If you’ve ever watched “Shark Week” or know much about sharks, you may have heard about a unique fish called Remora. They are sometimes called “suckerfish” or “shark-suckers.” These fish have a unique suction design and attache themselves to sharks, stingrays, and other large ocean fish. They glean transportation, safety and food from the otherwise dangerous predators, while giving nothing in return. Like train hoppers, steam ship stow-aways, subway turnstile jumpers, and wedding crashers, they get a free ride, enjoying all of the benefits of full-fare passengers, but paying none of the cost.
There are many lessons from Genesis 18-19. They include:
Hospitality. (Abraham hosts the angels and LORD)
God’s Power. (Sarah learns that she will have a child)
God’s Judgment. (Sodom destroyed)
God’s view of Homosexuality
Today our attention will be on God’s patience toward Sodom and His willingness to spare the city “for the sake of ten righteous.” A spiritual principle is in place here. The unsaved receive temporal blessings on account of the righteous, but God will not grant these blessings indefinitely.
We are going to examine these two propositions today. First, let’s look at the text that presents this theological truth. We find in Genesis 18 The RIGHTEOUS are a source of Blessing from God.
This truth is expressed in Psalm 5:12 "For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." The shield with which God covers the righteous also covers those who do not know the Lord. Today, there are children who do not know the Lord, but who are covered by the grace that God bestows on their parents. There are husbands who benefit from God’s grace on their wives, and unsaved wives who benefit from the grace that God bestows on their husbands.
The story begins in Genesis 18:1 where, “The Lord appeared to Abraham.” Abraham is resting outside the door of his tent. It was the mid day siesta and the coolest place was under the shade of a great tree. Suddenly, three visitors appear from nowhere. Abraham immediately knew this was a visit from the LORD. We know this because of his words and his reaction. He “hurries” v. 2. He “bows down.” This Hebrew word is “hawa,” the same word that is most often translated “worship.” Abraham also focuses his attention on one of the three visitors, whom he recognizes as the LORD. This is most likely a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, since no angel would receive worship. Abraham Addresses the “Lord,” (singular - showing that the LORD is of greater significance than the angels). He shows hospitality to the LORD and the ANGELS by preparing food and inviting the guests to be refreshed. This hospitality was a foundational cultural principle and Abraham’s hospitable behavior as a righteous man is stated in stark contrast to the inhabitants of Sodom who violated every cultural more and principle of decency.
There are TWO PURPOSES for the LORD’s visit. FIRST, to inform Abraham and Sarah about the birth of a son.
SECOND, to demonstrate God’s justice in judging Sodom.
The key to this entire chapter is Genesis 18:19 "For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”" God’s judgment on Sodom was so that the promise that he made to Abraham would be fulfilled. God would not allow these wicked inhabitants to remain in the land where they could corrupt Abraham’s descendants. IMAGINE THIS: Here, the pre-incarnate CHRIST appears to Abraham keep Abraham’s lineage protected so that ONE DAY, a descendent of Abraham could give birth to the INCARNATE CHRIST!
God’s justice in judging Sodom is because the entire city and the inhabitants of the plains would corrupt and threaten the purity of the Jewish people, who were chosen so that the entire world could be blessed through the birth and redemption of CHRIST. It’s all about God’s PROMISE
Abraham Pleads with God to Spare Sodom “for the sake of fifty righteous.” Genesis 18:23 "Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" Abraham reduces his request five times. First by FIVES, and then by TENS
(1) 18:24 “for the sake of fifty?”
(2) 18:28 “for five less?” (45)
(3) 18:29 “for forty?”
(4) 18:30 “for thirty?”
(5) 18:31 “for twenty?”
(6) 18:32 “for TEN?”
Abraham speaks with the LORD as with a FRIEND. Abraham is not arguing with God, as it may appear. He is completely reverent and respectful, asking his requests with great humility. Abraham asks God to do what he knows is within his character. He reminds God of his justice and begs for mercy, not for himself, but for others. This is the mark of a true man of God and a Friend of God. Abraham was indeed a friend of God as noted in 2 Chronicles 20:7 "O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?"
Here is the first part of the propositional statement at the beginning of this sermon. The Unsaved Receive These Temporal Blessings. This principle is stated in Psalm 5:12 "For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."
The shield that covers the righteous extends also over those who are close by to the righteous. This includes children, spouses and communities. Let’s examine these more.
FAMILIES are blessed through a godly man or woman.
Proverbs 3:33 "The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous."
Unbelieving husband and children are “set apart” or “sanctified throught the presence of a believer in a home. 1 Corinthians 7:14 "For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy." Here, “sanctified” is not inferring that unsaved children or spouses are somehow justified before God in some way other than through faith in Christ. The sanctification here is that the unsaved spouse and children receive temporal blessings because of the godly life of a Christian in the home. Here, that Christian is required to stay married to the non-believer because of the blessings that flow over onto them, in the hope that they will one day also become followers of Christ.
As illustration, Laban was blessed because of God’s blessing on Jacop. Genesis 30:27 "But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.”"
Potiphar was blessed because of God’s blessing on Jsoeph. Genesis 39:5 "From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field."
This truth applies not only to families but also to cities. Proverbs 11:11 "Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed."
And as is true for the family and the city, it is also true that nations are blessed because of God’s shield over the righteous. Proverbs 29:2 "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan."
America has been blessed because of its righteous foundation.
Our LAWS based on biblical principles.
Our FORM of GOVERNMENT based on understanding of fallen nature
our ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES based on responsibility, justice, private ownership, compassion.
Our EDUCATION based on teaching children to read so that they can know the scriptures.
Illus - Williams College. Williamstown, MASS, 1793. LAWS of the COLLEGE - 1795. http://archives.williams.edu/founding/lawsindex.php Accessed April 28, 2012.
This is an illustration of just how far America has drifted from her spiritual foundation. WE ARE DOWN TO “for the sake of ten righteous!”
I searched the archives of Williams College, established in 1793. This is much later than Harvard (1653), but I think you will see that even in 1793, the Christian foundation of our nation was still completely sound.
The rules for admission to the college begin with five general admission requirements,
including knowledge of Greek and Latin and the ability to translate the Greek NT, and 100 pounds to pay their bill. (Today, students can hardly speak English, and they expect Federal Government to pay their bill). BUT following the general admission guidelines come several pages of behavioral guidelines.
“Every member of this institution, whether belonging to the College or the Grammar School, shall constantly and seasonably attend prayers in the Hall, morning and evening; and, if any student comes to prayers after the exercises are begun, he shall be fined one penny; and if he shall be absent or egress from prayers, without sufficient reason, he shall be fined two pence for every such offence. And if any Student shall be remarkable for frequent tardiness or absence from prayers, the President or one of the Tutors, after particular enquiry into the reasons of this neglect, shall, if he judges them insufficient, give him a private admonition; if he persist in his neglect, he shall be admonished before the President and Tutors. And if he shall not reform, he shall make a public confession, be publicly admonished in the Hall, or be dismissed with disgrace, according to the degree and aggravation of the offence.
The next section covers Misbehavior at prayers and the fines and punishments that follow misbehavior. Then, Observance of the Lord’s Day is spelled out for these collegians. Yes, the school required them to go to church! “If any Scholar shall be absent from the public worship on either part of the Lord's Day, or upon public Fasts and Thanksgivings, without offering a sufficient reason, before the ringing of the second Bell, to the President or one of the Tutors, he shall be fined not exceeding one shilling.”
Not only that, they were prohibited from shipping, purchasing or even getting a haircut on Sunday/. “If any Student admits a Barber or Hair-dresser into his Chamber to shave or dress him on the Lord's Day, or if he goes into any other Chamber in College, or into any shop or house in town, and is there shaved or dressed by a Barber or Hair-dresser on the Lord's Day, he may be fined for the first offence not more than two shillings”
Punishments were handed out for “Association with “persons of dissolute morals.” And there are additional rules against drunkenness, blasphemy, taking the Lord’s name in vain, gambling, fighting, etc...
I include all of that because this week I found a news article about what is happening today at Williams college. On April 27, 2012, the college hosted a film screening and lecture with “genderqueer porn star Jiz Lee” Peresky auditorium. Yes, school sponsored pornography complete with film showing, all done in the name of artistic expression and sexual freedom. How far have we come? Maybe if there were more PRAYERS in the school, there would be less PORN!
America has long been departing from the “shield that surrounds the righteous.”
A Warning to Spiritual Free-Loaders
LIKE the inhabitants of SODOM, you have been spared judgment for a time
LIKE the people of Ninevah, God’s patience delays his justice.
You benefit from the GRACE that God pours out on his child.
A FATHER
A MOTHER
A HUSBAND
A WIFE
You are living on borrowed time!
You have HEARD the message. Think about Lot’s sons-in-law! Genesis 19:14 "So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking."
You’re having a GOOD TIME
Your judgment will come swiftly and without warning. Hebrews 10:26–31 "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, " "but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. " "Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. " "How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? " "For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” " "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
The days of a spiritual free ride are limited. Do not despise the blessings that have come to you because of a righteous man or woman in your life. YOU must repent and turn to God before he gives you over to the results of your own choices.
