What is the meaning of Genesis 18:17? And the LORD said, • Scripture records the LORD speaking directly and personally, underscoring that He is not a distant deity but One who initiates relationship (Genesis 3:9; Exodus 3:4; 1 Kings 19:13). • Every word is trustworthy, for “the word of the LORD is flawless” (Psalm 18:30). • By recording God’s speech, Moses reminds us that divine revelation is factual history, not myth or allegory (2 Timothy 3:16). Shall I hide from Abraham, • God addresses Abraham by name, highlighting covenant intimacy first promised in Genesis 12:1-3 and reaffirmed in Genesis 17:7-8. • “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7); Abraham functions in that prophetic role. • Psalm 25:14 observes, “The LORD confides in those who fear Him,” and James 2:23 calls Abraham “God’s friend.” Relationship grants revelation. what I am about to do? • The immediate context is God’s impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-21; 19:24-25). • God’s transparency invites Abraham’s intercession (Genesis 18:23-33), illustrating how the righteous may plead for mercy on behalf of others (Ezekiel 22:30; 1 Timothy 2:1). • This pattern echoes through Scripture: before sending the flood, God warned Noah (Genesis 6:13); before the captivity, He warned Judah through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:3-4). Revelation precedes action so that the faithful can respond in obedience and prayer. summary Genesis 18:17 shows the LORD voluntarily drawing a covenant partner into His counsel. By speaking, He affirms the trustworthiness of His Word, the privilege of relationship, and the call to intercession. God still reveals His plans through Scripture, and like Abraham we are invited to listen, believe, and stand in the gap for our generation. |
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