GENESIS 18 TO GENESIS 20
The chapters we have been considering indicate the progress which the believer makes in the history of his soul. In chapter 17 Abraham is in relationship with God as the Almighty. He is on new ground, his name is changed. In chapter 18 God regards Abraham as a friend: He makes His mind known to him as to Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham is in sharp contrast to Lot. Having taken a stand apart from the world, the former is qualified for a divine visitation, and he is in a position to serve God’s people, he intercedes for the righteous. Lot took the path of unbelief, and so was devoid of divine light and instruction, and was actually found in a world that had apostatised from God. People who depart inwardly from the path of faith often betray a quarrelsome spirit, as appeared in connection with Lot. The man of faith is set for peace, and knowing that he is a joint-heir with Christ he can cheerfully permit other men to have their choice now.
Christian intercession is wider than that seen in Abraham. Abraham interceded for the righteous; whereas we intercede for all men. This is because of the position Christ has taken up in resurrection in [p. 290] regard to humanity. In Greek, Latin and Hebrew was written at the cross, “This is the King of the Jews”, so that all might read. If the King was on the cross, evidently the world was judged morally. But although the Jewish world was judged, the Gentile world is regarded by God as reconciled, inasmuch as Christ has taken up the relation of Head to it. The present world will not be set aside in judgment until it formally casts off allegiance to Christ. At the end it will do this: it will accept Antichrist instead of Christ; but until that time Christians are to continue in making supplications, prayers and intercessions for all men. The testimony of Acts 28 is that the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles, and that they would hear it. Up till the present moment the Gentiles are so regarded, and will be until they publicly reject Christ.
Ques How does the scripture, “we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God”, 2 Corinthians 5:20, come in?
Ans. The reconciling of the world spoken of in Romans 11:15 is provisional. God, having cast off for the moment His ancient people, takes account of the world in this way, because of the position Christ has taken up, during this day of acceptance, as Head to all men. The passage quoted (2 Corinthians 5:20) has the state of the saints in view — the desire was that they should be practically reconciled to God.
Ques Why are we to pray for all men?
Ans. If we are in the presence of God we are in His mind, and we find that He is not against men, but for them He wills that all men should be saved. The nearer we live to God the more we shall pray and give thanks. God is very active amongst men, and it is as we are near Him that we understand what He is doing, and so we give thanks.
Chapter 18 is wonderful: the believer is seen in [p. 291] his true place as in this world, in a tent; and he is prepared for a divine visitation. This is consequent on chapter 17. Abraham had been ennobled — taken off the ground of flesh — by God, and a new name is given to him. Lot did not get a new name and he was not circumcised Divine. Persons visit believers now; the assembly is the place where divine visitations are known. Abraham had discernment: he addressed only one Person, though three came.
In chapter 20 we meet with the Philistines. They came from the direction of Egypt. They had possessions in Canaan before Israel, and so had a prior claim; but God had not given them a footing there. In Genesis their hostility to God’s people took the form of interference with the wells which Abraham had digged.