An Atheistic Bible Study of Genesis Chapter Eighteen – Sarah And Sodom

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We all know the chaos having unexpected important guests turning up at our house, be it a long lost relative or some passing celebrity. Imagine Abraham’s shock when he answers an unexpected knock to find God and two angels on the doorstep. Abraham goes into total hospitality mode, offering to wash the feet of his guests, get Sarah to prepare bread for them, and rushes out to get butter, milk and a young calf to set before them. As the guests dine, they ask to see Sarah, who has done her best to stay out of their way, as she takes it as read they are present to see Abraham. Abraham tells them she is in the family tent. (they are dining outdoors). One of the strange trio tells Abraham again that Sarah will soon be pregnant, and they hear her burst into laughter about this, as he finds it quite understandably ridiculous given that she is in her nineties. It betrays the fact that she was eavesdropping. Abraham criticises her for embarrassing him in front of such esteemed company but she denies the offence. Abraham makes it clear to her that he know she did, being seen putting his wife in her place before his God. God also has another matter to discuss and seems to consider not telling Abraham his plans, but he decides to admit hi intention to destroy the wicked peoples of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, to his credit tries to talk God out of it, and negotiates with God to spare the city if enough righteous people can be found among the population. They haggle (a negation that goes on for half the chapter) and Abraham gets God to agree to pare the city if even a mere ten good people can be found there. He started out securing 50, then 45, then 30, down in fives to 10. God then departs. Summary – Why does God visit Abraham just to repeat an already ongoing promise to make Sarah fertile, even at an absurd age for child-bearing? At least this time he promises the birth will be within a year. Why does God need the company of the two angels? What can they do or say that God can’t? Why does God need to ask where Sarah is if he is omnipotent? Why does God consider not telling Abraham his plans to annihilate Sodom & Gomorrah? Why even do it at all? God has only just dried off the planet after the Flood that wiped out most life on Earth and now he is about to destroy two cities as well. It will also prove that Abraham’ well-meant humanitarian plea for clemency if there are only ten good people in Sodom falls on deaf ears. God is going to destroy the city anyway, so even new born babies are evil enough to deserve divine nuking. Charming. Arthur Chappell