Have you ever heard God talk to Himself?
There is an episode recorded where the Lord visits Abraham. It’s the first time recorded that the Lord visits His faithful following the name change to reflect his call as a father of nations. The visit is to remind Abraham as well as let Sarah (formerly Sarai) know that the promised child is on the way.
Abraham is all about being the good host for his visitors and lays out a decent spread for his visitors to tuck into. As they’re about to leave, we get a peak at God having a word with Himself,
Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him. (Genesis 18:17-19)
What a fascinating divine inner dialogue. It’s intriguing for what it says about how highly God rates Abraham. It’s intriguing for why God highly rates this man. There are plenty of hints that fathers can take as to how to go about running a family.
At the end of that, God decides to go ahead and let his man know what he’s about to do. Then we see another aspect of the character Abraham.
God is very clear – the stench of that place Sodom has reached even His nostrils, so He’s going to do something about the stench. Establishing the first thing you do with a hazard, God is going to eliminate it.
It’s fascinating to see what Abraham does in response. He’s had his dealings with the people before and crucially for him, his nephew, Lot, still lives there. Now some might be concerned to the extent of wanting their relative to be rescued from the fate that God has in store for that place. Abraham’s concern, however, goes for the place itself.
The conversation that takes place is sometimes used to give the impression that man can get God to change his mind. Abraham in essence barters with God to spare the city as long as there is a righteous remnant that resides. It is clear that Abraham’s heart is for a lot more than his nephew. His appeal reinforces what God has said about this guy. He’s all about righteousness and justice and here it expresses itself in an appeal for justice on the basis of righteousness. Abraham can make this appeal based on the character of the God He serves.
It does challenge us today to see if we are interceding for our community. Appealing that the community will experience the grace and mercy of God as a righteous remnant resides to see the values championed even in the midst of resistance, opposition or apathy.
God takes the appeals of his man very seriously. He does not deride or dismiss his servant. He gives Him a fair hearing. Even if the number of the remnant is as little as ten righteous folks, in response to Abraham’s appeal. As it transpires, not even that number can be found, so God goes through with the wipe-out option. Yet clearly thinking about His man, God still rescues Lot from the situation.
What’s appealing about Abraham is his desire to interced on the part of others. It’s appealing that Abraham can make that appeal and in the light of that those who might otherwise be caught up in the impending doom have the chance to be rescued. That kind of intercession and that kind of appeal marked the prayers that I’ve known others to make thousands of years later. They recognise that the state of some places deserves the wrath of God. They recognise that the sheer degree of man’s inhumanity to man merits judgement. Yet despite that, they still look for God to be merciful and rescue those from His hand and establish a righteous remnant who can stand in the gap even if the people don’t take on the warnings.
All this because God knew He had a man who could be trusted even with his plans for the destiny of others.
Can God trust us in the same way?
Will God have a similar conversation with Himself with us in mind?
(Photo by Arto Marttinen on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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