Genesis 18 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 18

WHEN:

• Abram was born in approximately 1996 B.C. and died in 1821 B.C. at 175 years old (Gen 25:7).

• The events recorded in Genesis 18 happened when Abram was 99 years old (approximately 1897 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Abram – A man from Ur of the Chaldeans who moved to Canaan at God’s instruction. God promised to bless all the nations of the earth through him and his descendants.

• Sarai – Abram’s wife. She was barren and couldn’t conceive children.

• The Lord – God visited Abraham and Sarah in the form of a man.

• Angels – 2 Angels, who also appeared as men, accompanied the LORD to Abraham’s tent.

WHERE:

• Abraham was living near the oaks of Mamre when the Lord visited him and Sarah. According to Genesis 13:18, the oaks of Mamre were in Hebron.

• Towards the end of the chapter, the focus shifts towards the city of Sodom, a wicked city where Abraham’s nephew Lot lived.

OUTLINE:

• ABRAHAM HOSTS 3 HEAVENLY GUESTS (18:1-15):

  • The Lord and two men, who we will later discover were angels, visited Abraham at his tent near the oaks of Mamre.

  • Abraham invited his guests to rest under a tree to refresh themselves from their journey. 

  • Sarah prepared flour cakes and Abraham made arrangements for a calf to be slaughtered and cooked.

  • While the Lord and His angels ate the food, the Lord repeated His promise that Abraham and Sarah would have a son (see Genesis 17).

  • Sarah, who was listening at the door of the tent, laughed when she heard it because she was “advanced in years” and the “way of women had ceased” with her.

  • The Lord asked Abraham why Sarah had laughed, saying, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”

  • Sarah denied that she had laughed because she was afraid.

  • The Lord restated the promise and told them they would have a son when He returned to them the next year.  

• ABRAHAM NEGOTIATES WITH THE LORD TO SAVE SODOM (18:16-33):

  • Having enjoyed Abraham’s hospitality, the Lord and His two angels departed towards the city of Sodom.

  • The Lord told Abraham of His intention to punish Sodom for its wickedness and immortality. 

  • This news concerned Abraham because he didn’t want the small number of righteous people in Sodom to die on account of their wicked neighbors.

  • He asked the Lord to spare Sodom if He found 50 righteous people, and the Lord agreed.

  • He then asked the Lord to spare the city if He found 45 righteous people, and the Lord agreed.

  • He then asked the Lord to spare the city if He found 40 righteous people, and the Lord agreed.

  • He then asked the Lord to spare the city if He found 30 righteous people, and the Lord agreed.

  • He then asked the Lord to spare the city if He found 20 righteous people, and the Lord agreed.

  • He then asked the Lord to spare the city if He found 10 righteous people, and the Lord agreed.

  • After agreeing the city would be saved if 10 righteous inhabitants could be found, the Lord departed and Abraham returned to his tent.

APPLICATION:

• Aren’t you thankful we have a God who is patient enough to be laughed at?

• Most men in positions of authority or high rank don’t tolerate their inferiors laughing at them.

• They are quick to reprimand, or demote, or imprison, or sometimes kill people who laugh at them.

• But God, the most powerful being in existence, was still willing to bless Sarah after she laughed at His words.

• Praise God for being exceedingly patient while being exceedingly powerful.