The Law · Chapter 18 of 50

Genesis 18

The LORD appears to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre as three visitors, whom he welcomes with lavish hospitality. They renew the promise that Sarah will bear a son within the year, and Sarah laughs in disbelief, hearing whether anything is too hard for the LORD. As the men head toward Sodom, God reveals His plan to judge it, and Abraham intercedes, asking whether the Judge of all the earth will spare it.

What happens in Genesis 18

In the heat of the day, Abraham sees three men and hurries to welcome them, bowing, washing their feet, and preparing a generous meal of cakes, a calf, butter, and milk. They ask about Sarah and announce that she will have a son by the appointed time. Sarah, listening at the tent door, laughs within herself, doubting she could bear a child so old. The LORD challenges her laughter, asking whether anything is too hard for Him, and repeats the promise.

As the men rise and look toward Sodom, the LORD decides not to hide His purpose from Abraham, since through him all nations will be blessed and he will teach his household the way of the LORD. God discloses the outcry against Sodom's grievous sin. Abraham then draws near and intercedes, appealing to God as the Judge of all the earth. Step by step, from fifty down to ten, God agrees to spare it if the righteous are found.

Genesis 18 in context

Genesis 18 continues the covenant story, reaffirming the promised birth of Isaac and setting up the judgment of Sodom in chapter 19. Within the Law it pairs intimate hospitality with sober justice, showing Abraham as both host and intercessor.

The chapter reveals God's willingness to disclose His purposes to His friend and models bold, humble prayer for a doomed city on behalf of the righteous within it.

Main themes of Genesis 18

Genesis 18 (KJV)

1And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. 16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 20And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. 22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes: 28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. 30And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. 32And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. 33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Verses to carry from Genesis 18

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”Genesis 18:14

“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”Genesis 18:19

“That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”Genesis 18:25

Reflection

Sarah laughed at a promise that came too late for nature, and God gently asked whether anything is too hard for Him. Where has waiting turned your hope to quiet disbelief? And notice Abraham, who did not only receive mercy but pleaded for others. Intercession draws near to the God who loves to spare.

A prayer from Genesis 18