GENESIS 18: Heavenly Visit

According to tradition, Abraham was recovering from the circumcision procedure when he had a special visit:

(Genesis 18:1-3)   And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.  (2)  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth  (3)  and said, "O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 

Who appeared to him? The first verse clearly states that it was the Lord, in Hebrew: Yahweh, Jehovah. It later says that he saw three men (Hebrew: Anashim, plural of the word Ish: man). Who is both God and man at the same time? Only Jesus is. It is evident that this is one of Jesus’ appearances in the Old Testament (let’s not forget that He has been since the beginning – John 1:1-2).

As this story progresses, it will be evident that the visitors Abraham received were the Lord and two angels(Genesis 18:22).

HOSPITALITY

Abraham came out to receive these three visitors, even before he knew who they were. As a foreigner, he knew what it meant to be received and taken care of in the middle of a long journey, especially in the dessert. He did unto others what every person would wish to be done unto them.

Abraham had the virtue of hospitality, something the Bible promotes.

(Hebrews 13:2)  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

In effect, Abraham entertained angels unaware. He received them, cared for them and fed them.

(Genesis 18:4-8)  Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,  (5)  while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on--since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."  (6)  And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes."  (7)  And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.  (8)  Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

In the days of old people did not eat meat frequently. As a general rule, they did only on especial occasions. It was not only an expensive meal, but it had to be eaten immediately since there was no refrigeration. However, Abraham did not spare and treated his guests with great honor.

ANNOUNCEMENT

After eating the visitors announced to Abraham the motive for their visit. But before they did, they asked for Sarah, since their announcement included her.

(Genesis 18:9)  They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent." 

Then the Lord explained the purpose of their visit.

(Genesis 18:10) The LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 

The Lord came to confirm the Covenant he had made with Abraham. He confirmed once again that Sarah, his wife, would bare the son of the promise.

Abraham knew this, since the Lord had told him a few days before. But Sarah also had to know it. Maybe Abraham had not said anything to his wife. However, this time Sarah was listening. 

What was Sarah’s reaction to this news?

(Genesis 18:11-12)  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.  (12)  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"

Sarah had the same reaction Abraham did, they both laughed.

(Genesis 17:17)  Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"

The Lord had presented himself to Abraham as God Almighty, but he also wanted Sarah to know. God “read her mind”, since she didn’t say anything out loud, but the Lord wanted her to know that there was nothing too hard for Him to accomplish.

(Genesis 18:13-14)  The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'  (14)  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." 

The fulfillment of God’s promise would be made evident a year later. By that time she would be holding her son in her arms.

Sarah reaction was very natural. She laughed in the face of that which seemed impossible. Then she was afraid and denied laughing.

(Genesis 18:15)  But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

Why does the Bible make man’s mistakes evident? It does so to teach us that even the patriarchs and other biblical heroes were as human as any of us.

However, even though she laughed, the Bible says that Sarah believed.

(Hebrews 11:11-12)  By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.  (12)  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

GOD FULFILLS HIS PROMISE

Even though it was humanly impossible, God fulfilled his promise.

(Genesis 21:1-7)  The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.  (2)  And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.  (3)  Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.  (4)  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.  (5)  Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.  (6)  And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me."  (7)  And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."