Genesis 18
sums up the gospel message, metaphorically speaking of course. It’s starts with Lord appearing to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre, and this is how it goes. While Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day, he looked up saw three men standing nearby. Now I know Jesus was only one man, but He actually contained the three parts of God. He was designed by His Father, who expressed His Holy Spirit to conceive the Word of God in the physical realm. When Abraham saw them, he ran out to meet them and bowed low to the ground. Humility in Love and Fear of the Lord is the correct response to presence of God. Abraham had the wisdom to understand that these three men were not ordinary men. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way - now that you have come to your servant. “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” Genesis 18:3-5 Abraham responded with the gift of hospitality. When a lover of God’s Word uses their gift of hospitality, they aren’t expecting payment for their generosity, and they do so joyfully. The apostle once wrote a letter to the Roman church, and this is what it said in 12:6-8, “We all have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to get Sarah. “Quick,” he said, get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before the three men. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree - as if waiting for their word. Finally, they asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” It confuses me how the pronoun “they” is used when the scripture says, “they” asked him where she was. How can three men speak all at once? Perhaps it really means, that they each took turns - or they were all grouped as one? Abraham responded and told them Sarah was in the tent. Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now that is interesting. Only one of the three men said he was coming back. This is the first time, we see division of the three. Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him, and when she heard what the divine man said, She laughed to herself. You see, Abraham and Sarah were very old, way beyond childbearing years. So Sarah laughed and thought to herself, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Genesis 18:12 I can't tell if Sarah was being sarcastic? "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have the pleasure this give birth?" Was she using irony to mock or convey contempt? It sure sounds a little like that. Also, did you notice that Sarah called Abraham her Lord? “Adown” in Hebrew is the superintendent of the household, the master of the affairs the ruler who is king or lord - it is the word general used to recognize superiority. No wonder God never wanted humans to have a king! Look what happens almost every single time a human being gets a little power! They believe they are God! Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” The Lord did not go to Sarah and question her lack of faith. He spoke to Abraham and held him accountable instead. Before Christ came, this is the way it was. The man was the leader of his household, and he was responsible for everything and everyone that God blessed him with. The reality is husbands and wife were one - they were supposed to lead with humility and love, not with power and dominion and heavy hands. According to scripture, if a man strayed and walked away from God then his wife and his children were also specked and flawed. If you don’t believe me, read the story of Korah "when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed his entire household- along with his rebellious friends." Numbers 16:32 Today, humanity falls under the covenant of Christ, as written down by Paul in his letter to the Galatian church This is what the Word of God says, “Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian UNTIL Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian (or any other man). So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:23-29 This means, if we believe in Christ and love Him with all our heart, then we are justified by faith - not by a law or a man. This portion of Genesis shows Sarah being afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But the Lord said, Yes, you did.” Genesis 18:13-15 Women of God - Are you still operating under some kind of deceit? Do you think you need a husband or a priest, to connect you to God? Be careful what you think - for the Lord is coming back soon. Every person will bow at the foot of the Lord, and give testimony to whether they believed in Christ - the ONLY way to Heaven, and to the House of God. You see, Sarah was hidden behind a tent masked beneath hurt and deceit, bitterness had set in and sarcasm had become her response - the Lord saw her and saw the heart of Abraham. Perhaps we all need to be a little like Hagar, the servant mistreated by Sarah, who was cast out, utterly ashamed who said to the Lord, “You are the God who sees me,” “I have now seen the One who sees me.” in Genesis 16:13. Remember this - the Lord keeps his promise. He is coming back soon. Not as a lamb, but as the Lion of Judah. Don’t get stuck in laws and traditions. Don't get stuck behind man-made rules and roles. Scripture says, we are saved by Grace Alone, through Christ Alone by Faith Alone. All you need is faith - this is what God counts as righteousness. Romans 4
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