Gen. 18:1-15 The Three Visitors

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The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

18:2 three men. At least two of the "men" were angels (see 19:1). The third may have been the LORD Himself. hurried. The story in vv. 2-8 illustrates Near Eastern hospitality in several ways:
1. Abraham gave prompt attention to his guests.
2. He bowed low to the ground. (I have my own little input on this.)
3. He politely addressed one of his guests as "my lord" and called himself "your servant," a common way of speaking when addressing a superior.
4. He acted as if it would be a favor to him if they allowed him to serve them.
5. He asked that water be brought to wash their feet, an act of courtesy to refresh a traveler in a hot, dusty climate.
6. He prepared a lavish for them (who did?!).
7. He stood nearby assuming the posture of a servant, to meet their every wish.

Hebrews 13:2 is probably a reference to vv. 2-8 and 19:1-3.

3He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant."

"Very well," they said, "do as you say."

6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread."

7Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

9Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him.

"There, in the tent," he said.

10Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance at the tent, which was behind Him. 11Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

13Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

15Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."

But He said, "Yes, you did laugh."

I love this passage. It reminds me so much of the last supper. There is much packed into this and the next chapter that I must wait to speak upon it. Oh well. God bless everyone.

18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent
I will frustrate."

20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:18-24 NIV

Originally posted 1/21/2006 @ 2:25 am