Read the Passage: Genesis 18

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 18

God’s Arrival (18:1–10)

While prior passages mention the Lord appearing to Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:7; 17:1), it is unclear if these instances were physical manifestations of God, or if they occurred in a dream, a vision, or similar such circumstance. Yet, in Genesis 18 is it clear that God’s visit to Abraham was a theophany—that is, a physical appearance of the Lord. While no specific chronology is given in this chapter, this event occurred after the circumcision of Abraham’s family and before the conception of Issac. As the narrative begins, Abraham notices three men near his tent. As was customary in the ancient near-east, Abraham invited these men to rest and to eat with him. While he used the polite term “Lord” (Gen. 18:3) to greet his guests, it seems that Abraham was not immediately aware that his visitor was God, accompanied by two angels. Later, however, Abraham recognized his visitor’s identity (cf. Gen. 18:25).

Although Abraham may not have initially recognized that his visitors were from heaven, his haste at providing an elaborate meal hints at his realization that his guests were special (cf. Heb. 13:2). Indeed, Abraham’s original invitation was only to enjoy “a morsel of bread” (Gen. 18:5), yet his later provision was to offer his guests cakes, butter, milk, and a tender calf (cf. Gen. 18:6–8). It is remarkable that God and His angelic companions consented to dine with Abraham, for God does not have material needs like mankind. It seems the meal that the Lord shared with Abraham was an accommodation on God’s part, done for the sake of Abraham’s family. Since God had already told Abraham that he and Sarah would have a son who was to be named Isaac (cf. Gen. 17:19), God’s declaration at the meal that Sarah would soon have a son should not have been too surprising (cf. Gen. 18:10).

Sarah’s Doubt (18:11–15)

For several different reasons, birth announcements in Scripture are often met with skepticism (cf. 2 Ki. 4:16; Luke 1:18, 34). Indeed, this was true when God told Abraham that Sarah would give birth to Isaac (cf. Gen. 17:17). It is perhaps understandable, then, that when Sarah overheard her guests speak about a future son, she laughed within herself. Given that Abraham had surely told Sarah about the personal aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Gen. 12:2), as well as God’s prior declaration that she would give birth to Isaac (cf. Gen. 17:19), it seems that either Sarah was not aware of her dinner guest’s identity, or that she simply doubted the promise of a son. Either way, her inward laugh betrayed her heart, which prompted God to ask Abraham why Sarah had laughed. Note that while the announcement of Isaac’s impending birth was not new information, the one-year timeline for Isaac’s arrival was new (cf. Gen. 18:10, 14).

Abraham’s Intercession (18:16–33)

In Gen. 18:16–21 we read of God’s departure from Abraham, as well as a dialog that God initiated with him. Here God asked, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?” (Gen. 18:17–18). At first, this question seems to make little sense, for why would God feel compelled to tell Abraham about the impending judgment upon Sodom? A key to understanding God’s question here is the citation of the universal aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant, which is the first such reference since the covenant was inaugurated at Gen. 12:3. To elaborate, as the forbear of the promised Messiah, Abraham functioned as a type of mediator between God and man. Since God intended to judge the citizens of Sodom for their sin, He informed Abraham about the coming judgment to give Abraham a chance to intercede for the people.

We might believe God’s citation of “the outcry against Sodom” (Gen. 18:20) to be a generic reference to sin; yet, from 2 Pet. 2:7–8 we learn that this outcry to God likely came from “righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds).” This is perhaps surprising, for Lot is not depicted as being overly just earlier in Genesis. Next, in Gen. 18:22–33 we read about Abraham’s intercession for the righteous people in Sodom, which is the first intercessory prayer recorded in Scripture. Indeed, this is exactly why God had disclosed His planned judgment to Abraham. Furthermore, Abraham was convinced that “the Judge of all the earth [will] do right” (Gen. 18:25). Yet, Abraham’s quasi-negotiation with God is still striking, as is the fact that God agreed to spare the city of Sodom for the sake of only ten righteous people.

Application Questions:

1. How many times in Scripture does God physically manifest Himself? Is it reasonable for Christians to expect a visit from God?
2. How important is the concept of hospitality in the Bible? How important is hospitality in the modern church?
3. Since God does not have material needs like mankind (cf. Ps. 50:12), why did He consent to dine with Abraham?
4. Given all that God had done since Abraham’s family had departed from Ur, why did Sarah doubt God’s promise of a son?
5. Why was Abraham so confident that God would act justly and spare an entire city for the sake of a few righteous people?