Genesis 17–20: A Rollercoaster of Covenant, Laughter, and Lot’s Follies

Oh, my goodness! Genesis 17 through 20 is like the plot twist of the Bible, and it has so many moments that make you shake your head in disbelief. Let’s dive in and unpack these chapters—trust me, there’s a lot to discuss!

A Covenant of Circumcision: More Than You’d Expect

We start in Genesis 17 with a covenant—yes, another one—but this time, it involves circumcision. Now, if you’ve read the previous chapter, you know God had just made a covenant with Abram, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars. But in this chapter, the Lord changes Abram’s name to Abraham (finally!) and gives him a new covenant: every male in his household must be circumcised as a sign of this agreement.

So, let’s break it down: This isn’t just for Abraham’s immediate family. All the men in his household—servants, those bought with money—must go through this physical act. Imagine being Abraham, 99 years old, and having to go through this procedure. Painful, right? And his son Ishmael, 13 years old, also has to be circumcised. The entire household gets the snip on that very day. From then on, it’s established that every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. Talk about a serious commitment to a covenant!

Three Mysterious Visitors and the Promise of a Child

In Genesis 18, the story takes a turn when three visitors arrive at Abraham’s tent. At first, it’s not clear who these visitors are, but it quickly becomes apparent that they are divine—one of them is the Lord Himself, and the other two are angels. These visitors dine with Abraham, and it’s during this meal that they tell him that Sarah, his wife, will bear a son in a year.

Sarah overhears this and laughs—because, let’s be honest, she’s 90 years old! The visitors ask Abraham why Sarah laughed, and she denies it, but they say, “Yes, you did laugh.” (Awkward.) It’s a bit of an embarrassing moment for her, but God’s promises are undeniable.

Then, the two angels head off to Sodom, and the conversation turns to the city’s impending destruction due to its wickedness. Abraham, ever the negotiator, boldly asks God if He would spare the city if there are fifty righteous people there. And so begins a comical back-and-forth between Abraham and God, where Abraham negotiates down from fifty to ten righteous people. God agrees, but we all know how this is going to end: Sodom doesn’t make the cut.

Abraham’s Bold Bargain with God

What’s really interesting here is how Abraham talks to God. He’s persistent and bold, almost as if he’s bargaining with a friend. He goes from asking for fifty righteous people to negotiating all the way down to ten. While it’s admirable that Abraham is so brave in his dialogue with God, we also see God’s patience and grace in this conversation. Sometimes, our prayers might feel a bit like this—persistent and even a little bold. But God listens and responds with mercy, even when we push the envelope a little.

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: Lot’s Last Stand

In Genesis 19, the angels arrive in Sodom, and Lot—Abraham’s nephew—meets them. He knows how bad the city is, so he urges them to come to his house to stay the night, rather than risk sleeping in the dangerous city square. But before they can even settle in, the men of Sodom surround Lot’s house, demanding that he send out the visitors so they can… well, do things we don’t need to detail here.

In a shocking turn, Lot offers his virgin daughters to the crowd in an attempt to protect the angels. Wait, what?! This is one of those moments where you just can’t believe what you’re reading. Lot’s logic is twisted, and it’s almost hard to fathom how far he’s willing to go to protect these angels. Thankfully, the angels intervene, pulling Lot back inside and blinding the mob.

The angels then warn Lot and his family that the city is about to be destroyed. They urge him to flee with his wife and daughters. Lot hesitates, asking if he can escape to a nearby city instead of the mountains, and after some back-and-forth, they grant him that request. But here’s the kicker: As they flee, Lot’s wife looks back at the burning city and turns into a pillar of salt. Now, some might say it’s just a simple act of curiosity, but it serves as a reminder—don’t look back when God has removed something from your life.

Lot’s Daughters Take a Twisted Turn

Now, let’s talk about Lot’s daughters. After escaping to the small city of Zoar, they end up in a cave, and it’s here that they hatch a plan to get their father drunk and sleep with him in order to continue their family line. Yep, you read that right. Both daughters get pregnant by their father, and from this twisted scenario come the Moabites and Ammonites—two groups that will cause trouble for Israel down the line.

It’s hard to know where to start with this one, but let’s just say that the moral decay of Sodom and Gomorrah had deeply affected Lot’s family. The environment they grew up in left them with some very messed-up values.

Abraham’s Deception with Abimelech

Finally, we reach Genesis 20, where Abraham is on the move again, and once again, he pulls the “she’s my sister” routine with his wife Sarah. This time, they enter the land of Gerar, and King Abimelech takes an interest in Sarah. Now, remember, she’s around 90 years old, but the king still wants her! Abraham, afraid for his life, tells the king that Sarah is his sister rather than his wife.

God intervenes in a dream, warning Abimelech that Sarah is married to Abraham, and if he doesn’t return her, he will die. Abimelech is like, “I had no idea!” and God acknowledges his innocence, but still instructs him to return Sarah to Abraham. In a way, this is a redemption moment for Abimelech, who then gives Abraham sheep, cattle, and silver to make amends.

It’s a strange situation, and again, we see Abraham telling half-truths—he’s not completely lying, but he’s definitely not being honest about his relationship with Sarah. It’s a reminder that even biblical figures were flawed, and yet God continued to use them.

The Twists and Turns of Genesis

Genesis 17–20 is full of shocking moments that leave you shaking your head. It’s a rollercoaster of covenant promises, divine intervention, negotiation, and some seriously messed-up family dynamics. But it also shows us how God is patient, merciful, and always working through the mess to fulfill His promises.

So, the next time you feel like your life is a bit too crazy or complicated, just remember: You’re not alone. Even the patriarchs had their moments of drama, and God still had a plan for them. There’s always redemption, even in the most twisted of stories.

Until next time, keep reading and shaking your head—it’s all part of the journey!