1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My LORD, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
The 18th chapter of the book of Genesis in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible unravels a profound tapestry of faith, hospitality, divine revelation, and intercession. As the narrative unfolds, readers are introduced to a pivotal moment in Abraham's life when he is visited by the Lord in the form of three strangers. The themes embedded within this chapter reveal much about God's nature and the human capacity for compassion and advocacy.
The chapter begins with Abraham seated at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. Upon seeing three men standing nearby, he quickly goes out to meet them, demonstrating a notable act of hospitality. Without fully realizing their divine nature, he urges them to rest, wash their feet, and partake in a meal. This scene epitomizes the value of hospitality in ancient Near Eastern culture. Abraham's willingness to serve these guests, even in his old age, exemplifies the biblical principle: "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
The manner in which Abraham and Sarah prepare the meal — with haste, generosity, and attentiveness — emphasizes the importance placed on caring for one's guests. It's a poignant reminder of the biblical ethos that encourages believers to treat others with kindness and dignity.
As they ate, the strangers inquired about Sarah, revealing their supernatural knowledge. One of the guests, identified as the Lord, reiterates the promise that Sarah would bear a son in her old age. Sarah, overhearing this, laughs in disbelief given her and Abraham's advanced age. This moment underscores the human struggle with doubt, even in the face of divine promises. The Lord's response to Sarah's laughter, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?", challenges human perceptions of possibility and underscores God's omnipotence.
This reaffirmation of the birth of Isaac not only stands as a testament to God's faithfulness but also sets the stage for the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham — that he would become the father of many nations and through his seed all nations would be blessed.
Following this revelation, the narrative shifts to a more somber tone. The Lord contemplates whether to reveal to Abraham the impending judgment on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Deciding in favor of disclosure, God shares with Abraham that the outcry against these cities is so great that their sin is grievous. Thus, divine intervention becomes necessary.
Abraham's response is a remarkable display of advocacy and intercession. Concerned for the righteous living within the city, including his nephew Lot, he engages in a dialogue with God, pleading for mercy. He begins by asking if God would spare the city if fifty righteous people were found, and then gradually lowers the number to forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten. Throughout this exchange, Abraham displays both humility and audacity. He acknowledges his boldness in speaking to the Lord, yet he persistently advocates for the city's salvation.
This intercessory dialogue highlights the power of righteous advocacy. It presents Abraham as a prototype for all believers, emphasizing the importance of standing in the gap for others and seeking God's mercy. The Lord's willingness to engage with Abraham and heed his intercession underscores God's patience, mercy, and responsiveness to the pleas of the righteous.
Genesis 18 holds profound implications for Christians. Firstly, it encourages the faithful to practice genuine hospitality, emphasizing that one may never know when they're entertaining angels or, in Abraham's case, the Lord Himself. Secondly, the chapter stands as a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling promises, even when they seem impossible from a human standpoint. It challenges believers to trust in God's timing and omnipotence.
Furthermore, Abraham's intercession for Sodom underscores the believer's role as a mediator and advocate. It invites Christians to bring their concerns, not just for themselves but also for others, before God in prayer, reminding them of God's mercy and His willingness to engage with His people.
In conclusion, Genesis 18 weaves a multifaceted narrative that enlightens and challenges. It underscores the nature of God as both a promise-keeper and a just judge, while also highlighting human capacities for hospitality, faith, doubt, and intercession. For Christians, this chapter serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness, the power of prayer, and the eternal value of compassionate advocacy and hospitality.
Share this page