In this chapter of Genesis the story of the life of Abraham continues, and it is from that perspective that we begin the lead-in to the destruction of the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Zeboim, and Admah.  Those were the major cities in the area where the Dead Sea is today, and there likely were other villages and small settlements nearby, as well as shepherds and other rural folk dwelling throughout the countryside.  But regardless of where they lived, the people were all soon to perish in a another disaster of biblical proportions, as we say.

Question is     why?

Well, we are going to answer that eventually, and be forewarned, it is probably not what you think or even imagined.  So, let's get into it and see what falls out.

Gen. 18:1  And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Him and he of course is referring to Abraham.

Gen. 18:2  And 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,

These were not ordinary men and Abraham knew it immediately.  Look at how he greeted them.  Now, Abraham himself was no ordinary man in his own right, he was a powerful and respected man.   He was a man of action.  Remember from the last few chapters all the things that he had done.  How that he formed a small army and destroyed a vastly superior force with them.  He was a truly great man.  So why did he greet these three men thusly?  Because he knew that they were from above.

Gen. 18:3  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

This reminds me of the old hymn, "Pass Me Not".  Abraham desperately wants to visit with these men, and with one of them in particular.   Notice that he calls one of them My Lord.  He knows that they simply weren't out for a stroll on the Earth.  Something was afoot and he wanted to know what it was.

Gen. 18:4  Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Gen. 18:5  And 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.

The courtesy that he is extending to them was customary in those days, and it should be so today.

Gen. 18:6  And 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.

Gen. 18:7  And 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.

Gen. 18:8  And 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.

Abraham was a very hospitable and kind man, except to despicable people like the king of Sodom.

Gen. 18:10  And 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.

Remember now that this visit was occurring not long after the events in chapter 17.  In that chapter, God promised that Sarah would bring forth Isaac within the coming year, but He wanted it understood that was not the reason that He had returned so soon.  He again tells Abraham that he will return at the proper time thereby inferring that it was not the reason for His visit now.  He also wanted Sarah to hear it from His own lips instead of from Abraham.

Gen. 18:11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

Gen. 18:12  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

She evidently thought that they were too old to cut the mustard anymore.

Gen. 18:13  And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Gen. 18:14  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.

Gen. 18:15  Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

In chapter 17, The Lord specified that the son she was to have was to be named Isaac.  Isaac means  "he laughed" and that name was chosen by God because Abraham laughed when told that he was to have another son by Sarah.  He laughed because he was skeptical, and now Sarah also laughed because she didn't believe it either.  The Lord was undoubtedly nettled by their skepticism and doubting hearts.

This was a good gesture on Abraham's part.  He may have done it out of custom, or maybe he did it to smooth ruffled feathers, but it is likely also that he still wanted to know the intent of their mission.

Gen. 18:17  And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

If God had any intention of not revealing it to Abraham because He was upset with him and Sarah, He had second thoughts.

Gen. 18:18  Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Gen. 18:19  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.

He had great respect and love for Abraham regardless of any shortcomings that he may have had, and these verses show that.  So He tells him the purpose of this visit and it is not good, not good at all!

Gen. 18:20  And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Aha!  Just as he had suspected, they were up to something.  He now knows that their mission is concerning something bad happening in Sodom and Gomorrah.  This is similar to the situation that brought Him down in person during the days of the destruction of Babel and its famous tower.  This was big!  It had to be for God Himself to take a close look at the situation.  But wait, Lot lives in Sodom!

Gen. 18:24  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Gen. 18:25  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?

Gen. 18:6  And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Gen. 18:27  And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

Gen. 18:28  Peradventure 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.

Gen. 18:29  And 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.

Gen. 18:30  And 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.

Gen. 18:31  And 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.

Gen. 18:32  And 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.

Gen. 18:33  And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

How many sermons have been preached on these verses?  The sad part is, there were not 10 righteous people in the whole area of Sodom and Gomorrah, with the possible exception of Lot and maybe some of his family.  The people of Sodom and Gomorrah don't know it, but their days are numbered.

The story continues in chapter 19.

God bless with understanding of His word.