Following In the Footsteps of Faith
THE THREE SIDES OF ABRAHAM
Genesis 18:1-33
Intro: Everyone in this room wears many different hats. For instance, I am a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a Pastor, a friend, among many other things. Well this passage today reveals three sides of the life of Abraham. In this passage, he is visited personally by the Lord. During this visit we are given a glimpse at three sides of this great man’s life. As Abraham is revealed to us here, we see some characteristics in his life that need to be seen in every life here this morning. For a few minutes, I want to look into this personal encounter between the Lord and Abraham. I want to preach to you about THE THREE SIDES OF ABRAHAM and have us examine our lives to determine whether or not we are made of the same stuff as this great man of God.
I. THE MINISTRY OF A SERVANT (vv. 1-8)
• It is important as we look into this text that we look at the identity of Abraham’s visitors.
o One of these beings was the Lord Jesus Himself.
o The other two were angels.
• It seems that Abraham recognized the heavenly origin of his guests, because he sprang into action to serve them when they appeared.
o That reaction sets a good example for us because you never know when the Lord will show up at your place!
o When He does, He is looking for the same servant heart He found in Abraham.
• Notice with me the three aspects of that servant’s heart:
A. The Quickness of His Ministry (vv. 1-6)
• Abraham springs into action speedily trying to supply every need of his heavenly visitors.
o He may be 100, but there is not hesitation as he flies from one task to the next, until all is completed.
• Here is a man who recognized his duty and set about to do it as quickly as possible!
o May I just remind you that the Lord deserves the best service we can give Him!
o When we are serving Him, regardless of how menial the task, we should do our best to recognize who we are serving and we should seek to do the best possible job for the glory of the Lord!
• It simply comes down to this: If it is worth doing for the Lord, it is worth doing right.
B. The Quality of His Ministry (vv. 7-8)
• Not only was Abraham swift in his service to the Lord, but he was also sacrificial in his service to the Lord.
o He went to his flock and personally selected, killed and prepared a calf for their meal.
• You haven’t really become a servant until your service costs you personally.
o Being willing to sacrifice for your master is a sign that you are possessed of a servant’s heart.
o Whether the service is time, tithe or talents, it is willingly rendered at the request of the Master and for His glory.
o The greatest sacrifice you can offer, of course, is yourself
o That is a sacrifice that no one else can give to Him!
o By the way, when He has you, He has everything you have anyway!
C. The Quietness of His Ministry (v. 8)
• While his visitors were eating their meal, Abraham stood quietly by to serve them in any way they might need.
o He simply stood beside them, adopting the pose of a servant, listening for the voice of his Lord!
• Imagine the reaction of Abraham’s servants as they watched him assume the role of a servant to the Lord.
o What a powerful testimony it was to them!
o By the way, others are watching!
o So we need to make sure our service and testimony are all they should be!
• Real servants of God are those individuals who make themselves ever available to the Lord and His work.
o They are ready and willing to serve Him on a moments notice.
o When there are no orders to follow, they continue to do the last thing He told them until new orders come.
o They are His and they have no will of their own, but they are dedicated to His will for their lives!
o That is a servant’s heart!
II. THE MESSAGE FOR A SAINT (vv. 9-21)
• God always rewards the faithful service that is rendered to Him.
o In Abraham’s case, He does this by reassuring Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac.
• Verses 18-19 tell us of the great affection, knowledge and care God possessed for this man Abraham.
o God knew what caliber of man Abraham was.
o He knew that Abraham would stand the test and be all that God wanted him to be.
o He is clearly pictured as God’s saint in these verses.
A. A Message about a Child (vv. 9-15)
• God had given this promise repeatedly to Abraham.
o The last time in Gen. 17:17, Abraham had laughed for joy when he heard again the glorious promise of hope from the Lord.
o This time, the promise is repeated for the benefit of Sarah.
o All she had heard was second hand promises from Abraham, this time she hears the promise directly from the mouth of God.
o Her reaction is vastly different from that of her husband though.
o He laughed for joy, she laughs from doubt!
o She is confronted and rebuked.
• This episode is a reminder that God knows everything there is to know about you and me.
o He knows our motives, our secret sins and all things that we do.
o Nothing is hidden from His eyes.
B. A Message about a City (vv. 16-21)
• This is a precious point in Abraham’s relationship with the Lord.
o Because of who he is, how he has conducted himself and the future he is to enjoy.
o God is determined to share His heart with Abraham.
o Imagine being in a position of closeness to the Lord that motivated Him to share His heart with you.
o No doubt this is among the passage that prompted the Jews to refer to Abraham as "the friend of God."
• God wants to have that same kind of relationship with each and every one of us this morning!
o When we are in a position of closeness to Him, He will share His heart and His will with us.
o Never feel that this kind of relationship is only for the super saints!
o I will remind you of the great truth that as we seek to get closer to Him, He responds by moving closer to us.
III. THE MEDIATION OF A SON (vv. 22-33)
• The message that the Lord had shared with Abraham was a difficult message to hear.
o It had been revealed to him that his kinsmen, Lot and his family, were in danger of death and destruction.
• "The cry" of that place and their "grievous sin" was the reason for the coming destruction.
o To many, Sodom must have been viewed as a showplace and a success story.
o They probably bragged about how it had been rebuilt after the great war of Gen. 14.
o Abraham knew different.
o He knew the city was slated for destruction.
o Those of us who know the Bible know that our world thinks awfully highly of itself as well today.
• He received the message and it motivated him to action before the Lord.
o Perhaps this was a factor in God’s desire to share the message with Abraham!
o Perhaps he wanted to motivate Abraham to move deeper in his relationship with God.
o We have seen Abraham the servant.
o We have seen Abraham the Saint.
o Now, we are given a chance to see Abraham the son speaking with his heavenly Father!
A. The Distance between Them (vv. 22-23)
• These verses tell us that Abraham stood before the Lord and when the angels departed, he drew near to the Lord.
• I praise the Lord for the truth that God’s children can approach Him and draw as near as they please to their heavenly Father.
o Listen to His invitation to you and me, Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:15-16; Rom. 8:15-17.
B. The Dialogue between Them (vv. 24-33)
• Abraham’s prayer to the Lord arises out of several burdens he carries because of the revelation he has just received.
• First, he is concerned about God’s reputation.
o If the Lord simply destroys the people of Sodom out of hand, Abraham is concerned that people will get the wrong impression of God and of His love for sinners.
• Secondly, he is thinking about Lot and his family, who live in Sodom.
o He wants to see them spared, at the very least.
o So he begins to talk to God about the situation and gets God to agree to spare the city if just 10 righteous people can be found there.
o In Lot’s family, there was Lot, his wife, two unmarried daughters and at least two married daughters and their husbands.
o This was a total of at least eight people in that family.
o Abraham must have thought that Lot would have at least won his family and a few others.
• Although Abraham did not know it at the time, his prayer was answered!
o God did spare the righteous when He destroyed the wicked.
o When the morning came and Abraham looked toward Sodom and saw the smoke of that place, Gen. 19:27-28, he must have been discouraged.
• However, his prayer had been heard and it had been successful, 19:29.
o Sometimes, our prayers seem to be very ineffective and weak, but only in eternity will know the full impact of our personal ministry of prayer in the lives of others.
o Therefore, do not be discouraged, just pray and trust the Lord to bring it to pass!
Closing: If there is anything that you need to take away from this service this morning, it is this: a close, personal relationship with God is possible for anyone who desires it!
The question you need to ask yourself is: “In your heart, are you honestly as close to the Lord as you would like to be?”
Are you His servant, running eagerly and speedily to do His will?
Are you His saint, listening intently as He reveals His will and ways to you?
Are you His son, His child, interceding before the throne of the Heavenly Father on behalf of those who do not have access to Him?
Or do you need to work on one or more of these areas of your relationship with the Lord?
If so, there is help to be found at the altar!
