Series Introduction: 

Today, we're diving back into our series on the life of Abraham. Two weeks ago, we studied how Sarai, Abram's wife, struggled with impatience when God's promise of a son didn't seem to be coming true. In a moment of weakness, Sarai suggested that Abram should have a child through her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. Sadly Abram agreed to this sinful plan, leading to many problems, including Sarai's mistreatment of Hagar and Hagar's flight into the wilderness. But, as always, God proved faithful and blessed Hagar and her child. We learned a valuable lesson about the dangers of impatience and how God is good, even when His followers are not.

In the chapter that follows, we see Abram at 99 years old. God appears to him again, reaffirming His covenant promise. God promises again to multiply Abraham's descendants, making him the father of many nations. He even changes Abram's name to Abraham, which means "father of a multitude," and Sarai's name to Sarah, signifying that she will become the mother of a nation. To show their commitment to the covenant, God commands Abraham and his descendants to be circumcised as a permanent reminder of God's promises. 

This morning we will pick up the narrative in Genesis 18, where three visitors appear to Abraham at Mamre, which means "vision." During this encounter, we see a beautiful example of what it means to be a friend of God and a prayer warrior who intercedes on behalf of others. 

Scripture Reading: 

Genesis 18:1-33 - And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, "O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes." And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent." The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?" The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." Then the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know."

So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Opening Prayer: 

Father God, we ask You to open our hearts as we seek Your guidance and wisdom through Your word. As we hear Your word preached, we ask Your Holy Spirit to show us the message You have prepared for us. May Your Word transform our thinking, attitudes, and actions, and may Your presence be felt among us, renewing our spirits and inspiring us to live according to Your will. We surrender ourselves to You, longing to encounter Your presence and be forever changed. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Introduction:

Our passage this morning begins by stating that "the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him" (Genesis 18:1-2a). From the start, there is a mystery surrounding these three persons. We read that "The Lord appeared to him," and yet what Abraham saw was "three persons." In next week's sermon, we see two of these persons going to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, where they are described both as "men" and "angels." So what do we make of this? Some early Christians saw this as a physical manifestation of the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) in human form. They argue that while they are three persons, Abraham addresses them as one singular Lord. 

"He called one Lord, thus giving honor to the three but signifying one power… He saw three but worshipped their unity. He brought out three measures but slaughtered one calf, believing one sacrifice was sufficient, but a threefold offering; one victim, but a threefold gift." - Ambrose, On His Brother, Satyrus 2.96. 

Jewish scholars have argued that this was God accompanied by two angels, all of whom took on the likeness of men, which makes sense if you do not believe that God is Triune like Christians do. It is a fun topic to speculate about, but speculation is all we have for solving this mystery. However you choose to understand these visitors, the important thing to remember is that Abraham had just received a surprise visit from God! 

How to Be a Friend of God

We are told that these visitors appeared to Abraham "in the heat of the day" (Genesis 18:1, ESV). This means that Abraham had likely just finished his morning work and was preparing for an afternoon rest. In a world without air conditioning, most rested in the hottest hour of the day. It was a chance to get out of the sun and the heat. 

This practice continued even into the New Testament. In John 4, Jesus met with a Samaritan woman known for her sinful ways. She encountered Jesus at a well during the heat of the day when everyone else was resting. Despite her attempts to avoid being seen, Jesus spoke with her and revealed himself as the Messiah. Through their conversation, he was able to turn her shame into joy.

In both encounters, we see God appearing as a man at an unexpected hour. Abraham is somehow able to recognize the visitors, and we are told, "When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth" (Genesis 18:2b, ESV). With his head bowed low, Abraham says to God: 

"O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant." - Genesis 18:3-5, ESV.

Though it was the heat of the day, and Abraham was probably preparing for rest, he dropped everything. He rushed for the opportunity to serve the Lord. We are told that Abraham ran to meet his visitors, and after they agreed to stay with him, he ran back to the tent to prepare for their visit. Abraham did not do this reluctantly but eagerly. He did not do this out of obligation but instead felt honored to have the opportunity to serve the Lord. 

In our own lives, we will be given many opportunities to serve others. These opportunities may come at inopportune times, but as Abraham shows us, that is not an excuse to neglect our duty to show hospitality. One might be tempted to point out that Abraham was being visited by God himself, so it is only natural that he would jump at the opportunity to treat God as a guest in his home. This is true, but listen also to the words of Jesus: 

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'” - Matthew 25:31-45, ESV

We may never see God face to face on this side of eternity, but we can still show hospitality to Him by loving and serving those who are made in his image. Even then, you may be surprised to learn one day that the people you served were more than just strangers passing by. As the author of Hebrews reminds us: 

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." - Hebrews 13:2, ESV

Notice what Abraham offers his visitors. He offers to bring water to wash their feet and give them a morsel of bread while they rest under the tree. The washing of feet was a custom common courtesy for guests in ancient times when people walked from place to place on dirt roads. Washing feet was also a lowly task reserved for servants rather than hosts. This is why when Jesus washed his disciple's feet in John 13, Peter was offended and said that if anyone was washing anyone's feet, it should be Peter washing the feet of Jesus. 

Like Jesus, Abraham does not call a servant to perform this task. Jesus washed his disciple's feet because he wanted them to understand that he came to serve and not to be served. On the other hand, Abraham runs to fetch the water himself because he understands that serving the Lord and his messengers is an honorable task. 

In addition to washing their feet, Abraham offers to give them "a morsel of bread" (Genesis 18:5, ESV). What is funny about this is when Abraham runs back to the tent he tells Sarah, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes." (Genesis 18:6, ESV). A "seah" is about the modern equivalent of two gallons. I do not know how large these cakes were, but I did some math and found that this amount could easily make thirty or forty cakes (at least ten per guest). But Abraham did not stop there; we read that "Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate." (Genesis 18:7-8, ESV). 

Thirty to forty cakes, a plump and juicy calf, and some milk curds were considered a grand feast. It was a meal that most folks would never get to enjoy, and even the rich who could afford a meal like this would only indulge on rare occasions. This was the type of meal you prepared for a large gathering, not something you would serve to just three people. Still, this serves as a reminder God deserves nothing less than the best we have to offer. Christians are generous people, but often we only give as much as we can without making a real sacrifice. We are willing to serve just as long as we can do so without making any major sacrifices. But I have to wonder if giving just from our excess is really what God intended for us. Abraham gave the best he had to offer, and he gave in excess because God was worthy of his best. 

This moment became foundational for how the Bible teaches us to give and serve. In the book of Leviticus, "best wheat flour" is only used in grain offerings and for making the bread of the present for worship (Leviticus 24:5). In the same way and the laws about sacrifice constantly demand that the offerings be only from the highest quality animals. When Israelites worshipped the Lord, they were never to give their second best. 

Today we are free from the ceremonial aspects of the Law because Jesus was our once and for all sacrifice. However, we are still called to give and serve with the best we can offer. We offer the Lord all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we love and serve our neighbor as if we were loving and serving ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). We even read that Abraham "stood by them… while they ate" (Genesis 18:8, ESV), taking on the role of a servant, not treating himself as an equal before his guests. 

As the visitors ate, they asked about Sarah, who was still in the tent. The Lord tells Abraham, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Genesis 18:10, ESV). Sarah, who is ninety years old and well past childbearing years, overhears this and laughs, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?" (Genesis 18:12, ESV)

Despite God's promise that she would have a child within a year's time, Sarah still couldn't believe that motherhood was possible for her. She felt like a worn-out, decrepit old woman, and the thought of being promised such pleasures at her age felt like a cruel joke. Her past disappointments had taught her not to get her hopes up. 

The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh." - Genesis 18:13-15, EVS.

The Lord's gentle rebuke drew Sarah's attention away from herself and towards Him. It was a kind reminder that sometimes, we must redirect our focus to what matters. For Sarah and Abraham, this was impossible, but as the Lord reminds us, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

How To Intercede for Others

After the meal, I am sure the conversation centered around Sarah's future pregnancy and the joy of the coming miracle child. As the visitors prepared to depart, Abraham saw them off as a gesture of respect, seemingly unaware of where they were heading. As the visitors looked down toward the wicked city of Sodom, the Lord pondered whether or not to tell Abraham that his visit had not just been about bringing good news. Eventually, the Lord decides to tell Abraham what is about to unfold: 

"Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know." - Genesis 18:21-22, ESV. 

We are not told why God revealed this to Abraham or why He did not reveal this to Sarah, but I can make an educated assumption. I think Sarah wasn't informed that they were going to Sodom because God didn't want her to receive both joyful news and sorrow over her nephew Lot's fate on the same day. If you remember, Abraham and Sarah's nephew Lot had chosen to move his household near the wicked cities of Sodom years ago. Abraham had already had to rescue Lot from the wicked people of the land once before, yet in the years since it seems that Lot had moved his family from the countryside into the heart of the wicked city. At the same time, I believe God revealed this to Abraham, knowing that Abraham, as a righteous man, would intercede for the wicked people  

The Lord tells Abraham that "the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is very grave" (Genesis 18:21, ESV). Many who suffered from the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah had prayed for God to intervene and bring an end to their decadent wickedness. God had chosen to answer these prayers and to come down to earth to judge these cities. His holiness would not tolerate the sin in Sodom and Gomorrah. Like the blood of Able, unpunished sin cries out to heaven for vengeance (Gen 4:10). The phraseology used in this passage is similar to that used in the flood of Noah and in the Tower of Babel, showing just how wicked and depraved these cities had become. 

Abraham fears for his relatives and for any innocent who might perish in the coming judgment, and so he pleads with the Lord. 

"Will you indeed sweep away the righteous and the wicked?" -Genesis 18:33, ESV. 

Here we see Abraham making an assumption that we are all guilty of falling into from time to time. As human beings, we always overplay our innocence and undersell our guilt. Because we are often so numb to sin, we see God's judgment as horrible when in fact, it is an act of mercy. Were God never to put an end to evil, it would only multiply and continue to grow like cancer. And yet God is not overly quick to pass judgment, valuing repentance and restoration over destruction and condemnation. 

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9, ESV

Abraham had a mistaken belief that God's judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah would also harm the innocent and righteous people living there. Abraham pleaded with God to spare Sodom (and Lot) by reminding God of His righteousness. It was unimaginable to Abraham that God would treat the righteous and wicked alike, as the righteous were justified by faith in God's promises and followed Him obediently. Where Abraham was mistaken was in his assumption that any of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were righteous. Sadly no one besides Lot would be found in Sodom who would be willing to repent. 

As the church father Origin said of Sodom,

"No one wished to know the mercy of God; no one wished to take refuge in his compassion." - Origen, Homilies on Genesis 4.6. 

And yet like the like the persistent widow in Jesus' parable (Luke 18:1-8) Abraham repeatedly expresses his sincere desire to save his relatives. He begins by asking the Lord if He would condemn they city if fifty righteous people were living within it. The Lord tells Abraham that he would not destroy the city if fifty righteous people were found. Abraham then asks the same question but lowers the number to forty-five. Again the Lord says he would not destroy the city for the sake of forty-five righteous. The number then drops to forty, then thirty, then twenty, and finally ten. Every time the Lord agrees that for the sake of the righteous, He will not destroy the city. 

Even though the city of Sodom was notorious for its wickedness, he still prayed for their salvation. It's a testament to his character that he didn't just pray for the safety of his own family but also for the people of Sodom. Abraham's actions are reminiscent of great prophets like Moses, Samuel, Amos, and Jeremiah, who all pleaded with God on behalf of their nation. While Sodom would not be spared its judgment, there are instances where the prayer of one righteous man was enough to spare an entire nation. In fact, the word "spare" was the keyword in Abraham's plea. The verb literally means to "lift up someone's face" (19:21), meaning to show them favor. This term was also used by Moses when he prayed for Israel in Exodus 32, a prayer that resulted in Israel being spared the judgment of God. 

It is incredible to contemplate the power of a righteous person. How often is mercy given to sinners unbeknownst to them because they have a righteous person interceding for them in prayer? The prayers of the righteous are salvation for a wicked nation. If the wicked could see clearly, they would not mock or criticize the saints among them but would instead fall on their knees and thank them for their prayers. Had Sodom had even ten righteous men among them, the city might even be standing to this day. 

As we conclude our sermon, we are reminded of the beautiful gospel message that resonates throughout this passage. Just as Abraham served the Lord with humility and fervently interceded for others, we, too, are called to live a life of devoted service and prayer. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled to God and equipped with His Holy Spirit to serve Him to the best of our abilities. Our calling extends beyond ourselves as we are invited to intercede on behalf of others. As Jesus intercedes for us, we should also intercede for others by praying for them and asking for God's transforming power in their lives. Let us embrace this divine calling with joy and obedience so that His kingdom may come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Closing Prayer:

Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for the reminder that You are a God who reveals Yourself to us, who desires intimate fellowship with Your creation. Just as You visited Abraham at the oaks of Mamre, You have made a way for us to encounter Your presence through Jesus Christ. We are grateful that in Him, we find the perfect image of the invisible God, the embodiment of Your love, mercy, and grace.

Father, we recognize that the story of Abraham interceding for Sodom reminds us of Jesus, our ultimate Intercessor. We are reminded that just as Abraham pleaded for the righteous to be spared, Jesus intercedes on our behalf before Your throne, advocating for our forgiveness, reconciliation, and salvation. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the sacrifice You made on the cross, where You willingly took upon Yourself the weight of our sins. Through Your death and resurrection, You have opened the way for us to come boldly before Your throne, to intercede for others and to find forgiveness and restoration.

May the gospel of grace resound in our hearts and minds as we leave this place. May we be inspired to intercede fervently for the lost, the broken, and the hurting, pointing them to the saving power of Jesus. Help us to be a people of prayer, motivated by love and compassion, willing to stand in the gap for those who need Your touch. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, enabling us to walk in obedience and to be faithful witnesses of Your gospel. May the truth we have encountered today transform our lives and impact the world around us. In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.