Abraham shows hospitality to three visitors who turn out to be God. God promises Abraham that Sarah will bear him a son, which Abraham and Sarah find hard to believe given their old age. God questions Abraham about destroying Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, and Abraham bargains with God to spare the cities if righteous people are found within them. God agrees to spare the cities if at least ten righteous people are found.

1. Just Like Your Father
Genesis 18

2. Big Idea
so that you may not be sluggish,
but imitators of those who through
faith and patience inherit the
promises.
Hebrews 6:12 2

3. Just Like Your Father
Genesis 18

4. Abraham at Mamre
Genesis 18:1–5 And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre,
as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his
eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him.
When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and
bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in
your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought,
and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a
morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you
may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do
as you have said.”
4

5. Good place to start!
Do not neglect to show hospitality to
strangers, for thereby some have
entertained angels unawares.
Hebrews 13:2 5

6. My favorite
Show hospitality to one
another without
grumbling.
1 Peter 4:9 6

7. Quite the spread!
Water for washing and Shade
A calf
Ton of bread
Yogurt
Milk
As is tradition the host stands while the guest eats
7

8. After dinner conversation
“Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said,
“She is in the tent.” The LORD said, “I will
surely return to you about this time next
year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”
Genesis 18:9–10 8

9. Doubled down
…Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you
shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my
covenant with him as an everlasting covenant
for his offspring after him.
Genesis 17:19 9

10. Similar response
Genesis 17:17…Then Abraham fell on his face and
laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a
man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is
ninety years old, bear a child?”
Genesis 18:11–12…Now Abraham and Sarah were
old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased
to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying,
“After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have
pleasure?”
10

11. Busted
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh
and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am
old?’
Genesis 18:13 11

12. Get a hold of this
Is anything too hard for
the LORD?
Genesis 18:14 12

13. Faith is contagious
By faith Sarah herself received power
to conceive, even when she was past
the age, since she considered him
faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11 13

14. The story continues
Genesis 18:16–18 Then the men set out from
there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And
Abraham went with them to set them on their
way. The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham
what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall
surely become a great and mighty nation, and all
the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
14

15. Not emphasized very much
For I have chosen him, 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 to Abraham what he has promised him.”
Genesis 18:19 15

16. Chosen for a reason
His responsibility
Teach the ways of the Lord
YHWH action
Administer the blessing
16

17. The rest of the story
Genesis 18:20-21 Then the LORD said, “Because the
outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and
their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether
they have done altogether according to the outcry
that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
Genesis 18:23 Then Abraham drew near and said,
“Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the
wicked?
17

18. Quite the argument
Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with
the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous
within the city. Will you then sweep away the
place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who
are in it? Far be it from you to do
Genesis 18:23–25 18

19. Quite the argument
such a thing, to put the righteous to death with
the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the
wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the
Judge of all the earth do what is just?
Genesis 18:23–25 19

20. Faith in Jesus
Let us then with confidence draw near
to the throne of grace, that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help in
time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 20

21. Faith in God’s purpose
This was according to the eternal purpose that
he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom
we have boldness and access with confidence
through our faith in him.
Ephesians 3:11–12 21

22. Bargaining for others
50 Righteous men
45 Righteous men
40 Righteous men
30 Righteous men
20 Righteous men
22

23. The finish
“Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but
this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered,
“For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the LORD
went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham,
and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis 18:32–33 23

24. Just like dad!
Know then that it is those of
faith who are the sons of
Abraham.
Galatians 3:7 24

25. Our Take-Away
1.Be children full of faith
2.Imitate Abraham
3.Use your faith for others
25

26. Just Like Your Father
Genesis 18