Genesis Bible Study Ch. 17 & 18

Chapter 17: Thirteen years had now passed since the birth of Ishmael, and Abram was 99 years old, and still no baby.....The Lord appeared again to Abram confirming His , telling Abram he should walk before Him and "be blameless". Then God required a covenant sign (covenant literally mean "to cut"). In 17:11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between you and me.

In this chapter Abram's name in now changed to Abraham "father of many". Sarai's name was changed to Sarah "a princess", because of her role in mothering all those to come.

My study book had some great things to say............Sometimes we take a wrong turn in life, as Abraham did when he decided to produce an heir on his own. But once we learn about our mistake, we cannot be too quick to reverse direction and begin obeying God with a better understanding. He is always pleased to accept those who repent and turn toward Him.

Chapter 18:This chapter tells us about when three "figures" appeared to Abraham "in the heat of the day". My study book says traditionally people rested during this time and waited for the sun to go down. These "men" left us some clues that they were not ordinary men.
#1 They called Sarah by her name yet Abraham had no mentioned her in conversation at that point.
#2 When the Lord (which they (scholars) think was one of these "men") told of the upcoming birth to a son. Sarah was about 99 years old at this time.
#3 The Lord revealed that He knew what was going on in Sarah's mind.

After the three visited with Abraham they had one more thing to take care of...judgement on some wicked cities.
The Lord said, " The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see of what they have done is as bad as the outcry that had reached me. If not, I will know. Genesis 18: 20-21

God shared with Abraham what his plan was. Then God allowed Abraham's relatives to escape. Abraham begs for the innocent to be spared.....Interceding for them.
Ezekiel 33:11 says "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live."

Any thoughts from you all???