A Lesson in Righteousness (Genesis 18:16-33)
1. Who is the most patient person you know? Give an example of his/her patience.
2. Why does the Lord decide to tell Abraham about His decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
God had chosen Abraham.
Abraham needed to know God’s heart.
Note: the promise in Gen 12 that Abraham would be a
blessing to the nations seems to be accomplished primarily through his being a
blessing to his family.
(o) What
does Abraham’s question in v25 imply?
He’s not sure.
At this point, knowing God’s plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham
is questioning God’s righteousness. The
God he has been learning so much about all of a sudden seems like a monster!
3. What do we learn about God in this passage
· God will
do what is right (the question in v25 gets answered) – He is just
· God is
merciful (He does want to save)
· God
“hears” our sin
· God is
patient
There is
a sense that God is willing to stave off judgment of the unrighteous for the
sake of the righteous.
· God does
punish the wicked
· God
desires His covenant people to live in a righteous fashion
(o) What
does Abraham’s going home imply?
He gets it.
The question he asks in v25 is answered in his heart by v33. At first it seems like Abraham is out to
teach God what righteousness is. In the
end, it appears that God has communicated His heart to Abraham.
4. What does Abraham learn in this passage?
· How to
intercede
· God’s
character
· That God
is still working on him
-
Abraham wasn’t chosen
because he was righteous but to be made
righteous!
5. What do we learn about prayer from this passage?
· It’s appropriate to bring our questions to God.
(o)
Am I questioning God in order to run away from God or to know God?
· Prayer is not about us changing God’s mind but about rather
about God changing our hearts
· Judgment is serious – it is appropriate to intercede on behalf
of others regarding judgment.
(o) In what areas of life do you feel God is calling
your family group to pray for? what
about you individually?
(o) From a purely practical perspective, what has
been helpful for you in your prayer life?
(o) “If God does not judge America, He will have to
apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”
Comment on this quote.
APPLICATION