Genesis 18:1 “And the LORD
appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the
heat of the day;”
Imagine the scene: you are Abraham, sitting in your
tent door in the heat of the day. This is Middle Eastern heat, probably over
120 degrees, conservatively. Suddenly, coming across the plains of Mamre,
amidst the rising, curling heat waves, you spy three figures coming your
way. What would you do?
Abraham is the perfect host. He runs to meet them from the tent door, and
intreats them to wash their feet, and have a little refreshment. In fact, he
prepares fresh milk and butter, and he slaughters a calf for them. Did he do
this for all his visitors? Perhaps. Or, was there something special about these
three visitors?
One
Commentator has said: “Some have suggested that all three of these “men” were
angelic beings who appeared to Abraham in the form of men. However, Genesis 18:1 says
that it was “the LORD” (Yahweh) who appeared to Abraham. It is the LORD
who speaks in verses 13, 20, 26, and 33. Abraham stands “before the LORD” in
verse 22. So, one of the three “men” must have been God Almighty taking on the
appearance of a man. We call such an appearance a “theophany.” When Jesus appears in
His pre-incarnate body in the Old Testament, we call it a “Christophany.”
Whether God’s appearance to Abraham in Mamre was a theophany or a Christophany,
we don’t know. But it does seem clear from the context that one of the visitors
was God Himself (Genesis 18:22) and
the other two were the angels who later visited Sodom and spoke to Lot (Genesis 19:1).
Abraham’s
response to the appearance of the three men also suggests that he instinctively
knew that he was in the presence of God. A typical response to visitors in that
culture was to rise and wait for them to approach the home. But Abraham ran to
meet them and “bowed low to the ground,” a prostrate posture reserved for
royalty or deity.”[i]
Other commentators have suggested these men were
the Holy Trinity come to visit Abraham.
Arguments can be made either way, but one thing remains clear: Abraham
was again visited by God, as he had been in the past. For example:
•
when God first called him (Genesis 12:1–3)
• when Abraham parted ways with Lot (Genesis 13:14–17)
• possibly when he met Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18–20)
• when God made a covenant with him (Genesis 15)
• when God restated His covenant (Genesis 17)[ii]
• when Abraham parted ways with Lot (Genesis 13:14–17)
• possibly when he met Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18–20)
• when God made a covenant with him (Genesis 15)
• when God restated His covenant (Genesis 17)[ii]
The name “Abraham” means “the father of many
nations.” So it is, as Abraham is the
father of both the Jewish and Arabic peoples.
Recall that Sarai (later Sarah) gave her maid Hagar to Abraham, because
she could not produce children. The
product of that union was Ishmael, who was the progenitor of the Arab (most
likely the Bedouin) people.
This birth occurred some time before the appearance
of the three men to Abraham. Hagar fled from Sarah after the birth of Ishmael because
friction built up between she and Sarah. This resulted in an angel appearing to
her in the wilderness, who told her that Ishmael would be the father of a great
nation. Interestingly enough, Hagar and
Ishmael were expelled some time later, and an angel again appeared to her,
repeating the same promise, which became true.
This expulsion, and the later disinheritance of Esau, still fuels the
Arab world’s complaint against Israel to this day.
Fascinating as this may be, it is not the main
point of the passage. After the meal is
finished, the LORD speaks to Abraham and tells him that his aged wife, Sarah,
will bear a son. Yet, she is well into menopause. Abraham is almost 100 years
old. To our understanding, to produce a child at their age is impossible.
Sarah has a wonderful human reaction. She “laughs within herself.” She thinks,
“this is crazy, look at me.” Yet, the
Lord says to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying I am too old? Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Then, He
repeats the promise, “At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according
to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” The promise is made, and it will be kept.
Recall that we spoke about covenants recently. Abraham was faithful in keeping of the
covenant sign with God when he and all the males of his tribe were circumcised.
Now, recognizing this, God is faithful to Abraham by the promise of the
long-awaited heir, which would shortly come to pass.
Two lessons are apparent from this passage. First, God is always faithful. As we keep covenant with Him, he keeps it with
us. He fights our battles, he guides us,
and he strengthens us. As we seek to
walk with Him, He rewards us with His presence. We are never alone.
Second, your chronological age is irrelevant with
God. He can always use you for His
purposes, and to build His Kingdom.
While some of us may think our usefulness to the Church is limited, God
never thinks so.
A pastor associate of mine told me recently, “Steve,
think of all the seniors in the Houston area who are alone, sitting on their
couches watching TV, or on their computer.
Imagine if we could reach out to them and offer them a family.”
Let me issue a gentle challenge. Who do we know that might be like this? Who
could we invite to worship, or to fellowship with? Who is lonely, or alone, or friendless? Invite them! Who knows, it beats sitting by
themselves on a Sunday.
Churches grow by attraction. Think how much Jesus loves you, and simply
offer someone else that love. It could
be the difference between despair and joy for someone, otherwise forgotten by
the world.
Remember,
we are Christ to the world. Christianity
is judged by the appearance and behavior of Christians.
Pray
God that our witness may always bring glory to Him.
Now
to God be all honor, glory, power, and dominion, world without end.
Amen.
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