Parable Pictures

“All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.” –Matthew 13:34, ESV

From Genesis to Revelation, God speaks to us in parables. These are pictures of invisible truths that both “reveal” glorious gems to discerning disciples (Mat 13:11,35), and hide these same treasures from “swine” that would trample them in the mud (Mat 7:6; 13:12-15).

I discovered one recently in the eighteenth chapter of Genesis.

Here we find Abraham visited by three “men” (Gen 18:2) that we soon discover to be two angels (Gen 19:1) and the LORD Himself (Gen 18:22). As they depart after a feast (Gen 18:6) and lively conversation amidst uncomfortable laughter (Gen 18:12-15), Abraham “walked out” with them (v.16). The LORD then decides to reveal his plans to Abraham (v.17).

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” –Genesis 18:19, ESV

The LORD then tells Abraham,

“Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” –Genesis 18:20-21, ESV

Is it not strange that God says He must “go down” and investigate the things He has heard? Is God revealing His limited eyesight? Is His view from heaven obscured by dark clouds (Job 22:13-14; Psa 10:4-11; 73:11; 94:7)? Certainly NOT! Everything is laid bare before “the eyes of the LORD” (Heb 4:13). Our Creator observes our every step (Job 34:21; Pro 5:21). It is said of Him that God “watches the whole earth carefully” (2Ch 16:9), even from His high throne far above the sky (Job 22:12). Therefore, is not this depiction an unfaithful picture to God’s omniscience?

It is… if we see it incorrectly. Parables are complicated things, easily twisted in our minds, leading us to wrong conclusions if we lean on our own understanding (Pro 3:5). It would be easy enough to walk away from a parable and think God desires us to be dishonest in our money management (Luk 16:8). Or we might assume if we pester God with enough repetitious knocking, He will give in to our demands (Luk 18:4-7). Therefore, we need to look more closely at the passage if we are to see the particular purpose God has for this manifestation.

Let us draw nearer to the Word.

Next, we see the two “men” depart, and Abraham is left “standing before the Lord” (v.22). Notice that Abraham has both the revelation and the opportunity to parlay with God because he “walked” with the LORD and then remained before Him, “drawing near” with his questions. Wisdom only comes to those that follow and wait on the LORD in faith (Jam 1:5-8; Psa 37:7).

“Then Abraham drew near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’” –Genesis 18:23-25, ESV

What does Abraham say to God’s revelation of His plan to wipe out a whole city with fire? “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (v.23)—He thinks God unjust. It is clear that Abraham assumes too much to man’s credit, and not enough to God’s. And this, we all do. Perhaps Abraham was overwhelmed with concern for the welfare of his nephew who lived prominently within the wicked city (Gen 19:1), for we are prone to let personal affections cloud our judgment. Regardless, Abraham has forgotten that though God makes a promise to wipe away the wicked (Gen 6:7), He carefully lifts and preserves the righteous high above His wrath (Gen 7:17). “When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation,” (Pro 10:25).

But in this moment, Abraham already assumes God’s throne has made Him too distant to see the nuances of the individual and will thus unjustly “sweep away the righteous with the wicked.” So, God graciously gives him (and us) a picture (anthropomorphism) of His careful examination. “Not as if there were any thing concerning which God is in doubt; but he is pleased thus to express himself after the manner of men, and to show that he ascertains the criminal’s guilt before he passes sentence,” (Benson Commentary).

God gives Abraham a parable picture of His careful judgment and then allows Abraham to negotiate. While Abraham begins with an appeal of 50 “righteous” souls, he ends with a mere 10. And during the entirety of the discussion, the Lord knows far too well that the righteous numbered “none” (Psa 14:2-3). Yet God graciously heard the unspoken request, and planned to show “compassion” on Lot and his family and spare them (Gen 19:16), a brand plucked from the fire (Zec 3:2) and declared “righteous” (2Pe 2:7) by God’s grace (Rom 3:24; Exo 33:19)—just as He promised (Gen 12:3; 15:6; 19:17,29).

God has not changed His purpose or His trajectory in all this, but Abraham has come to peace (vv.32-33) with God’s plan (v.17). Praise God for His gracious pictures so that we can be at peace with His purposes and be more solid instruments in His will. But may we also use caution in our learning to always take the full counsel of God’s word to heart. Let us always proceed with humility, requesting wisdom, and never let a revelatory picture graciously given to correct one misunderstanding, lead us to wrong assumptions that diminish His grandeur.