Christ – the All-Knowing Judge of Men and our Unfailing Intercessor; Genesis 18

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

I beg the reader to remark with me the change of person in this verse to the former.

• There the appearance was spoken of as three men.

• Here Abraham addresses but one, and calls him Lord.

Compare this with the 12th verse, then read the 15th [the Lord knew that Sarah laughed inwardly], and compare that again with the 22nd verse of the 5th chapter of John's Gospel.

Let the reader duly consider that feature of character peculiarly belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ; and let him determine (for I don't presume) whether this be not the Christ?

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

Reader! do not overlook what the Holy Ghost hath caused to be marked so often, the cause why so much grace was shewn to Abraham; even for that promised seed, the Lord Jesus.

The letter "H" added to both names, Abram and Sarai, has been thought not only to imply this wonderful increase but also, being a radical letter in the sacred name JAH, or Jehovah, it has been thought to intimate a nearer relation in the covenant of grace.

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"And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD" (Genesis 18:22).

A striking verse to point out the immense distinction of character between two of the men which accompanied the third, and the Lord of whom it is said that Abraham stood yet before him; cf. Genesis 19:1.

The following [Genesis 18:23-33] is the first form of prayer recorded in the Bible, and observe it is all along in the style of intercession.

Was not Abraham here a type of the blessed Jesus? cf. Luke 13:9.

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[ Genesis 18:23-33 ]

I would not interrupt the reader with either references or remarks through the whole of this sweet prayer, and now only at the end of it beg the reader to determine how it was the communion broke off [verse 33], since God was so gracious, and Abraham so successful:

• Did the Patriarch conclude that, if less than 10 righteousness persons were in Sodom, the place ought not to have been saved;

• or was it that the decree having gone forth, God restrained prayer in His servant? See Jeremiah 7:16 and 11:14.

But what a delightful consideration it is that, though Abraham gave over interceding, Jesus never doth.

And though Abraham could not find ten, nor even one righteous man in Sodom to save that city from destruction; yet Jehovah Himself hath found one in the Sodom of our earth for whose sake He hath spared, and will everlastingly spare, His redeemed.

Yes! the Lord hath laid help upon One that is mighty, whose name is Wonderful.

Jesus hath been found tabernacling in our nature, by whose perfect obedience and death He hath magnified the divine law, and made it honourable, and hath brought in an everlasting righteousness, which is unto all, and upon all, that believe.

Oh! blessed be God for Jesus Christ!