Daily Reflection: Genesis 18

This chapter begins a story of high drama. Sitting at the entrance to his tent, Abraham receives angelic visitors, sometimes envisaged as representing the Trinity, as in the famous icon painted by Andrei Rublev in the 15th century. One – 'the Lord' – says he and Sarah will have a son; Sarah laughs, as Abraham had laughed before (17.17). Was her laughter disbelief, or just a sense of the absurdity of the idea? We might well laugh at how God turns our worlds upside down.

When the 'men' leave Abraham's encampment they head for Sodom, and an extraordinary dialogue follows. God will destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness, he says, but Abraham is horrified. Good people should not perish because of the sins of bad people. He bargains with God and – apparently, anyway – beats him down: if there are only ten righteous people in Sodom, he won't destroy the city.

These verses are very rich in meaning. They lay down an ethical standard about protecting the innocent. They speak of the effectiveness of prayer. They give us an example of compassion.

In an age when politics – both foreign and domestic – are very polarised and it's easy to dismiss whole groups of people or entire nations as 'the enemy', Abraham's courageous stand reminds us that God cares for individuals. We too should be arguing for the protection of the innocent.

Pray

God, thank you for the courage and compassion of Abraham. Show me where I too can stand up for those who are vulnerable.

This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor

Genesis 18.1–33 (Day 17)

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