Note: With this post we are finally caught up on the daily Parsha readings. We will now return to one reading per day. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Today's Reading:
Genesis 18:1-33
Parsha Vayeira opens with Abraham receiving three visitors. These special visitors appear to be the L-rd and two angels. Abraham appears to realize that these are celestial visitors (Gen. 18:2-3), but we do not know exactly how he knows this. He receives them warmly (as is the custom) and asks Sarah to prepare a meal for them. The visitors then announce to Abraham that his long wait is almost over and Sarah will have a child by that time the following year (Gen. 18:10). On overhearing this statement, Sarah laughs derisively to herself. Given her advanced age, she does not believe she could bear a child under any circumstances. In verses 13-15, the L-rd confronts Sarah with her lack of faith. He asks why she laughed and whether anything is too hard for G-d. Sarah blatantly denies laughing, yet G-d doesn't punish her. He is honest with her, reasserting that she did laugh, but he mercifully lets the matter drop. This reminds us once again that our G-d is omniscient and true, yet also full of grace.
As the story unfolds, we learn just how close Abraham was to G-d. In Genesis 18:17, the L-rd reasons with Himself that He will not hide His current plans from Abraham. Let's stop for a moment and imagine that verse in reference to ourselves. Are we people of whom G-d would say, “Shall I hide from ________ what I am about to do"? Are we walking that closely with the L-rd, that He would make us His intimate confidant?
Verse 19 then explains why Abraham is worthy to be privy to G-d's plans:
19 “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and
his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness
and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken
about him.”
Abraham's righteousness and obedience to G-d then stands in direct contrast to the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah. These two cities were so filled with depravity that G-d saw fit to obliterate them. Even so, righteous Abraham pleads their case. In verse 25 he respectfully appeals to G-d's merciful character, asking that the cities be spared if only 50 righteous people can be found in them. What follows is a fascinating exchange in which Abraham begins to negotiate with G-d, lowering the number to 40, then 30 and so on until G-d agrees to spare the cities if just 10 righteous people can be found in them (Gen. 18:32).
Once again G-d demonstrates His merciful character toward both Abraham, who seems to be haggling with Him, and to the cities on whose behalf Abraham is pleading. G-d, who is holy and just and in whom there is no sin, is willing to spare two notoriously degenerate cities for the sake of ten righteous people and His righteous servant Abraham. How great must be G-d's love for His creation and how great His patience with us!
My prayer today is that I would remember G-d's great mercy toward me, and show that same mercy toward others.
Tomorrow: Genesis 19:1-21:4
New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 18:19). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 18:17). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
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