“Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Genesis 18:17, NIV). The three visitors to Abraham including the Lord are about to leave, and then the Lord chooses to tell Abraham of His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
"The rather unusual manner by which the text tells of the angel’s action is intended to convey the following thought: God was interested in Abraham as the father of the nation that would inherit all the land, and He wanted Abraham to know why the coming punishment on Sodom was necessary. He did not want Abraham to be confused in thinking that possibly the same thing might happen to all the land he had been promised." [1]
This is emphasized in the text: “Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”” (Genesis 18:17–19, NIV).
God is telling Abraham of his actions because Abraham is chosen to become a great nation -- a nation chosen with the purpose and plan for holiness. The KJV renders the text “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him . . ..” (Genesis 18:19a, AV) "The Hebrew word translated “known” here means “chosen in love.” [2] "This same verb is occasionally used as a euphemism for sexual intercourse (4:1), indicating a hint of intimacy or personal bonding and fidelity." [3]
This same idea taught for us in the New Testament. For example: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29–30, NIV) [emphasis mine]. Divine predestination or election is essentially God "knowing" a person intimately and lovingly. It is God in a personal relationship with the individual. Ironically God enters into this special and unique relationship with His chosen ones even before they "know" Him.
Like Abraham, God “chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” (Ephesians 1:4, NIV). This does not mean He "saw" us with His omniscient glasses on,only. It means He "knew" us. He knew us in wondrous electing love for the purpose of making us like Him or holy. "The purpose of God’s sovereign and gracious election is that His people might be holy and righteous in His sight (Eph. 1:4)." [4] "The conclusion is, therefore, that the word "foreknow" carries a much broader possibility of meanings than mere omniscience. In those contexts which speak of God’s electing or predestinating, the idea of personal causation out of personal love is present." [5]
Abraham need not fear. God did not choose him for destruction. (“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NIV)). God choose Him to direct his offspring in holiness and to accomplish in him what He promised.
Here's the point: If God knows it, it is certain. If God "knows" what I am going to do then what I am going to do is certain.
Father, for You to "know" me in the sense of Your electing, merciful love is astounding. You "knew" me before I knew You. You loved me before I loved You. Your "knowledge" of me born out of a pre-creation affection drew me to Yourself for the purpose and intent of making me holy -- holy like Jesus. The true and spiritual seed of Abraham is indeed a people who are purposed by You to be obedient and keep the way of the Lord. Today I face choices. I am thankful that Your choice of me provides the foundation for my choice of You. Your choice of me is the impetus to why I choose the to please You. Father, help me today to make my calling and election sure by keeping Your commands out of a grateful love to You.
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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (53). Nashville: Thomas Nelson
2. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ge 18:19). Nashville: T. Nelson.
3. Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ge 18:19). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software
4. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ge 18:19). Nashville: T. Nelson
5. http://bartolucci.8m.com/news5.htm
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