Geneses Chapter 18- Lifestyle Hospitality

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Geneses Chapter 18- Lifestyle Hospitality

The Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GEN.18.NIV

The Three Visitors

1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. (The Lord appeared to Abraham as three passers by on one of those days.) (Map 14)

2 Abraham looked up and saw three men(1) standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. (Abraham humbly greeted them out of his reverence for the passing strangers. They might revealed majestic divinity.)

3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.

4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.

5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” (Abraham offered water and food also to the passers by. And they accepted the hospitality of Abraham.)

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. (Abraham ordered his servants to prepare food.)

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said.

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. (One of the travelers told that Sarah will have a baby one year later. 15:6)

11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Sarah overheard what they said and laughed herself out of her doubt from her barrenness.)

13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ (The Lord revealed her laugh and asked why.)

14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (The Lord who appointed the birth of a son is almighty.)

15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” (Sarah denied her mistake but the Lord knows all.)

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. (Map 14)

17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.

19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (The Lord decided to reveal His plan to Abraham, who will be a vessel of His History, to direct him and his descendants to the right ways. Deut. 29:29, Ps. 25:14)

20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” (The Lord revealed His intension to examine and condemn Sodom and Gomorrah.)

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. (The two went down to Sodom and the Lord and Abraham stayed up.)

23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?

25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Abraham appealed to the Lord with his concern for those possible innocents.)

26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” (God will cancel the condemnation if there were fifty righteous people. Then city might be able to renew by itself.)

27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” (If forty-five.)

29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”

30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” (If thirty.)

31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” (If twenty.)

32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” (If ten.) (2, Abraham's Plea)

33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. (As the Lord disappeared, Abraham went back to home.)

(1, Three Men) (AI)

In Genesis 18, the three travelers who visited Abraham are widely understood to be the LORD (Yahweh) appearing in human form, accompanied by two angels (or heavenly messengers). They appeared as men to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre to promise the birth of Isaac and later set out for Sodom.

The LORD (Yahweh): One of the figures is identified as the Lord himself (often considered a theophany, a visible appearance of God in human form). He is the one who engages in direct conversation with Abraham regarding Sarah’s laughter and the fate of Sodom.

The Two Angels: The other two travelers are identified as angels or messengers who proceed to Sodom in chapter 19 to save Lot and assess the city's wickedness.

Interpretation: While some interpretations, particularly in art and some theological traditions, have viewed this as a representation of the Trinity, many biblical scholars interpret the visitors as one divine manifestation accompanied by two angels.

These visitors are described as having human form, eating food provided by Abraham, but possessing divine knowledge and authority.

Refer to Heb. 1:1-3 for God's Revelation.

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Ways of God's Revelation (AI)

God reveals Himself to humanity through two primary channels: general revelation, which shows His power and existence through nature and conscience to all people, and special revelation, which reveals His specific character, plan of salvation, and will through Scripture, prophetic acts, and the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

General Revelation (Universal)

Creation: The natural world manifests God’s eternal power and divine nature.

Conscience: Internal moral awareness indicates a Creator’s standards.

History: God's providence in guiding human events.

Special Revelation (Specific)

Jesus Christ: The ultimate and supreme revelation of God in human history.

Scripture: The Bible is the inspired, written word and enduring, authoritative witness to God's work.

Prophecy and Word: Direct divine communication through prophets.

Theophanies/Visions: Dramatic manifestations, dreams, and appearances (e.g., burning bush, dreams of Joseph).

Key Aspects of Revelation

Purpose: To make Himself known to humanity for the purpose of relationship and salvation.

Progression: God revealed Himself gradually over time, culminating in the New Testament era.

Redemption: The focus of special revelation is the redemptive work of Christ.

(2, Abraham's Plea) (AI)

In Genesis 18, Abraham boldly pleads with God to spare Sodom, where his nephew Lot lives, arguing that the righteous should not perish with the wicked. He bargains, lowering the number of righteous people needed to save the city from 50 down to 10, to which God agrees. Despite this, fewer than 10 were found, leading to the city's destruction, though Lot was spared.

Key Details of the Plea (Genesis 18:16-33):

Intercession: Abraham bargains God down from 50 to 10 righteous individuals to save the city, highlighting God's mercy and justice.

Motivation: Abraham's primary concern was likely for his nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom, and a desire to see justice, not just destruction.

"Judge of all the Earth": Abraham appeals to God's character, asking, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?".

Outcome: God agrees to spare the city if 10 righteous people are found. Ultimately, the city is destroyed due to its wickedness, but Lot is saved, as mentioned in.

This passage highlights themes of intercessory prayer, God's mercy, and his righteous judgment.

Another Significance of Abraham's Plea

Abraham requested/challenged God with God's Righteousness/Fairness.

It shows Abraham himself had his own standard of righteousness and fairness which had been originated from God by being made after God's image and likeness.

God proved Himself that there will be no unfair judgement by God.

Also the Abraham's pursuant of fairness proves God's fairness.

God is fair so we pursue fairness based on the righteousness of God.