Chapter 18:
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 18
We have an account in this chapter of another interview
between God and Abraham, probably within a few days after the
former, as the reward of his chearful obedience to the law of
circumcision. Here is,
I. The visit which God made him, ver. 1-8
II. The matters discoursed of between them,
1. The purposes of God's love concerning Sarah, ver. 9-15.
2. The purposes of God's wrath concerning Sodom.
(1.) The discovery God made to Abraham of his design to destroy
Sodom, ver. 16-22.
(2.) The intercession Abraham made for Sodom, ver. 23-33.
Verse 1. This appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it
more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and
majesty, than those we have hitherto read of, and therefore more
resembles that great visit which in the fulness of time the Son of
God was to make to the world. He sat in the tent-door in the heat
of the day - Not so much to repose himself, as to seek an
opportunity of doing good, by giving entertainment to strangers.
Verse
2. And lo three men - These three men were three spiritual
heavenly beings, now assuming human shapes, that they might be
visible to Abraham, and conversable with him. Some think they
were all three created angels; others, that one of them was the Son
of God. He bowed himself towards the ground - Religion doth not
destroy but improve good manners, and teaches us to honour all
men.
Verse
9. Where is Sarah thy wife? - By naming her, they gave intimation
to Abraham, that tho' they seemed strangers, yet they well knew
him and his family: by enquiring after her, they shewed a kind
concern for the family of one, whom they found respectful to
them. And by speaking of her, she over-hearing it, they drew her
to listen to what was farther to be said.
Verse
10. I will certainly return unto thee - And visit thee. God will
return to those that bid him welcome.
Verse
12. Sarah laughed within herself - It was not a laughter of faith,
like Abraham's, chap. xvii, 17, but a laughter of doubting and
distrust. The great objection which Sarah could not get over was
her age. I am waxed old, and past child-bearing in a course of
nature, especially having been hitherto barren, and which
magnifies the difficulty, My Lord is old also. Observe here, That
Sarah calls Abraham her Lord, and the Holy Ghost takes notice of
it to her honour, and recommends it to the imitation of all
Christian wives, 1Pe iii, 6. Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him
Lord, in token of respect and subjection.
Verse
17. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do - Thus doth
God in his councils express himself after the manner of men, with
deliberation. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.
Those that by faith live a life of communion with God, cannot but
know more of his mind than other people. They have a better
insight into what is present, and a better foresight of what is to
come.
Verse
19. I know Abraham that he will command his children, and his
household after him - This is a bright part of Abraham's character.
He not only prayed with his family, but he taught them, as a man
of knowledge; nay, he commanded them as a man in authority,
and was prophet and king, as well as priest, in his own house. And
he not only took care of his children, but of his household: his
servants were catechized servants. Masters of families should
instruct, and inspect the manners of all under their roof. And this
is given as the reason why God would make known to him his
purpose concerning Sodom; because he was communicative of his
knowledge, and improved it for the benefit of those that were
under his charge.
Verse
21. I will go down now and see - Not as if there were any thing
concerning which God is in doubt; but he is pleased thus to
express himself after the manner of men.
Verse
23. Abraham drew near - This expression intimates, A holy
concern. A holy confidence; he drew near with an assurance of
faith, drew near as a prince, Job xxxi, 37.
Verse
27. Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord,
who am but dust and ashes - He speaks as one amazed at his own
boldness, and the liberty God graciously allowed him, considering
God's greatness, he is the Lord; and his own meanness, but dust
and ashes. Whenever we draw near to God, it becomes us
reverently to acknowledge the vast distance that there is between
us and Him. He is the Lord of glory, we are worms of the earth.
Verse
30. Oh let not the Lord be angry - The importunity which
believers use in their addresses to God is such, that if they were
dealing with a man like themselves, they could not but fear that he
would be angry with them. But he with whom we have to do is
God and not man, and he is pleased when he is wrestled with. But
why then did Abraham leave off asking when he had prevailed so
far as to get the place spared if there were but ten righteous in it?
Either,
1. Because he owned that it deserved to perish if there were not so
many: as the dresser of the vineyard, who consented that the
barren tree should be cut down if one year's trial more did not
make it fruitful, Luke xiii, 9. Or,
2. Because God restrained his spirit from asking any farther.
When God hath determined the ruin of a place, he forbids it to be
prayed for, Jer. vii, 16.
Verse
33. Abraham returned into his place - To wait what the event
would be; and it proved that his prayer was heard, and yet Sodom
not spared, because there were not ten righteous in it.
Chapter 18:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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