Genesis 18:12-22

12 Sarah laughed within herself, "An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?"

13 God said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh saying, 'Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?'

14 Is anything too hard for God? I'll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby."

15 Sarah lied. She said, "I didn't laugh," because she was afraid. But he said, "Yes you did; you laughed."

16 When the men got up to leave, they set off for Sodom. Abraham walked with them to say good-bye.

17 Then God said, "Shall I keep back from Abraham what I'm about to do?

18 Abraham is going to become a large and strong nation; all the nations of the world are going to find themselves blessed through him.

19 Yes, I've settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God's way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him."

20 God continued, "The cries of the victims in Sodom and Gomorrah are deafening; the sin of those cities is immense.

21 I'm going down to see for myself, see if what they're doing is as bad as it sounds. Then I'll know."

22 The men set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God's path, blocking his way.

Genesis 18:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 18

Another appearance of God to Abraham is here recorded; three persons are seen by him in an human form, whom he kindly invites to stop with him, and generously entertains them, Ge 18:1-8; they inquire concerning Sarah his wife, and one of them renews the promise of her bearing a son to him, which occasions laughter in her, for which she is reproved, Ge 18:9-15; upon their departure the Lord thought fit, for reasons given, to make known to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 18:16-22; when Abraham intercedes for the preservation of those cities in a most importunate and affectionate manner, Ge 18:23-33.