WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: ‘Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence ...’ (Hebrews 4:16, NIV). Haggling with God Bargaining was part of all ancient Middle Eastern business transactions, and here we find Abraham haggling with God over the city of Sodom. There are a few points in the narrative worth picking up on before we turn to reflect on what this exchange tells us about the character of God. First, we have the mystery of how God chooses to manifest himself to Abraham. We are told that the three men are collectively ‘the LORD’ (18:1,2), and then in 18:22, two of them went away and the third becomes ‘the LORD’ (18:22). Mysteriously complex Second, God seems to need to verify reports he has heard of Sodom (v 21) – is he not omnipotent? And third, was God actually revising his intentions based on Abraham’s intercession? It seems to me that there are often mysteries in the Bible that we will never be able to unravel, and personally that is the way I like it. God is bigger than us, and reassuringly complex. What comes through clearly here, though, is that he is just and will see that evil is dealt with; that he is merciful and always acts in love, extending grace to anyone who will accept it. Respond: Abraham talks to God with great courage and his boldness is well-received. Is there anything you need to bring up with your just and merciful Creator? http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-04-12