Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/143

Rh mistrust. Note, The same thing may be done from very different principles, which God only can judge of, who knows the heart. The great objection which Sarah could not get over, was her age. "I am waxed old, and past child-bearing in the course of nature; especially having been hitherto barren; and (which magnifies the difficulty) My lord is old also." Observe here, 1. Sarah calls Abraham her lord; it was the only good word in this saying, and the Holy Ghost takes notice of it to her honour, and recommends it to the imitation of all christian wives, 1 Pet. 3. 6, Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, in token of respect and subjection. Thus must the wife reverence her husband, Eph. 5. 33. And thus must we be apt to take notice of what is spoken decently and well, to the honour of them that speak it, though it may be mixed with that which is amiss, over which we should cast a mantle of love. 2. Human improbability often sets up in contradiction to the divine promise. The objections of sense are very apt to stumble and puzzle the weak faith even of true believers. It is hard to cleave to the First Clause, when second causes frown. 3. Even there where is true faith, yet there are often sore conflicts with unbelief; Sarah could say, Lord, I believe, (Heb. 11. 11.) and yet must say, Lord, help my unbelief.

IV. The angel reproves the indecent expressions of her distrust, v. 13, 14. Observe, 1. Though Sarah was most kindly and generously entertaining these angels, yet, when she did amiss, they reproved her for it, as Christ reproved Martha in her own house, Luke 10. 40, 41. If our friends be kind to us, we must not therefore be so unkind to them as to suffer sin upon them. 2. God gave this reproof to Sarah by Abraham her husband; to him he said, Why did Sarah laugh? Perhaps, he had not told her of the promise that had been given him some time before to this purport; if he had communicated it to her with its ratifications, she would hardly have been so surprised at it now. Or, Abraham was told of it, that he might tell her of it; mutual reproof, when there is occasion for it, is one of the duties of that relation. 3. The reproof itself is plain, and backed with a good reason. Wherefore did Sarah laugh? Note, (1.) It is good to inquire into the reason of our laughter, that it may not be the laughter of a fool, Eccl. 7. 6. "Wherefore did I laugh?" (2.) Our unbelief and distrust are a great offence to the God of heaven. He justly takes it ill, to have the objections of sense set up in contradiction to his promise, as Luke 1. 18. Here is a question asked, which is enough to answer all the cavils of flesh and blood; Is any thing too hard for the Lord? Heb. too wonderful, that is, [1.] Is anything so secret as to escape his cognizance? No, not Sarah's laughing, though it was only within herself. Or, [2.] Is any thing so difficult as to exceed his power? No, not the giving of a child to Sarah in her old age.

V. Sarah foolishly endeavours to conceal her fault, v. 15, She denied, saying, I did not laugh; thinking nobody could disprove her: she told this lie, because she was afraid; but it was in vain to attempt concealing it from an all-seeing eye; she was told, to her shame, Thou didst laugh. Now, 1. There seems to be in Sarah a retraction of her distrust. Now that she perceived, by laying circumstances together, that it was a divine promise which had been made concerning her, she renounces all doubting distrustful thoughts about it. But, 2. There was withal a sinful attempt to cover a sin with a lie. It is a shame to do amiss, but a greater shame to deny it; for thereby we add iniquity to our iniquity. Fear of a rebuke often betrays us into this snare. See Isa. 57. 11, Whom hast thou feared, that thou hast lied? But we deceive ourselves, if we think to impose upon God; he can and will, bring truth to light, to our shame. He that covers his sin, cannot prosper; for the day is coming, which will discover it.

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 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, to do justice and judgment; that the may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 20. And the 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 to 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.

The messengers from heaven had now despatched one part of their business, which was an errand of grace to Abraham and Sarah, and which they delivered first; but now they have before them work of another nature: Sodom is to be destroyed, and they must do it, ch. 19. 13. Note, As with the Lord there is mercy, so he is the God to whom vengeance belongs. Pursuant to their commission, we here find, 1. That they looked toward Sodom, v. 16, they set their faces against it in wrath: as God is said to look unto the host of the Egyptians, Exod. 14. 24. Note, Though God has long seemed to connive at sinners, from which they have inferred that the Lord does not see, does not regard; yet, when the day of his wrath comes, he will look towards them. 2. That they went toward Sodom, v. 22, and accordingly, we find two of them at Sodom, ch. 19. 1. Whether the third was the, before whom Abraham yet stood, and to whom he drew near, v. 23, as most think, or whether the third left them before they came to Sodom, and the before whom Abraham stood, was the Shechinah, or that appearance of the Divine Glory which Abraham had formerly seen and conversed with, is uncertain. However, we have here, (1.) The honour Abraham did to his guests; he went with them to bring them on the way, as one that was loath to part with such good company, and was desirous to pay his utmost respects to them. This is a piece of civility, proper to be showed to our friends; but it must be done as the apostle directs, (3 John 6.) after a godly sort. (2.) The honour they did to him; for those that honour God, he will honour; God communicated to Abraham his purpose to destroy Sodom, and not only so, but entered into a free conference with him about it. Having taken him, more closely than before, into covenant with himself, ch. 17, he here admits him into more intimate communion with himself than ever, as the man of his counsel. Observe here,

I. God's friendly thoughts concerning Abraham, (v. 17..19.) where we have his resolution to make known to Abraham his purpose concerning Sodom,