God comes to Abraham to reaffirm his promise that Sarah will have a son. God also tells Abraham that Sodom will be destroyed. Abraham pleads for Sodom, and God shows mercy to Lot. Notice:

• God’s power – Sarah laughs when she hears that she will have a son at age 90. God responds by asking, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” In what situations in your life do you need to ask the question – “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” What is the answer? Will you believe it?
• Abraham’s prayer – Abraham humbly, yet boldly, intercedes for Sodom. Undoubtedly he is thinking of his nephew Lot. He starts by asking God to spare the city if there are 50 righteous people in it, and then continues to press the Lord down to 10 people. Who are you humbly, yet boldly, interceding for before the Lord? Who do you need to start interceding for today?
• God’s mercy – Tragically, there are not even 10 righteous people in Sodom, so God sends two angels to rescue Lot and his family. Foolishly Lot lingers, so the angels seize him and his family and bring them forcefully out of the city. The Bible explains this action as God’s mercy toward Lot. When has God forcefully shown his mercy to you in spite of your own foolishness?

God has already promised Abram land (12:7, 13:14-15) and numerous descendants (13:16). Abram’s descendants would possess the land as a great nation (12:2). Finally, in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed (12:3). In today’s passage, God formalizes and expands his promises as a covenant with Abram:

• Abrahamic Covenant – God reaffirms his promises of land (15:7, 18-20) and descendants (15:4-5). Abram will not only become a great nation, but is renamed Abraham, the father of many nations (17:4-6). As a sign of the covenant, all males were to be circumcised (17:9-14). Finally, Abraham was to walk blamelessly before God (17:1-2). How is your walk before God?
• Abram’s faith – In response to God’s promises, Abram believes, and it is counted to him as righteousness (15:6). This verse is quoted 4 times in the New Testament (Romans 4:3, 22; Galatians 3:6, and James 2:23). We cannot be righteous on our own, but when we believe God’s promise, God declares us righteous in his sight. God has promised us salvation through Jesus. Have you come to believe God’s promise? If so, you are righteous (pure, clean) in his sight!
• Abram “helps God out” – Since Sarai has had no children, she and Abram come up with a plan to help God out – through Sarai’s servant Hagar. Rather than follow God, they take things into their own hands. Are there areas in your life where you are moving ahead of God rather than following? When are you tempted to help God out?