Genesis 18:1-15 January 8, 2023 AM.
Take a moment to review what we have studied lately in Genesis.
Start with chapter 12—God’s initial description of the terms of the
Abrahamic covenant. Abram moved to Egypt temporarily.
In chapter 13, Abram moved back to the promised land and had to
split from Lot because of their combined herd size. Lot moved
toward Sodom, a decision that would prove devastating in two
separate incidents in the future.
The first such incident was in chapter 14, where Lot was kidnapped by
a coalition of kings that came against Sodom and other allied cities.
Abraham retrieved him, and Melchizedek came out and blessed
Abram who had returned from defeating the kings.
In chapter 15, God officially made (“cut”) the covenant with Abram
and promised the land to his descendants.
Hagar bears Ishmael in chapter 16, the result of a hare-brained (rash
or ill-judged) plan to get Abram an heir since he and Sarah could
not seem to make that happen. God’s tender care toward Hagar is
shown.
Finally, in chapter 17, God reiterates the covenant a third time and
gives a physical sign—male circumcision—to remind the nation of
the blessings of the covenant (Abram will multiply, nations and
kings will descend from him, the land grant) and of their
responsibilities in it (walk blamelessly, keep the covenant).
Notice the cyclical nature of this portion of Scripture: God’s promise,
man’s failure and God’s rescue, God’s promise confirmed, man has
another failure, God remains faithful, and then God promises—and
requires faithfulness in His people.