The First Dumb Blond was a Man

Day 2 (part 1)
Genesis 17:1-28:22

When Abram was 99 years old he “fell on his face” before God two times. The first time (Gen 17:3) he did so out of respect and the second time (v17) in mockery. When God bid Abram to “walk before [him] and be blameless” (v1) and that as a result he would “multiply [him] greatly,” he showed respect. Later, when God told Abram that he would multiply him specifically through a 90-year old woman, he fell on his face laughing at God. Nevertheless, God intended to keep his promise. Indeed, he even changed his name from Abram (great father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) to drive home the fact.

Jehovah God showed up “in the heat of the day” (18:2) to visit Abraham—as opposed to showing up “in the cool of the day” to walk with Adam (3:8). He appeared to Abraham in the form of “three men” and Abraham extended to them the hospitality of his home. As he did, he refers to them as both “lord” (v2), a term of respect one might give a ruler, and as “Jehovah” (v13), a term that is strictly reserved for the Hebrew God. It is difficult not to see this in terms of the Christian Trinity. During this visit, the same promise that God made Abram was extended to Abraham by the three lords/Jehovah. Sarah (Sarai’s name was also changed in chapter 17) will bear a child in a year because nothing is “too hard for Jehovah” (v14)—including, evidently being both One and Three.

God, by his intention at the end of chapter 18, visited Lot in the next chapter but did so as two angels (19:1), lords (v2), and as men (v10). Either Lot was confused (very possible) or God had sent agents of destruction, having already made his judgment on Sodom. The two angels announced the destruction of the city and that Lot and his family are spared. However, they must flee. At this point, Lot became that movie character I hate more than anything in a movie. Stale popcorn is better than this character. When the hero is about to rescue, usually, a woman from imminent death, she, usually a blonde, “linger[s]” (v16) and wants to argue with the rescuer (18). I find myself murmuring at the screen in such moments. I did the same thing reading verse 18. Lot was a dumb blond. I almost expected him to start frantically screaming, break a heel, and fall down. I would have left him to his destruction but God is more gracious than I.

Sarah had her promised child, Isaac (meaning “he laughs”) in chapter 21 and laughs now for a different reason. She laughs with joy instead of disbelieving scorn. Yet she is all too human. She noted that everyone shared her joy, laughing with her (21:6). When she heard Hagar, her handmaiden by whom she had urged then Abram to successfully father a child by, laughing, she assumed Hagar was mocking her. In the midst of her joy, she had Abraham send her packing. This turns out to be one more way for God to show his lovingkindness—this time to Hagar’s and Abram’s son Ishmael.

God then did something unpredictable (how like Jehovah) and even questionable. He told Abraham, who had waited so long for a child, to sacrifice Isaac to Jehovah. Commendably, Abraham did not wait or consult people or even pray about it. He “rose early in the morning” (22:3) and went to do what God had told him to do. Here we get a foreshadowing of God providing (v8) a better sacrifice of another “only son” (v16). God loved this world so much that he provided his own only son as a better sacrifice than we could ever make.