Don’t call her Grandma
1The LORD appeared to Abraham, who was camped near the oak grove that Mamre owned. Abraham was sitting at the tent opening in the late afternoon, the hottest part of the day. 2When Abraham opened his eyes, he saw three men standing not too far away. He hurried over to welcome them, bowing humbly in front of them.3“Sir,” Abraham said, “If you would like, please stop for a while and rest. 4Let me bring you some water so you can wash your feet and then rest yourselves under the shade of this tree. 5I’ll bring you some bread so you can regain your strength and visit with your servant before you continue your trip.” The men said, “Okay.”
6Abraham hurried into the tent. He told Sarah, “As quickly as you can, break open a big sack [1] of your best flour. Work it up into dough and bake some loaves of bread. 7Abraham then rushed to the herd of cattle grazing nearby and he picked out a calf. He had a servant butcher it for a meal. 8Abraham brought them the beef, along with some milk and warm chunks of cottage cheese. [2] While they ate in the shade of a tree, Abraham stood nearby.
9They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife, Sarah?” He said, “She’s in the tent.” 10One of the men said, “I’m coming back this time next year. By then Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening behind him, from inside the tent near the opening. 11Abraham and Sarah were old as all get out. And Sarah wasn't having her monthly periods anymore.
12Sarah quietly laughed to herself and thought, “How on earth can I possibly have the joy of becoming a mother when my husband and I are both old and worn out?” 13The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I have a baby when I’m this old?’ 14Is a wonderful miracle like this—or anything else—too hard for the LORD? I’m coming back this time next year. And when I do, Sarah will have a son.” 15“I did not laugh,” Sarah replied. She was afraid to admit the truth. The Lord said, “You sure did laugh. I heard you.”
Abraham defends Sodom
16The three men got up to leave. They looked down in the valley toward Sodom and started walking in that direction. Abraham walked alongside to see them off. 17The Lord said, “Should I keep it a secret from Abraham what I’m about to do? 18After all, Abraham is going to become the father of a great and powerful nation. Every nation on the planet will be blessed and better off because of him. 19I picked him myself so he can teach his family and the generations to come to behave themselves and to do the right thing so the LORD can deliver on the promises he made.”20The LORD told Abraham, “I’ve heard terrible things about what’s going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. 21I’m going to go down there and check it out myself. If it’s not as bad as I’ve heard, I’ll know.”
22Two of the men started walking toward Sodom. But Abraham stood in front of the LORD. 23Abraham walked over toward the LORD and asked, “Will you kill the good people with the bad? 24What if there are 50 good people in the city? Will you wipe out the city then? 25No way would you kill those good people when you kill the bad ones. No way. You are the judge of everyone—a good and fair judge who does what is right.”
26The LORD said, “You’re right. If I find 50 good people in Sodom, I won’t destroy the city.” 27Abraham said, “Since I’ve had the chutzpah to speak up before the Lord, even though I’m not worthy of being heard, allow me to ask this. 28What if there are five less good people in Sodom? What if there are only 45 good people there?” The LORD said, “If I find 45 good people there, the city is safe.”
29Abraham said, “Suppose there are only 40.” The LORD said, “If I find 40, the city is safe.” 30Abraham said, “Don’t get angry at me for pushing you a little further, but suppose there are only 30?” The LORD said, “If I find 30 there, the city is safe.” 31Abraham said, “Since I’ve shown this much chutzpah in speaking to the Lord, what if there are only 20?” The LORD said, “If I find 20, the city is safe.”
32Abraham pressed it even further. “Please don’t get angry if I speak just one more time. What if there are only 10?” The LORD said, “If I find 10, the city is safe.” 33When the LORD and Abraham were done talking, the LORD went on his way and Abraham walked back to his camp.
