A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

desert period in Abraham’s life was being replaced with a time of fellowship and communion
with God.
Communion with God is the basis of intercession with God. As Bible expositor, C. H.
MacIntosh, noted, “The soul that can draw near to God in the assurance of faith, having the heart
and conscience perfectly at rest with God, being able to repose in God as to his past, the present
and the future, that soul will be able and willing to intercede for others.”
The appearance of the Lord (w. 1-8)
As Abraham sat in the door of his tent at midday, he noticed three men arriving. His
camp was established at a place identified as the Oaks of Mamre. The trees for which this place
was named were probably what would today be called “scrub oaks.” Though they were not the
towering oaks coveted by lumbermen today, their presence would provide some limited shade
from the scorching desert sun and protection from windstorms. The name Mamre means fatness,
and the presence of the oaks would also suggest an available source of fresh water. Even with the
shade of the oaks, midday temperatures in that region would probably reach about 110°F or
43°C.
Some commentators have identified the three men who visited Abraham as the three
Persons of the Trinity. There can be little doubt that one of them identified as Jehovah in this
chapter is a preincarnate appearance of Christ, but the other two are only angels (cf. 19:1). Also,
as God is Spirit, it is doubtful if the Father or Holy Spirit ever have or will possess physical
bodies. While Abraham prayed to Jesus, the two angels traveled to Sodom to investigate the evils
of that city and justify the judgment of God on it.
The hospitality shown by Abraham to these three “strangers” is very typical of Eastern
hospitality. First, he invited them to remain with him. That he addressed the man with the title
Adonai, translated “Lord,” suggesting he did not at first recognize Jesus. This was a common
greeting of respect which one used to address an honored friend or even stranger. There is some
textual dispute over the actual title used here, but the context suggests Adonai is the correct title.
The word exists in the Massoretic Text but is marked as “holy” by the Massoretes here and in
three other places in this chapter (18:3, 27, 30, 32). Some argue this means the text was changed
by the Sopherim or official editors of the Old Testament and the word should be Jehovah. Others
claim the original word was Adonai and that the Massoretes marked it because the One called by
this title in this context is God who is “holy.” Supporting this latter view is the Samaritan
Pentateuch which reads Adonai plural; i.e., “my lords.” It is doubtful that Abraham identified one
of his guests as Jehovah until later, perhaps verse 9 where Sarah is called by the name God gave
her or verse 13 where Jehovah is first used in conversation.
Abraham invited his guests to wash their feet and rest in the shade while he prepared the
meal. Footwashing was a common practice before meals demanded by both the climate and style
of shoe worn (cf. 19:2; 24:32; Luke 7:44). The verb wehisha’anu here translated “rest yourself,”
means to recline, leaning upon the arm. It is unlikely Abraham expected the three men to rest
under a single tree but used the expression much as one might today invite someone to “lie in the
shade” (cf. Gen. 18:8).
While his guests relaxed, Abraham proposed to prepare “a morsel of bread” with which
the guests could “refresh your hearts” (v. 5). The verb wema`adu means to refresh and sustain
with eating and drinking; i.e., strengthening the heart. Describing the meal as a fath lechem,
“morsel of bread,” is a typical way in which such a lavish banquet might be described in the East
even today, much as a Southerner might invite a guest in for “a biscuit” and serve an entire meal.