Is It Okay To Is It Okay To Question God?Question God?

Genesis Series – Genesis Series –

Genesis 18Genesis 18

Anthony Grove Baptist ChurchAnthony Grove Baptist Church

Rev. Dennis E. BeanRev. Dennis E. Bean

November 8, 2009November 8, 2009

Genesis 18:16-23 Genesis 18:16-23 16 16 When the men got up to leave, they looked When the men got up to leave, they looked

down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. along with them to see them on their way. 17 17

Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham what I am about to do? 18 18 Abraham Abraham will surely become a great and powerful will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. blessed through him. 19 19 For I have chosen For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”what he has promised him.”

20 20 Then the LORD said, “The outcry Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous great and their sin so grievous 21 21 that that I will go down and see if what they I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will that has reached me. If not, I will know.” know.” 22 22 The men turned away and The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. remained standing before the LORD. 23 23 Then Abraham approached him and Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (NIV)righteous with the wicked? (NIV)

1. We Must Pose The 1. We Must Pose The Right ___________.Right ___________.

A. The Question of God’s _________.A. The Question of God’s _________.

QuestioQuestionsns AbilitAbilit

yyGenesis 18:14 Genesis 18:14 14 14 Is anything Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the return to you at the appointed time next year appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” and Sarah will have a son.” (NIV)(NIV)

Mark 10:27 Mark 10:27 27 27 Jesus looked Jesus looked at them and said, “With at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are not with God; all things are possible with God.” (NIV)possible with God.” (NIV)

B. The Question of B. The Question of God’s ____________.God’s ____________.

Genesis 18:17 Genesis 18:17 17 17 Then the LORD Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? (NIV)what I am about to do? (NIV)

  

Psalm 33:11 Psalm 33:11 1111  But the plans of   But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all purposes of his heart through all generations. (NIV)generations. (NIV)

StrategStrategyy

C. The Question of C. The Question of God’s ___________.God’s ___________.

Genesis 18:25 Genesis 18:25 25 25 Far be it Far be it from you to do such a thing—from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (NIV)do right?” (NIV)

IntegritIntegrityy

2. We Must Possess 2. We Must Possess The Right ___________.The Right ___________.

A. We Must Approach God _________.A. We Must Approach God _________.

QualitieQualitiess HumblyHumbly

1. With A Humble _________.1. With A Humble _________.StancStancee

Genesis 18:2 Genesis 18:2 2 2 Abraham looked up Abraham looked up and saw three men standing and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. (NIV)to the ground. (NIV)

2. With A Humble ______.2. With A Humble ______.

Genesis 18:3 Genesis 18:3 3 3 He said, “If He said, “If I have found favor in your I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. (NIV)your servant by. (NIV)

SpiritSpirit

3. With A Humble 3. With A Humble ____________.____________.

Genesis 18:5-7 Genesis 18:5-7 5 5 Let me get you something Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” “do as you say.” 6 6 So Abraham hurried into So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” bake some bread.” 7 7 Then he ran to the Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. (NIV)it. (NIV)

ServicServicee

B. We Must Approach B. We Must Approach God ____________.God ____________.

1. 1. We Need To _________ in Prayer.We Need To _________ in Prayer.

PrayerfullPrayerfullyy TravaTrava

ililGenesis 18:27 Genesis 18:27 27 27 Then Then Abraham spoke up again: Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust though I am nothing but dust and ashes, (NIV)and ashes, (NIV)

2. 2. We Need To _________in We Need To _________in Prayer.Prayer.

Genesis 18:32 Genesis 18:32 32 32 Then he said, Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” (NIV)destroy it.” (NIV)

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