The LORD in person
How can man see GOD and yet not see GOD? How does the LORD, Creator of the Universe, come to Abraham and yet Abraham does not die?
But He [GOD] said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20)
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 18:1-10a
“Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favour in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”
“They said, “Do as you have said.”
“So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
“Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”
“So he said, “Here, in the tent.”
“And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.””
The LORD manifest
There is much to be said about this passage. First, when the word LORD is capitalised, it refers to the Father; When it is only as Lord, it refers to Jesus. And so, the Creator of the Universe appeared to Abraham, it would seem, although Abraham sees three men. How can this be?
Some theologians have addressed this at length. For me I’ll say simply, three men can signify: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And when Abraham says, “My Lord…” isn’t he addressing one of the three men, whom we know centuries later as Jesus, manifested as GOD’s Son; the other two with Him may be angels. Most significant is that it is fairly undisputed: Jesus is one of the men.
Since Hebrew thought allows multiple meanings at the same time, on different levels. So, perhaps both my conclusions are true.
So, in this scene, Abraham hosts three visitors, and they wait as he instructs his wife to cook, and he goes, kills and prepares a “good calf” whilst they wait.
They wait, and when the food is prepared and as Abraham watches them eat, they articulate the reason they’ve come… which is it declare that Sarah, and elderly and childless wife, shall give birth to a child.
Wow!
What an amazing culture, what an amazing message, what an amazing GOD!
Three strangers appear. Abraham instantly recognises them as significant, even divine. Divine messengers wait for a meal. And they pronounce a miracle.
What does this mean for us?
The verse that immediately comes to mind is this:
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” (Hebrews 13:2)
We could argue theology and we can discuss the detail of the terebinth trees, the good calf, Abraham standing and watching the visitors eat. We could ponder what Sarah thought of these men. But the focus I want to take is simply this, Abraham was prepared, and Sarah was willing, to do for these strangers whatever custom called for.
Are we ready to do the same?
Next time: will discuss Sarah and the prophecy given.