📅 May 4, 2025

📖 DAILY BIBLE READING

✨ Genesis 18 – God’s Visit to Abraham and Abraham’s Intercession for Sodom

══════════════════════════════════════════════

📜 Bible Text – Genesis 18 (KJV)

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;
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,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
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.
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.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
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.
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
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.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
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.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
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.
20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I 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.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
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?
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?
26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟦 Introduction

Genesis 18 divides into two dramatic sections:

1. God’s visit to Abraham at Mamre, renewing the promise of Isaac.

2. Abraham’s bold intercession for Sodom.
   It brims with human emotion—hospitality, hope, doubt, fear, and courageous faith—and reveals God’s holiness, justice, and mercy.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟨 Commentary

1. The Divine Visit (vv. 1–8)

   • A theophany: the Lord appears as one of three men.

   • Abraham’s exemplary hospitality: water, bread, meat, butter, and milk.

2. Renewed Promise of Isaac (vv. 9–15)

   • Sarah laughs at the promise.

   • God’s challenge: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

   • God sees beyond outward doubt to the heart.

3. God’s Revelation of Judgment (vv. 16–21)

   • God discloses His plan regarding Sodom and Gomorrah.

   • Their sin is grievous; He will investigate before judging.

4. Abraham’s Intercession (vv. 22–33)

   • Abraham pleads, bargaining from fifty down to ten righteous.

   • His humility: “I am but dust and ashes.”

   • God’s mercy shines: He will spare the city for the righteous few.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟩 Summary

Genesis 18 highlights both God’s personal visitation and His righteous judgment. Abraham receives renewed hope for a son and shows bold compassion, interceding for a sinful city. God’s judgments are measured, just, and open to mercy.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟥 Message for Today

• God draws near: He visits and speaks to us personally.

• Nothing is impossible with Him—His promises hold despite our doubts.

• We, like Abraham, can intercede boldly for others.

• True faith is shown in hospitality, humility, and prayer.

• God’s justice is tempered by mercy—He searches for the righteous.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” – Genesis 18:14

~~~~~ 📚 ~~~~~

📆 May 4–10, 2025

📆 WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

📖 Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 3

✨ “The Temptation and the Fall”

📖 Read online here

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟦 Introduction

Following the perfect account of Creation in Chapter 2, Chapter 3 recounts the most tragic turning point in human history: the Fall. Amidst perfection, peace, and communion with God, the first human pair chooses disobedience. This single act unleashes a cascade of consequences—guilt, separation from God, suffering, and death. Yet even here, God’s mercy shines through: He does not abandon humanity but promises redemption.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟨 Commentary

1. Satan’s Purpose and Deception

   • Driven by envy, Satan seeks to lure humanity away from obedience to God.

   • He selects the most beautiful creature—the serpent—as his instrument.

   • Eve departs from Adam and the safety of their fellowship, taking the first step toward temptation.

2. Attack on God’s Word

   • Satan questions the very words of God: “Did God really say…?”

   • He lies: “You will not surely die”—the first great deception.

   • His aim: sow doubt, distrust, and rebellion against God’s character and commands.

3. The Fall

   • Eve listens to the serpent, sees the fruit, takes and eats.

   • Adam likewise eats, out of love for Eve—a tragic, deliberate choice.

   • Immediately they feel shame, fear, and guilt—they recognize their nakedness.

4. Divine Judgment

   • God seeks them: “Where are you?”

   • Adam shifts blame onto Eve—and indirectly onto God.

   • Eve blames the serpent.

   • The consequences: a curse on the serpent, pain for the woman, hardship for the man, and exile from the Tree of Life.

5. First Promise of the Gospel (v. 15)

   • The Proto-Evangelium: “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

   • The first announcement of the Redeemer—victory over Satan is assured.

6. Mercy Amid Judgment

   • God clothes Adam and Eve in garments of skin.

   • The Garden is barred—not merely as punishment but to prevent eternal life in sin.

   • A hope remains for restoration in the “new Eden” (Revelation 21–22).

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟩 Summary

The Fall marks the beginning of all human suffering but also the moment when God’s mercy appears. Adam and Eve’s decision to transgress God’s command was no minor slip—it was a fundamental breach of trust and obedience. Yet God speaks not only judgment but also grace, promising a Savior.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟥 Application for Today

• God warns and protects but never forces—true love grants freedom.

• Sin often begins with small steps: moving away from God, doubting His word, and yielding to curiosity.

• Despite our failures, God does not give up on us. He still calls, “Where are you?”

• Jesus is the promised offspring who crushed the serpent’s head. In Him we find hope, restoration, and new life.

• Our obedience today reflects our love for God—not as a work to earn His favor, but as a response to His grace.

📆 May 4–10, 2025

📆 WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

📖 Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 4

✨ “The Plan of Redemption”

📖 Read online here

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟦 Introduction

Chapter 4 of Patriarchs and Prophets, titled “The Plan of Redemption,” offers a profound glimpse into the heart of the Christian gospel. It portrays the cosmic significance of the Fall and God’s response through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. From heaven’s anguish over humanity’s sin to the unfolding of the rescue plan in Christ’s sacrifice, the text reveals the unfathomable depth of God’s love.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟨 Commentary

1. Heavenly Sorrow and Christ’s Compassion
   After the Fall, all heaven mourns. The Son of God is moved with pity. Though the Creator could have left humanity to death, His love seeks a way of salvation.
2. The “Counsel of Peace” and Christ’s Self-Sacrifice
   Redemption is decreed in an eternal, loving agreement between the Father and the Son. Christ volunteers Himself as the ransom—an act that fills the angels with both awe and sorrow.
3. The Role of the Angels in the Plan of Redemption
   The angels cannot bear the burden of atonement, but they are commissioned to minister to humanity, to accompany Christ in His humiliation, and to support the unfolding of the redemption plan.
4. The Universal Significance of Christ’s Sacrifice
   Christ’s offering matters not only for mankind but for the entire universe. It answers questions about God’s justice, the unchangeable nature of His law, and the character of Satan.
5. The First Promise in the Garden of Eden
   Genesis 3:15 is presented as the “gospel in seed form.” It promises victory over Satan through the “seed of the woman,” ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
6. Hope Despite Judgment
   Although humanity has fallen, hope remains. Through repentance and faith, people can be restored as children of God.
7. The Sacrificial Service as Symbol
   The offerings continually reminded Adam of human sinfulness and the need for an atoning sacrifice. His first sacrifice was both painful and instructive.
8. The Cosmic Dimension of Redemption
   The plan of salvation demonstrates God’s justice and mercy to all creation. It upholds God as righteous while exposing Satan as accuser and deceiver.
9. The Significance of the Immutable Law
   If God’s law were changeable, Christ’s death would have been unnecessary. Instead, His sacrifice confirms the eternal and just character of the law.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟩 Summary

The plan of redemption reveals God’s character—infinitely loving and perfectly just. Despite the depth of humanity’s fall, God offers restoration through Jesus Christ. Heaven, the universe, and humankind alike bear witness to the greatness of this plan, which was ordained before the foundation of the world.

══════════════════════════════════════════════

🟥 Application for Today

• God sees our condition but does not abandon us.
• His love goes so far that He Himself bears the punishment we deserve.
• Christ is our substitute, our mediator, and our Savior.
• Faith in Him opens the way to forgiveness, life, and a future with God.
• Every person today has the opportunity to become part of this redemption.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
— John 3:16

0

0