6. Three Visitors (Chapter 18)

Read 1-5. Who were the three strangers who visited Abraham? (cf. vs. 13) (LORD and two angels)

Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. (Would appear Abraham didn’t know who they were.)

Much of Abraham’s actions were the custom of the day –

Genesis 23:7,12 Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. . . . Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land

Genesis 33:3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. (Jacob with Esau)

1 Kings 2:19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat down at his right hand.

What did this action express? (humility.)

What does it show about Abraham? (very generous even with strangers.)

What might we learn from this? (seems overdone, but maybe our standards need adjusting.)

Hospitality is frequently encouraged in the Scriptures as a fruit of faith –

Leviticus 19:33 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Romans 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

1 Timothy 3:2 Now the overseer must be . . . hospitable.

1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Why is this encouraged so much? (opportunity to share faith and show gratefulness.)

Read 6-8. How long would such preparations take? (a couple hours / 20 quarts / a bushel of wheat.)

If Abraham’s guests were heavenly visitors, why did they eat? (they want close fellowship with Abraham – want his company – like Jesus on shore after resurrection and his first miracle - CONDESCENDS to us.)

Read 9-10. Two important things to think about in this question –

1. (in that culture you don’t ask about wife.)

2. (they knew her name was changed – she was the reason for their visit.)

What did this tell Abraham about the visitors? (it was the LORD.)

Why was it important to mention the location of the tent? (had no access to see Sarah.)

Read 11-15. How was Sarah’s laughter different from Abraham’s? (out of doubt – note why in vs. 11)

The question told Sarah –

1. (he knew she laughed)

2. (he didn’t like it.)

Read 16-19. What customary courtesy did Abraham extend to his distinguished guests? (realized not ordinary visitors – sees them off.)

The LORD reveals his plan to judge Sodom to Abram. He does this . . .

1. (to get Abraham’s response.)

2. (so his descendants would know the truth of God’s judgment)

3. (Abraham was God’s friend.)

Read 20-22. Didn’t the LORD know what was happening there? What is the point of this verse? (an anthropomorphism – to show us that God is well aware of all the facts before he acts.)

Read 23-33. Note how Abraham’s prayer is . . .

1. (based on mercy)

2. (unselfish)

3. (boldly persistent)

God’s sovereignty is not blind necessity. God lets himself be “overcome” by the prayers of his children (cf. Gn 32:26-28). Pascal: “God instituted prayer to give his creatures the dignity of causality.”

Vs. 27: Dust in origin. Ashes in the end.

Why didn’t Abraham go any lower, perhaps down to five? (sounded like only praying for his family.)

How did God give Abraham MORE than he asked? (still spared Lot even though 10 weren’t there. )