Genesis 16-19

• Sarai did not trust the Lord of what he promised (16:2) Was it lawful for Abram to be with the Egyptian slave?
• Harsh treatment by slave to Sarai. How should the Lord judge for Sarai not rtusting His word? (v5)
• Sarai asks that God judges but what does Abram do? He goes and let Sarai do whatever she likes to Hagar (v6)
• But the Lord intervenes and gives Hagar a chance for repentance (v8-9)
• God promises (v10)
• Abram and Hagar's son, Ishmael (v15)
  

• Is Abram "blameless"? (17:1) - Not trusting God will deliver and choose to bear child with Hagar, lying to Egyptian king ...
  
• Name change from Abram to Abraham (v5)
• Again, promises a fruitful nation (v6) - is this a reminder? We constantly need to remind ourselves what God has prepared or promised us.
• God's covenant with Abraham (v7-10)
• Circumcision is just to remember God's promise/covenant with Abraham (how the process is to be done - v12-14)
• Name change from Sarai to Sarah (v15)
• Abraham laughs and asks how could someone be born to a man 100 years old? Is he doubting God's ability? (v17) Is it Ishmael? (v18)
  
• Affirms it is Sarah who is going to give birth (v19)

• Who are these three men? (18:1-9)
• Sarah has stopped having her periods and how possibly can the Lord say that they will have a son? (v10-11)
• Further doubts (v12)
• Lord questions why is she asking these questions (v13), is she doubting God's capabilities (v14)
• Sarah - lied about not laughing (v15)
  
• Abraham intercedes for Sodom - Abraham is trying hard to spare Sodom by saying surely there will be someone righteous in the city. God is telling him there isn't (v23-32)
• Did Abraham just get the point God is getting at that there is no righteous in Sodom, or He is just going ahead regardless because He knows He is just in doing this. (v33)

• Lot faithfully serves the angels (19:1-3)
• Men of Sodom wanted to "know" the angels (v5) (know = have sex)
• Wicked act (v7)
• Offered two virgin daughters to them (v8), but they chose the angels instead (v9)
• Lot spared in God's wrath (v12-15)
• Told them not to look back (v17)
• Lot could not trust he could flee because he doubts his own personal ability (v19)
• Angels allow Lot to flee to nearby town Zoar (v22)
• God destroys (v24)
• Lot's wife breaks commandment in v19 and turns into a pillar of salt! (v26)
• Selfish thoughts make the daughters perform disgusting acts (v31-32)
• Elder: Moabites (v37)
• Younger: Ammonites (v38)