This transcript is autogenerated.

In the opening half of Genesis Ch 18 we saw three men visit Abraham and had offered hospitality to them. As they were leaving Abraham goes with them to send them on their way. 

Verse 16 says.

“When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way”.

(Genesis 18: 16)

A Jewish tradition says that they walked about 3 miles and at that point they stop because they would have been able to see down the coast and see the city of Sodom in the distance.

Verses 17 then says.

“Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do”?

(Genesis 18: 17)

The Lord then speaks, perhaps saying it out loud or maybe just to himself saying, shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing. The Lord is pondering and saying I'm about to do something to Sodom and I wonder if I should hide it from Abraham and he muses within himself and then he says in verse 18.

18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.

(Genesis 18: 18)

We've been told this repeatedly before in the book of Genesis that this is God’s plan for Abraham, this is his intention for him. He is going to make a great nation out of him and the nations of the earth are going to be blessed in him. That is also a reference to the fact that the Messiah is going to come through Abraham so the Lord is saying should I tell him that aspect of this or shall I hide it from him. Should I also reveal the Messianic promise it to him. In verse 19, he says.

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.”

(Gen 18: 19)

When he says I have ‘chosen’ him, this word is used in several different ways in the scripture. One is just factual, and one is more personal and emotional. On this occasion It means to have a deep intimate relationship with him.  As a matter of fact the Bible frequently refers to Abraham as a friend of God. What's going on in these verses is the Lord is sort of pondering the situation saying should I tell him what I have planned for him and besides he is my friend and friends know what friends are going to do. So that he can tell his children and they can tell their descendants after him so that yes, he ponders, I am going to tell him because after all that's what is best to ensure he lives a life that is righteousness and just. Which is why he says, I paraphrase, “I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that I can bring about for Abraham what I have promised.” I've chosen Abraham to bring righteousness and justice to the world the difference between righteousness and justice. Righteousness being conformity to the will of God and justice is righteousness outworked in society based on the will of God. Meaning that we need to do what is right not just that says what is right. God says you know that's my plan for Abraham and that's my intent for you therefore I need to tell you what I'm about to do concerning Sodom and give him my intention.

For many these verses teach us some interesting spiritual truth Number one God reveals his truth to his friends who in turn can share it with other people. If you know the Lord then consider yourself as having a relationship with the Lord so that you can know some of his truth. God reveals his truth to us so that we can share that truth with other people. That's one of the great truthes in these verses, but there's more as we shall see very clearly in the next episode.