In Genesis 18, we read how the Lord communicated the knowledge of what He was about to do concerning Sodom. The place in which the church stands is similar to that of Abraham with God, and this passage is a very descriptive display of the ground of intimacy on which the Lord sets His people. God has “made known to us the mystery of His will.”
The men rose up and looked towards Sodom. The Lord directed them as the executors of His judgment, and Abraham went with them to show them the way. The Lord makes His saints His companions, not invariably, but still it is their privilege. “Who hath known the mind of the Lord? ... But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). Thus in the communications God has made to us, He has made us His companions in the best way, by communicating to us His thoughts and feelings. “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:2424And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)). So we are to walk with Christ until He comes to take us up to Himself. The exercise and path of faith is down here, but the church is not an object of judgment, although not above discipline for its good. Lot looked towards Sodom, but Abraham was out of it. Abraham, being the Lord’s companion, is not only delivered out of the judgment, but when the Lord is going to judge, He tells Abraham about it. “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? ... For I know him” (Gen. 18:17,1917And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (Genesis 18:17)
19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19)). So it is with us; the ground of this communication is the thought the Lord has about us; He has centered His love upon us, and therefore He lets us into His confidence. He has united the church to Christ — associated it with Christ. God has made known to us the mystery of His will because of the place in which He has put the church.
“I know him” — there is great blessing in this word. It is different for those under judgment. The Lord does not talk in this way about those He is going to judge. When He talks about judgment, He talks about enquiring, “I will go down and see,” and until He has fully investigated it, He will not touch them. The cry of Sodom had come up before God, but before going to execute judgment, He will go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto Him. “The men went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord” (Gen. 18:2222And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. (Genesis 18:22)). That is blessed. Thus the Lord makes Himself known to Abraham, so that he is able to get the blessing, and Abraham stays with the Lord Himself. He is going to bring judgment on the world, but He will not smite until He cannot help it, but no judgment coming on the world can separate Abraham from God. God’s eye so rests upon Abraham that Abraham rests quietly in God. And so it is with us: Whatever trial may be coming on the world, our place is to abide with the Lord Himself, and then, like Abraham, the effect of having drunk into this grace will be to be calm, quiet and happy. Our place is not to go down to search out the depths of iniquity. There are many like Lot who vex their souls with these things, but let us be with God on the mountain, abiding in perfect peace with the Lord Himself. Abraham, being in perfect peace, had nothing to ask for himself, and he was therefore free to intercede for others. The possession of the Lord’s mind gives the power of intercession for others. Jacob sought to get the blessing for himself, and therefore he had not power to get it for others, but Abraham had the knowledge of that communion which produces great peace and joy. “The Lord went His way as soon as He had done communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place” (Gen. 18:3333And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. (Genesis 18:33)). Abraham’s position is with the Lord, in perfect peace, in unquestioning confidence, having no question to settle with God, but on that ground where he can enjoy perfect communion and thus can intercede for others.
Adapted from Bible Treasury