and full of such impossible situations. Work seems pointless. Family disappoints and hurts us. But the cross tells us that this is not the end. God is up to far more than we can see. Jesus defeated death. Who could have foreseen this? God's out to redeem all things. All of creation.

Luke 6:21 ESV

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh."

The principle of using your time well: Therefore understand... The will of the LORD

Understanding God's will through circumstances

Looking at our situation for God's will is not always clear. It takes wisdom and sometimes wisdom from the possible around us.

Understanding God's will through His word

The spirit of God ministers to us through one another in the following ways:

Spirit of Jesus creating faith by ministering the word. The office of pastor or a lay counselor who talks through how the word applies to the personal circumstance.

Spirit of Jesus creating hope by meeting nerds with deeds.

Spirit of Jesus creating love by building the new community.

Goals of the church as seen in the Word of God

Be friends to one another
Be family to one another
Be servants to one another

The principle of using your time well: Making the best use of the time

Paul's command

Time is an asset to be used wisely. It is to be invested wisely for God's kingdom.

Time is something to be used. We are to use it to gain interest. Jesus tells us He expects a return on our use of time. God gives us gifts, one of which is time. We are to use them.

We need different kinds of relationship. We need mentors. We also need people who feed you. And you also need people that you are serving and giving to. This is how the community should work.

Here's a framework to look at different areas in our lives.

Urgent/important: problem
Urgent/unimportant: popularity
Not urgent/important: purpose
Not urgent/unimportant: pleasure

What is important but not urgent in your life?
Consider the different roles in your life: husband, father, son, homeowner, neighbor, church member, worker, small group member, friend, brother... Focus on purpose rather than problems. In your schedule, set it up to address twice the amount of purpose areas for problem areas. Eliminate popularity areas in your life.

The principle of using your time well: Look carefully then how you walk

Busyness, unchecked, can rob you of relationships and your health. It can distract us from things that are important.

First have a clear idea of God's will for you.

You need time with God. Prayer/quiet time
You need time for physical stewardship. Exercise, sleep, family time, recreation.
Find five to fifteen people you can shepherd. This includes family relationships!

Define your key roles for the next week and month.

Take on the purposes in bite sized pieces. Don't try to tackle all of them at once. Just take on those things that are important for the coming week and month.

Select goals for an entire week

Schedule them all as time blocks or appointments for the entire week

Daily adapt your schedule by adding unanticipated events.

Start saying no to things. If there are too many, you may not be prioritizing properly. God's will cannot be larger than the amount of time you are given. God will not ask for than the number of hours in a day/week/month/year. Cross things off your list without guilt!

The problem of using your time well: "Not as unwise, but wise"

The gospel according to Abraham: Covenant Faithfulness

Genesis 17:1-27 ESV

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham,  for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year." When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This passage is the formalizing of the covenant between God and Abraham.

The call of the covenant

God promises all these things at first. Then, now, we see Abraham's part of this agreement. God calls Abraham to walk before me and be blamelessly before Him. This really means God wants Abraham to reorient his entire life around God. A life fully dedicated to God.

In those times, there are often these king-vassal agreements. The king sets the terms and the vassal must agree. There is no negotiating. The greater king has the full right to demand everything. God is the king of kings. He has every right to demand this. But God approaches this differently. He promises to make a great multitude of nations of Abraham. Kings will come from him. The promises of God grow more expansive over time. Not only this, but He promises to be a personal God to these people. God wants a relationship like marriage. Close and intimate love relationship like no other. Marriage is an illustration of what God wants with His people. God yearns to be with His people.

The sign of the covenant

God gives a physical tangible sign of His promises. But why circumcision? It was a reminder to Abraham that God had marked His people. It also reminded Abraham that God promised much to his descendants. Not only this, but to reject this, was to reject God. It is the equivalent of rejecting a proposal. The ring is a sign to marriage... To reject it, means that they are not bound. That is why rejecting this sign is so serious. Not only this, but these say something of the heart of God. God is a romantic. He leaves love notes for His people. And He is a reassuring father. He loves us no matter what we have done.

The fulfillment of the covenant

What is the sign for us today, if it is no longer circumcision?

God promises a son to Abraham through Sarai at the ages, respectively, of one hundred and ninety. An impossible promise.  Through Jesus, a descendent of Abraham, another impossible circumstance. Born of a virgin and God.  So now households are no longer circumcised. They are now baptized. There is no longer blood, because we are covered by the blood of Christ. Communion reminds us that God is near. The Holy spirit testifies that we are children of God.