This is a continuation of the previous article: Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? I urge you to read that before this concluding part.
Let’s read Genesis 18:16-19 again:
16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
In the previous article, we analysed two reasons why God revealed the divine secret of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra to Abraham. In this article, we shall look at the third reason why God decided to reveal His intentions to Abraham.
The third reason, which is actually the main focus of this writeup, is found in verse 19. Let’s read it again, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
The fact that Abraham and Sarah would instruct their children and the entire household to keep the ways of God and of God’s justice was a reason so important that God couldn’t overlook. The fact that Abraham would counsel his household never to toe the steps of Sodom and Gomorrah was the single most compelling reason God decided to share such a delicate secret with him. When God brings judgment on a people, He intends that other people (nations) will learn from it and desist from engaging in the same thing or similar.
Of course, God in His omniscience knew that Abraham would try to negotiate the safety of his nephew Lot. But to God, that was a price He was willing to pay for something else He (God) wanted – He doesn’t want the generation of Abraham and indeed the entire earth to follow after the ungodly practices of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Because indeed all the nations of the earth will be blessed in Abraham.
So, if Abraham tells the same to his children and to his children’s children, every person will eventually get to hear about Sodom. In fact, the decision was to decimate the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, so who would have testified of what happened and most importantly, why it happened. God needed someone to be a witness. For in every generation God wouldn’t leave Himself without a witness to His love, patience, judgment, righteousness and power.
Another thing in this thought of God (God actually thinks, He plans, He meditates on His actions – the thought I think towards you says the Lord in Jeremiah 29:11) is that God was already aware that Abraham will have children and even grandchildren. And Abraham will be alive to see both generations. Note that God promised Isaac to Sarah, but God also knew that after the death of Sarah, Abraham would have other children from another wife called Keturah.
So, Abraham was yet without a child at the time of this meeting, but the all-knowing and all-powerful God already saw Abraham gathering his children by his side to admonish them on the reasons behind the destruction of Sodom and the burning down of Gomorra. Abraham must have been guiding his wife and servants in the ways of God, so God was sure that he will guide his biological children much more.
Lessons from Genesis 18:16-19
Sometimes, when God reveals a thing, He wants us to share the same with others, beginning with our home. The thing that has been revealed belong to us and to our children. It is true that God can show us some personal things. However, there are times when certain revelations are meant for you and for others. Some revelations from the scriptures, some deep knowing that is impressed on the heart, some well-vetted divinely orchestrated dreams & visions, an audible voice streaming from God etc. God would want you to share them with those around you, so they can learn from it either in turning away from a certain pattern of life or pursuing a certain way of life.
Start with preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus with those around you, and watch God reveal more things that will blow your mind. Share the vision you’ve received with your spouse and children. Except God instructed you to keep it private, let those around you know what God has revealed. This way, they’ll keep the way of the Lord, do justice and judgment, and enjoy the blessings of Abraham. God reveals more things to you when He knows that you’ll teach people what He has taught you. It’s not only about you, but the seeds that will come after you.
“He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.” Proverbs 11:26
The more you share what God has revealed, the more He will reveal His secrets to you. God reveals secrets to His friends, but more importantly, to his friends who share those secrets with their household.
12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. – Psalms 48:12-14.
P.S: It’s curious to note that in all of these reasons, none of them was because Abraham’s nephew Lot was involved. There were other reasons God had in mind. We shall return to this in a subsequent article.
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