Genesis 18:16–33: The Confidence of Abraham
Introduction
We struggle to trust God. Sometimes, we grow bitter that God does not take away some kind of suffering in our lives. Other times, even when the circumstances of our lives go fairly well, we grow suspicious that God may be keeping us from something even better. Or, we come across someone else’s story of sorrow and injustice, and we wonder whether God may be setting us up for a similar downfall. At every turn, the indwelling sin of our hearts causes us to look upon God with distrust. This is not new, of course. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, only rebelled against their Creator after the serpent slanderously questioned God’s goodness toward them: “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Gen. 3:1). All human beings descended from Adam and Eve have inherited their original suspicion that we have a truer sense of justice than God does.
Is this true? Should we trust God at all? How well do we actually know him? How well can we actually know him? If God has no accountability beyond himself, how do we know that he will not abuse his power and authority? In fact, we find part of the answer to these questions in Genesis 18:16–33, where God reveals that he has an “open book” policy, similar to the “open door” policy implemented in some organizations. In companies with an open door policy, anyone from any part of the company the right has the right to meet with top leadership to ask any hard, critical questions they may have. To an even greater degree, God graciously gives us his word to open up the thoughts, motivations, and desires behind his actions. Then, he invites us to ask hard questions that probe his goodness and justice. God does not owe us an explanation for his actions, but he has nothing to hide. More than that, he wants to draw us closer to himself in trust by personally addressing the questions we may have. Remarkably, God is transcendent, but he also strives for transparency: God reveals his righteous character by word and prayer.
Discussion Questions
1. Where have you struggled to trust authority in general? Where have your suspicions been accurate? Where have your suspicions been misguided? More specifically, where have you struggled to trust God’s authority? What questions of justice and righteousness stood behind your concerns? What parts of God’s word helped you to trust God’s righteous character?
2. What missional purpose does God have for revealing his word to us (Gen. 18:19)? Beyond teaching us, how does God want us to use his word to teach others? Why does God put a unique emphasis on teaching our children? Why does God also emphasize teaching the whole household of faith? What is the ultimate goal of teaching God’s righteousness and justice?
3. Is God’s wrath righteous? Does God’s wrath qualify as justice? Why might someone argue that God’s wrath is neither righteous nor just? What does the Bible teach about God’s wrath? What would be lost if God never revealed his wrath against evil in the world? How does God’s wrath fit into his being the Judge of all the earth who does what is just?
4. How does God invite Abraham into intercessory prayer for justice in this passage? Why does God do this? What does this intercessory prayer accomplish? What would be lost if God did not invite Abraham to intercede? Why doesn’t God simply reveal his purposes and then close the discussion? How do you take advantage of God’s open invitation to intercession?
