The Life of Abraham: The Lord Appears to Abraham at Mamre.

(Genesis 18:1-15)

Shortly after the Lord’s appearance which is related to us in the previous chapter, the Lord came again to Abraham. Compare Genesis 17:21 with 18:14. These two texts make it clear that this visit was not very long after the last revelation. It shows that the Lord is free in His administration. Earlier Abraham had to wait fourteen years before the Lord came again. Sometimes it is only a few months or a few weeks. This variation is the experience of all God’s children. It shows God’s sovereignty.

The prophet Jeremiah complained: “The Lord has appeared of old unto me” (Jeremiah 31:3a). In Isaiah 49:14 we read, “But Zion says, The Lord has forsaken me and my God has forgotten me.” But there are also times that the Lord comes back very soon, as is seen in this history. When we may experience this by God’s goodness, then it shall be, “In the days of prosperity be joyful” (Ecclesiastes 7:14a). So it was with Abraham in our history.

Abraham still lived in the plains of Mamre. On a certain day about noon, which was the heat of the day, he was sitting in the entrance of his tent. At this time of day people sought a little rest in the shade, since the sun is so hot. Suddenly Abraham saw three men standing near him. It appeared that they were on a journey which led past his tent. Their journey must have been of the greatest importance, otherwise they would not be traveling in the middle of the day, but rather in the cool of the evening or during the night.

With great hospitality Abraham invited the strangers not to pass his tent, but to rest for a moment. In the meantime he would prepare a morsel of bread and wash their feet. Even today hospitality is one of the most important customs in the Orient. One receives a guest without asking who he is, and as long as the guest is in his house, he is under the protection of his host. Abraham received his guests with great politeness. He bowed to the ground, which is a kneeling down and bringing the face close to the ground.

This portion of Scripture speaks extensively about hospitality. It is not without meaning, for here we see that the virtue of hospitality is approved. When God came to Abraham as an unknown traveler, then it was a testing of Abraham whether he would perform the holy requirement of hospitality. If he had not performed his duty in this way, then he was not worthy to be called the friend of God, as he is named in the Bible.

Who these three men were Abraham did not know at that moment; he would find out later. One of them was the Angel of the Covenant, the Son of God, who also later appeared to Moses in the bush which burned, but was not consumed. He came also to Joshua as the Captain of the Lord’s host, and also visited Manoah and his wife when He made known the birth of Samson. The other two strangers were angels. All three had assumed for a moment a human body, as we find more often in the Old and New Testaments. Such bodies were put on by them like a garment and laid down when they had finished their particular task on earth.

The guests accepted the proposal, and so Abraham had, without knowing it, entertained angels (Hebrews 13:2). Later on he would know, by their deeds and words, who they were. God’s Word urges us to extend hospitality freely. However, in another place in the Bible we read something which seems to contradict the text we mentioned. In 2 John 10 is written, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.”

“Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell who you are.”

This text tells us that we should not entertain all strangers in our homes. The reason for this lies in the nature of hospitality. It is not only to help somebody who is in need, which should be done to everyone, but it is especially to be done to those who are of the household of faith. We may not enter into friendship with an ungodly stranger and take part in his deeds. It is definitely a warning for us, young people, that we should think about who our friends are. There is a saying, “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell who you are.” We must realize that worldly as well as religious friends can be a danger for us. I know very well that we have to go through this world, but we may not go along with the world. The world has a great drawing power. It seems to give so much, and this can be stimulated by our worldly friends, while the church seems to give nothing, or very little. It is true, the world does give something, but it is no more than glittering gold, which has no value for eternity.

Religious friends can also be a danger, since there is so much religion which contradicts God’s Word in many ways. There are many religious people, nice people, but they do not want to hear of the life of a poor sinner. They have everything, and you may never doubt their faith or make mention that life and doctrine should go together. They are once converted and that is enough. From God’s people I hear it so differently, and this is also shown us in the Bible. Read Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, and then you will find out how much strife there has been in the life of this servant of God. We must ask the Lord to give us friends in His favor.

When Abraham said in verse 3, “My Lord,” its meaning, according to the margin, is “Gentleman.” It was the custom of the Orient that the feet of the guests be washed, because they wore open sandals; then the meal would be prepared. Abraham asked Sarah to make cakes of three measures of meal, about forty quarts, which is an abundance. Also a calf, tender and good, was prepared.

Although Sarah was an important and rich woman, still her husband asked her to prepare this meal. He himself had spoken of a morsel of bread, but an extensive meal was prepared for the guests. In describing the preparation of this meal, we read three times of “haste”: of Abraham, of Sarah, and of the servant. When we may do it with love, then it is an easy task; otherwise it is a burden.

Abraham stood nearby, ready to serve, which is a sign of reverence; “and they ate.” These three men did not need it for themselves, but they ate for Abraham’s sake. Abraham did not eat himself, but he enjoyed being the host.

Abraham was willing to show this hospitality and care for strangers; much more the Lord is caring for His church on earth. We read of this in Matthew 7:11, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” In Luke 11:13 it is written a little differently, “How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?”

The Lord has also prepared the means to be washed in the blood of His Son. The Lord also invites to rest under the apple tree, to sit in its shadow, and to receive of its fruit, which is sweet to their taste (Song of Solomon 2). Blessed is the people who may sit at such a well-furnished table of the Lord and be refreshed and strengthened by it. The Lord invites His people, “Rise up and eat, that the way may not be too much.” Such unforgettable moments the Lord prepares for His children. It is our prayer, young people, that it may become also reality for you that you may at His time hear such an invitation of the Lord.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen