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[Reconnoiter]

Jim - Hope you're well. I was wondering if you would answer my questions pertaining to Genesis 18.

18 V 1-3 : God appears to Abraham as a human? Are the two men by his side angels taking physical form? This is pretty wild to me. Also, Abraham recognizes them at right away and immediately wants them to stay and interact. There must have been something that tipped off Abraham that these men were not human.

18 V 4-8 : Abraham is honored to have them as dining guests and immediately starts preparing his best food and drink. I find this funny that the Lord and two other angels would literally eat. I am sure it was just a pleasantry to but take physical form and actually eat food is pretty interesting.

18 V 17-18: So, the Lord is asking his two counterparts for advice on if he should tell Abraham that he plans on bombing S&G? Interesting dialogue. Why would he ask for advice?

18 V 20-21: Where is the outcry coming from? Through prayer? Through observation? Then the Lord says he will inspect Sodom for himself and then decide. I just find it interesting. The Lord is acting like such a normal person throughout these verses. Surely he knows what is going on without physically inspecting Sodom.

18 V 22-33: What a wild conversation!!! Abraham is just talking to the Lord in the flesh and haggling with him and the Lord is playing along. It's so interesting to see this kind of personality from the Lord. Perhaps this whole chapter was in a vision?

[jimwalton]

Just so you know, the section is set up as a parallel to the next chapter, so I'll make comments to that end, also.

> 18 V 1-3

Yeah, every indication is that they were in human form (or else why would he invite them for lunch?). In the next chapter, they are also (or still) in human form, since the men want to invite them for rape.

The text treats the event as a genuine theophany. The heat of the day is probably early afternoon (noon-3); this contrasts the night scene of the next chapter. (What happens in the day = divine; what happens at night = evil.) The three men, we are later informed, are YHWH (v. 19), and two angels (19.1). Abe may not realize this right off the bat, though the Masoretes (AD 1000) say he knew it right away.

At this point he may not recognize them beyond visitors. He moves into full hospitality mode, for their comfort, which is normal for the culture. Lot, in chapter 19, also launches into full hospitality mode, but for their protection.

> 18 V 4-8

The guests don't let on who they are, so there's possibly a "secret visitation" going on here, much as Joseph does in a later chapter. It's possible Abraham is "entertaining angels without being aware of it" (Heb. 13.2).

The meal Abraham prepares for his guests is extravagant and lengthy, communicating friendship and comfort. The meal Lot prepares for his guests is sparse and quick, communicating fear and unease.

The guests accept his hospitality and eat, proving this is no mere vision or a dream.

Jesus ate while on Earth, and even in His resurrection body. Some people think this was Jesus in a pre-incarnation incarnation.

> 18 V 17-18:

God's query to Abraham is a gesture of fellowship (Isa. 41.8; Jn. 15.15). All along, since God first spoke to Abraham, Abraham has been an active participant in the covenant.

Even on His way to judge Sodom, God stops to communicate blessing to His chosen. Judgment and salvation are juxtaposed, just as at the Cross.

(Notice the contrasts of v. 19 with chapter 19: keep the way of the Lord vs. abomination; doing what is right and just vs. horrific sin; the Lord will bring blessing to Abraham vs. judgment to S&G.

> 18 V 20-21: Where is the outcry coming from? Through prayer? Through observation?

The outcry is coming to God's "ears" from suffering, cruelty, and oppression. The same thing happened in Gn. 4.10 & Ex. 2.23. The Lord is attuned to human suffering.

> Then the Lord says he will inspect Sodom for himself and then decide.

We see the same thing in Gn. 11.5. It's an anthropomorphism (attributing human qualities to God to lead us to understanding). God walks the Earth (Gn. 3.8), watching and listening. He is also letting Abraham know that He is not judging Sodom and Gomorrah rashly or unfairly. He sees; He knows. This does not imply that God was uninformed about what was going on, but that He would handle the situation justly.

My brother John writes, "There is a combination of anthropomorphism (God given man-like qualities) and theodicy (explanation of divine action) in this story and in the Tower of Babel episode (Gen 11. 5, 7). In both cases, to demonstrate Divine justice and fairness, God 'comes down' to investigate a situation before taking action. A fair judge sees the evidence first-hand."

> 18 V 22-33:

Yes, a fascinating look at the power of prayer, God's patience with us, and God's willingness to consider all things in a situation. He never acts unfairly.

Abraham is probing whether God's judgment could be impugned as unfair. God is assuring Him He would never do anything unfair.

We're also learning that God will not indiscriminately kill the innocent along with the guilty. In addition, we're being taught that the presence of righteous people (even a few) can hold back God's hand of judgment. Imagine the point: Even a few righteous people can turn a city around. Good people can make an impact.

It's also giving us, as you are saying, a look into the haggling culture of the Middle East. Everything's negotiable, right? But God doesn't object: "Bring it on! Let's negotiate." Awesome.

Another thing this tells us: there weren't even that many righteous people in Sodom. The city was in total moral and spiritual collapse and depravity.

> Perhaps this whole chapter was in a vision?

Not likely. Somebody ate the food. And we know that two "humans" entered Sodom "in the evening" (19.1), as night was falling.

"Night" is an archetype of evil, immorality, and danger. The symbolism of evening would suggest, then, that judgment is expected but not certain. God has come to judge the city, but has promised to spare it if 10 righteous persons are found inside the walls. Therefore, archetypally, it is "evening": The light is dim, and judgment is knocking at the door, but night has not yet fallen. God’s sentencing may be forestalled if the conditions are met. (See also Jer. 18.7-8: “If…then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.”) God is ready to show mercy if there is even the smallest light of hope in the city.