Genesis 18 - The Three Visitors, Birth of Isaac Promised

"Hebron to Sodom" https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-18/

An interesting read about Abraham and the tree of Mamre, https://treeofmamre.wordpress.com/what-is-the-tree-of-mamre/

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"Three visitors from the Lord visit Abraham at the oaks of Mamre where his tent is at.  Abraham prepares a meal for the men, so they can get sustenance to continue on their journey.  The three visitors reassure Abraham that Sarah will indeed have a son.  Sarah hears this and laughs about it. She thinks there is no way she will ever bear a child in her old age.  The three visitors get up and go to visit Sodom and Gomorrah.  Sin is rampant in these cities, and no one in these two cities follows the Lord.  The Lord contemplates destroying Sodom and Gomorrah if everyone there has become wicked.  Abraham asks the Lord to spare the city if only ten good people are found.  God agrees to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if ten good people are found within the cities."

Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..

• "When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down [with his face] to the ground, 3 and Abraham said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant [without stopping to visit]. Please let a little water be brought [by one of my servants] and [you may] wash your feet, and recline and rest comfortably under the tree. And I will bring a piece of bread to refresh and sustain you; after that you may go on, since you have come to your servant.” And they replied, “Do as you have said.” v.2-5

• "He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” v.10

• "And the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.” v.13-14

• "The Lord said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, since Abraham is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him? For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.” v.17-19

• "And the Lord said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave." v.20

• "Abraham approached [the Lord] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)?

• Then Abraham said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry [with me], and I will speak only this once; suppose ten [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” v.23,32

 

My personal observations and reflections...

• HOSPITALITY. One day in Hebron, while Abraham was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day, he got a surprise visit! Maybe Abraham is not that used to having visitors, living in a foreign land for such a long time.. Maybe he already thought that these people are no ordinary visitors.. Anyway, we see how special and important Abraham has treated them, generously giving and preparing them food. This is great hospitality. As people who fears God, we are expected to show the same grace and kindness towards our visitors as well.

"Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

• WHERE IS SARAH YOUR WIFE? There is already something supernatural here. The 3 visitors knew Abraham and Sarah's name. We then read that they are delivering the news or promise that Abraham and Sarah will indeed have a son next year, despite their old age.

• GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE. This time, it was Sarah who laughed to herself upon hearing that she will give birth next year. Sometimes, I am filled with fear when faced with an impossible situation, or when I think about what the future holds for me-- here I am reminded that I should trust God because He is good and His plans are always perfect.. For me, there is something about this 'laughing' that seems "how awesome and wonderful that God can do that through me"

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27
‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Also this time, we read no response from Abraham about the promised son.. Maybe the changing of his name to Abraham strengthened his faith even more, or because of the long process wherein God had repeatedly assured him that it shall definitely come to pass. :)

*Including here an interesting interpretation from https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/1409-genesis-18/
"Now how many times has God promised this child to them?!  But we need to hear God’s promises over and over again. It is a way God uses to encourage and develop our faith.  Romans 10:17 says, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

• JUDGEMENT. NEGOTIATION. “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do.." This to me, is too wonderful! It somehow reminds me of Genesis 1:26 wherein God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit kinda had a conversation "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."

God revealed to Abraham His plans, and because of that, Abraham had the opportunity to intercede and negotiate, in behalf of Lot (his nephew) and his family. This is the least that Abraham can do.. We knew here that Lot came back to live in the same sinful place wherein he got captured during a war.. This is the second time Abraham is saving him.. But this time, it is God Himself who will judge it. From 50 righteous people, to 45, 40, 30, 20-- Abraham narrowed down to only 10 in his humble attempt to save Lot. I know that Abraham is not trying to change the mind of God because He is our Almighty God. He is simply praying for God's mercy, I think.

“Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].” 1 Corinthians 2:9
 
*Another good note from https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/1409-genesis-18/
"I love that Abraham never asks the Lord “Why?” or demands that the Lord explain himself or his actions."

• COULD IT BE REALLY YOU JESUS? I would like to include this interesting Discussion Question from https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-18/: "The Genesis writer says that the Lord is among a trio of men who visits Abraham’s camp in the heat of the afternoon. This story sounds a bit like the Genesis account of God walking in the Garden of Eden. And the trio of men might raise the question of whether or not the other two are the rest of the Trinity: Jesus and the Holy Spirit."

Bible Footnotes:

Genesis 18:3 At some point during this encounter, Abraham understood that one of the three men was actually God appearing as a man (or as an angel; cf note 16:7), and he addressed Him as such in v 14. Verse 13 confirms that it was the Lord who spoke to him. The other two men were angels.
Genesis 18:14 The divine Hebrew name YHWH (Yahweh), usually represented by “Lord,” occurs more than 5,000 times in the Bible.

Read the Bible here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+18&version=AMP