Day 6: God's Justice, Mercy, and Covenant Faithfulness

Welcome to The Glory Team Bible Reading plan. In Chapters 18-20 God appears to Abraham in the form of three men, reiterating the promise that Sarah will bear a son, and revealing his intention to destroy the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah; Abraham pleads for God to spare the cities if even a small number of righteous people are found there; later, while traveling, Abraham again deceives by claiming Sarah as his sister, leading to King Abimelech of Gerar taking her, but God intervenes, forcing Abimelech to return Sarah and acknowledge Abraham's true relationship with her; throughout these chapters, the theme of God's faithfulness to his promises and Abraham's faith are highlighted.

Genesis 18: Three mysterious visitors, later revealed to be the Lord and two angels, appear to Abraham near the oaks of Mamre; Abraham welcomes them with great hospitality, preparing a meal for them. During their visit, the Lord reaffirms his promise to Abraham and Sarah that they will have a son within the year, despite Sarah's old age, causing her to laugh in disbelief. The visitors then discuss the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness, and Abraham intercedes on behalf of the cities, pleading with God to spare them if righteous people can be found there. God agrees to not destroy the cities if even ten righteous people are found.

Genesis 19: Two angels, disguised as men, visit Lot in the city of Sodom, where the inhabitants are extremely wicked; when the men of Sodom try to sexually assault the angels, Lot pleads for them to leave, and the angels rescue him and his family, instructing them to flee the city before its destruction by God; as they escape, Lot's wife disobeys the angels' command not to look back and is turned into a pillar of salt; Lot and his daughters eventually find refuge in a cave, where, in a disturbing act, the daughters get their father drunk and become pregnant by him, establishing the lineage of the Moabites and Ammonites. 

Genesis 20: Abraham and Sarah travel to Gerar where Abraham, fearing for his life, tells the local king, Abimelech, that Sarah is his sister, not his wife; Abimelech takes Sarah into his household, but God warns him in a dream about his actions, leading Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham and confront him about the deception; Abraham explains his fear and Abimelech, acknowledging his innocence, gives gifts to Abraham and allows him to settle in the land; as a result of the situation, God afflicts Abimelech's household with infertility, which Abraham later prays for God to heal, demonstrating his power of intercession.

God's Covenant of Faithfulness: Promises to Abram

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Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans