ORIGINS: The Book of Genesis

No. 37 | COVENANT—Abraham, pt. 8

By Danny Capon, November 12, 2023

The Beginning and Meaning of Everything that Matters

COVENANT

Genesis 12:1-25:11 | Abraham

  • 12:1-9 God establishes a relationship with Abram
  • 12:10-13:1 Abram reasons unfaithfully in going down to Egypt
  • 13:2-18 Abram reasons humbly in deferring to Lot
  • 14:1-24 Abram defeats his enemies with the help of God
  • 15:1-21 Abram grapples with the fulfillment of God’s word to him
  • 16:1-16 Abram, Sarai and Hagar see poorly and act wrongly
  • 17:1-27 Abram responds to God and does what He says
  • 18:1-33 Abraham shows hospitality to God and intercedes for Sodom

Outline

God visits (appears to) Abraham…

  1. Gen. 18:1-15 Abraham shows Him hospitality
  • Gen. 18:1-8 Abraham lavishly cares for the three men
  • Gen. 18:9-15 Sarah struggles to believe she will bear a son
  1. Gen. 18:16-21 (Hinge) God discloses to Abraham what He will do
  • Gen. 18:16-19 God talks about how Abraham will be great
  • Gen. 18:20-21 God talks about how outcry against Sodom is great
  1. Gen. 18:22-33 Abraham intercedes for Sodom

What’s going on in chapter eighteen?

  • It’s closely connected to chapter seventeen…
  • It’s also closely connected to chapter nineteen…

God appears to Abraham, and Abraham shows Him hospitality and intercedes for Sodom.

  1. Genesis 18:1-15
  1. Genesis 18:16-21
  1. Genesis 18:22-33
  • God may appear for two different purposes—to announce His and to announce His
  • Abraham’s response to both reveals his righteous and
  • God’s ways with man are and
  • Abraham functions as a and of the way of the righteous