Genesis 18 Inductive Bible Study: An Unlikely Man of Faith (VII)
Outline
vv.1-15 Abraham’s Big-hearted Hospitality
vv.16-33 Abraham’s Brave-hearted Intercession
Textual Summary
Abraham showed lavish hospitality to three men, who were in fact heavenly beings, among whom was the Lord Himself. When they were about to leave, the Lord made known to Abraham His plan to judge Sodom. Abraham then dauntlessly pleaded for the city for the sake of the righteous.
Interpretative Challenges
How long had passed since Gen. XVII?
When God appeared to Abraham, gave him the promise that a child would be born through Sarah, as well as instructions concerning circumcision, he was 99 years old (Gen. 17:24). When Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old (Gen. 21:5). Taking these two facts together, it is clear that God’s appearing to Abraham again in Gen. XVIII and assuring him that a child would be born to him through Sarah this time next year (Gen. 18:10) should not be any longer than three months since His last appearing in the previous chapter. There was some Jewish tradition that says it was three days after Abraham performed circumcision on himself and all the males in his household, but that was merely unsubstantiated speculation without any spiritual relevance to us today.
In what forms do angels normally appear?
Angels in the Bible normally appear in male forms, contrary to common misunderstandings in secular culture. For a topical study of Angels, please refer to the extensive entry quoted from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, attached at the end of the study note (really, really extensive, for crying out loud!!!).
Did Abraham know that the three men were in fact angels?
It is perhaps reasonable to assume Abraham did not at first recognize that the three men were superhuman beings. However, the fact that Abraham addressed one of the three as “my lord” (Hebrew adonai) in v.3 and later used the same title to address God in his intercession (v.27) suggests that he at least understood well the identity of the leader of the three men before he bowed to the ground. In other words, somewhere between seeing the three men and paying homage to them, Abraham recognized the Lord Himself was among them.
What’s so special about the fact that Abraham “ran” (v.2)?
In the Middle East, noble men would wear long robes in their daily living. Thus they normally don’t run; they glide. And in order to run, they have to grab the robe and hold it midair, exposing their legs. Doing so brings no small dishonor (In contrast, the long robe they wear has a name that indicates “that which brings me honor”). The way Abraham responded to the visitors was indeed unconventional: to show respect and hospitality to the three men, he didn’t care about his image or honor. The fact that Abraham “bowed himself to the earth” before the three men (v.2) also suggests that he regarded the visitors significantly higher than himself.
The interesting truth is, in Jesus’ parable in Lk. XV, when the Father saw the prodigal son return, He also did the unconventional: He ran to embrace him. In fact, that was immensely humiliating: the Father was running towards a son who wished He was dead, asked for his portion of inheritance, and spent it in wild living! But that is how God responds to a penitent sinner: He humiliates Himself to receive us, as long as we repent. Why? Because there is no greater joy for God than this. Even as Christ says, “… there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Lk. 15:7)
If Abraham’s running shows man’s rightful response of humble adoration towards God, then the Father’s running in Jesus’ parable shows God’s loving response of gracious adoption of us.
Why did Sarah laugh (v.12)?
Not unlike his husband’s response in the previous chapter, Sarah laughed in disbelief when she heard that God would grant her a baby in the womb. “Sarah was past childbearing” (v.11) is rendered “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” in ESV, which speaks of the menstrual cycle of a woman. Sarah, in her 90s, had long past reproductive age. That’s why, as MacArthur put it, “She was not thinking of divine miracle but of divine providence working only the normal course of life.”
Sarah’s reaction was one of incredulity, mirroring Abraham’s laughter in Gen. 17:17. But it wasn’t definitive. When confronted, Sarah finally understood the omnipotence of God (“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” v.14) by understanding the omniscience of God (“No, but you did laugh”, v.15). And she was conceived as promised. In Hebrews, Sarah was commended for her faith: “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” (Heb. 11:11)
Does God really need to go on a fact-finding mission?
When in Gen. 18:20, the Scripture reads, “And the Lord said, ‘The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know’”, it almost appeared as if the situation of Sodom somehow skipped God’s attention until someone cried out to Him and that He had to personally make some investigations Himself. Historically, one line of heresy, namely open theism, teaches exactly that: God is infinitely wise, but He really does not know about everything; thus He is always reacting to various situations in the world. According to open theism, God’s Providence is flexible and the future of history is not single, fixed, and trajectory, but rather, a plurality of branching opportunities (thus the term “open”).
What is God like in terms of His knowledge of everything? Let’s turn to the Bible.
In Isa. 46:9-10, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” The One and Only God of the universe had already “[declared] the end from the beginning”, and His purpose shall be established for the sake of His good pleasure. In other words, much more than knowing everything, God has already declared everything. He is not limited to space and time, as are finite human beings like us. For the record, He created space and time. From this verse, not only do we see God’s Omniscience and Omnipotence, but we also see His absolute Sovereignty.
vv.1-15 Abraham’s Big-hearted Hospitality
The narrative of Genesis 18 begins with a vivid portrayal of Abraham’s remarkable hospitality. Seated at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day, Abraham lifts his eyes and beholds three men standing nearby. Instantly, he springs into action, running to meet them and bowing low to the ground—a gesture of deep respect and humility.
Abraham addresses the leader of the three as “my lord” and entreats them to rest under the shade of the tree while he fetches water to wash their feet and prepares a meal for them. His fervor to serve is palpable as he hastens into the tent and instructs Sarah to quickly prepare fine flour for bread. He then runs to the herd to select a tender calf, which a servant prepares promptly.
The scene is rich with cultural nuances. In the Middle East, hospitality is more than a courtesy; it is a sacred duty. Abraham’s actions surpass mere obligation; they reflect an extravagant generosity and reverence. He presents the meal—curds, milk, and the prepared calf—standing by as they eat, embodying the role of a servant.
As the meal concludes, the visitors inquire about Sarah. This inquiry is not casual but carries prophetic weight. One of the men, later revealed as the Lord, declares that Sarah will bear a son by the same time next year. Sarah, eavesdropping from the tent, laughs inwardly, doubting the possibility given her advanced age. The Lord responds, questioning her disbelief and reiterating the promise with the rhetorical question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Sarah's laughter, initially a manifestation of incredulity, transforms into a profound moment of revelation. When confronted, she denies laughing out of fear, but the Lord gently corrects her, affirming His omniscience and the certainty of His promise. This interaction not only highlights Sarah’s journey from doubt to faith but also underscores the divine power and knowledge of the Lord.
vv.16-33 Abraham’s Brave-hearted Intercession
As the narrative progresses, the scene shifts dramatically from the intimate setting of hospitality to the vast expanse overlooking Sodom. The men rise to depart, and Abraham accompanies them, setting the stage for a profound theological discourse.
The Lord, contemplating whether to disclose His plans to Abraham, decides to reveal the impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. This decision is rooted in the special relationship between the Lord and Abraham, the chosen patriarch through whom all nations will be blessed. The Lord’s
