Genesis 18:1-15  The Lord and 2 angels visited Abraham at his tent.. home.. by the trees of Mamre.  They brought good news and bad news.  The good news was about Sarah.  The time had come that the Lord was going to fulfill His promise to Abraham.. Sarah would have a son within the next year.  As Sarah listened to this conversation, she laughed.  She was 90 years old!  She was past child-bearing.  Menopause was way past.. what were the chances of getting pregnant at her age?

But, the Lord saw Sarah and heard her laughter.. "Is anything too difficult for the Lord ?"  He asked her.  She denied laughing but the Lord was gentle with her.. "No, but you did laugh." He said.  Maybe He laughed too!  This event would change the world. The fact that she would give birth to a son was significant.. the fact that she would do so at the age of 90 was miraculous! 

V16-33 Then the Lord spoke to Abraham about Sodom.. the bad news.. He saw the sinfulness of those in Lot's hometown.  He heard the "outcry"... because of the great wickedness of the people.  Abraham tried to intercede for the city, probably because of Lot and his family... but there were not even 10 righteous people in that whole town. In the end only 3 escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his 2 daughters. 

Verse 19 ".. I have chosen him ( Abraham), in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."  The Lord affirmed His plan for Abraham and his descendants, once again.  He was about to pronounce judgement on sin in a powerful way, burning a whole valley with fire and brimstone.. but He stopped to instruct Abraham first. Good news.. Isaac was coming..  Bad news.. Sodom was going to be destroyed. 

Father in heaven, You are righteous and just in all You do.  You have mercy on those whom You choose to have mercy on.. but, You also bring judgement upon those who refuse to repent.  You are an awesome God and we are right to fear You with great reverence and wonder.  We do not see things as You see them, nor are our thoughts like Your thoughts. Thank You that You have compassion on us.. and that You have made a way for us through Jesus, the beloved Son, that we might find salvation and forgiveness from our sins.  Help us to walk in Your ways, Lord.. to teach righteousness and justice to our children and our children's children.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.