The Congregational Pulpit Genesis 18:16-18 And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.… I. WE ARE TO PONDER THIS MOST INTERESTING SCENE. In it we shall find three leading acts. 1. The condescending visit of God to Abraham. (1) The Lord appeared to him in the form of a man. (2) The Lord suffered Himself to be a guest at Abraham's table. (3) One main object of the visit was to evoke faith in the heart of Sarah; without which the promise could not have been fulfilled. 2. The revelation of the Lord's purpose to Abraham (vers. 16-22). 3. Abraham interceding for Sodom (vers. 23-33). II. APPLY TO OURSELVES. As Abraham's spiritual seed, we are called to be friends of God. 1. Jesus calls us His friends (see John 15:15). 2. Jesus manifests Himself to us as He does not to the world. Certainly, this is an inward and spiritual manifestation; but it is not less real or delightful than that vouchsafed to Abraham. 3. He condescends to be refreshed by us. When we do His will, and offer Him praise, He sees of the travail of His soul, and is satisfied. He sups with us. 4. He reveals to us His secret. This relates to His second coming, to the destruction of the world, and the final overthrow of the ungodly. The fate of Sodom represents that of all the earth. 5. We are permitted to intercede for others. (The Congregational Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. |
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