Genesis 18:1-15
Gen. 18:1-15
- Locate the passage
The Promise of an offspring for Abraham and Sarah was made and believed, but had not yet occurred. This time, it is Sarah’s turn to laugh.
- Genre
The passage is narrative. It records a conversation between the Lord (angel?) and Abraham, Abraham and Sarah, and the Lord and Sarah.
- Determine the structure of the passage
18:1-5 – Abraham’s Request of the Lord
18:6-8 – Abraham’s Instructions to Sarah
18:9-11 – The Promise of a Child through Sarah
18:12-15 – Sarah’s Denial and the Lord’s Response
- Exegete the passage
Abraham’s return to Mamre (Cf. Gen. 13:18) represents another encounter with the Lord by the terebinth trees, perhaps near the altar he had previously built.
Very little time has passed between 17:27 and 18:1. Abraham was 99 when the Lord appeared to him in 17:1 and when Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old (21:5). At this point, Sarah is not yet pregnant (Cf. 21:1). So, it is reasonable to assume that the events of Genesis 18 took place very shortly after the events of chapter 17. Thus, Abraham’s laughter at the prospect of Sarah’s pregnancy and Sarah’s laughter are only a short duration apart.
18:1 – This appearance of the Lord to Abraham is another in a series of Theophanies in the Abraham narrative (Cf. 12:7; 15:1; 16:7; 19:1; 22:11, 15)
18:1 – The Terebinth tree
- See note about on 12:6
18:2 – Three “men”
- Because of the reference to the appearance of the “Lord” in 18:1, Abraham’s discussion with the “Lord” in 18:17-33, and the reference to “the two angels” in 19:1, it seems likely that the “three men” described here are the Lord (theophany) and two angels.
- Abraham looked and “saw” (Hb. “ra’ah” – see above).
18:2 – He “ran”
- Abraham’s haste to perform the functions of a good host are represented 5 times in this passage (2, 6, 6, 7, 7) with two different Hebrew words (“rutz” or “ran” and “mahar” or “hasten”)
18:3 – “If I have found favor”
- Abraham seems to know which of the three to address
- Abraham addresses the one “guest” who stood out as most significant in vs. 3 (“Your” sight – 2nd person singular), but addresses all three men in vs. 4 (“your” feet – 2nd person plural).
- The phrase, “if I have found favor” need not suggest doubt on Abraham’s part, but is a customary request from an inferior to a superior (Cf. 30:27, 33:10; 47:29; 50:4; Exod. 33:13; 34:9; Judg. 6:17; 1 Sam. 27:5).
- The Hb. “na” (“please”) occurs twice in this verse.
18:3 – Do not pass on by Your servant
- Hymn – “Pass me not of Gentle Savior”
18:4-5 – This verse represents the Hebrew concept of hospitality. Abraham’s “guests” comply with his request to delay their departure until he returns to serve them.
18:7 – Abraham chose one of his best calves to offer his “guests.” Once the preparations were completed, Abraham stood by to see if there were other needs ways that he could serve his guests.
18:9 – The inclusion of Sarah in the conversation suggest again her significance in the fulfillment of the promise (Cf. 17:16).
18:10 – I will return to you
- This phrase occurs twice in the text (Cf. 18:14), here in vs. 10 more emphatically.
18:12 – Sarah laughed
- The Hb. (“tzachaq”) is the same word used of Abraham’s response to a child born through Sarah in 17:17. The difference is that Abraham did not deny laughing.
- Gen. 21:6 – Sarah will laugh again and her child will be named for it.
18:12 – Shall I have this pleasure
- Sarah’s reference to “pleasure” need not have sexual connotations. The description of her question in vs. 13, suggests that the “pleasure” she was referencing had to do with bearing a child.
- The Hb. “ednah” derives from the word “eyden” (i.e. Garden of Eden).
- Gen. 2:8.
18:14 – Is anything too “hard” for the Lord?
- The Hb. “pala” means “wonderful” or “marvelous”
18:14 – At the “appointed time”
- The Hb. “mo’ed” suggests a time of God’s choosing; the precise time.
- The word is frequently used in the festivals (Cf. Lev. 23:2, 4, 37, 44).
- God only works at the right time
- Gal. 4:4 – God working at the “appointed time” foreshadows the birth of Jesus in the “fullness of time.”
18:15 – Sarah denied it
- Sarah’s denial of her laughing represents the fear she felt in the presence of their guests.
- Let the structure of the text drive the sermon
- Honoring God’s Presence
Exp. The passages demonstrates Abraham entertaining men, angels, and the Lord
Exp. Yet, it is not the Abraham who blesses the Lord, it is the Lord who blesses Abraham. The Lord never leaves in our debt.
- “My Lord”
- Abraham’s
- Quickly
- Abraham doesn’t laugh in this pericope; he merely responds out of respect at the presence of honored “guests.”
- Laughing at God’s Promise
Exp. The conflict between fear and faith
Exp. The angels rebuke of Sarah is both for her deceit and for her lack of faith
- I will return to you (vs. 10, 13)
- God’s Power always supports His Promise
- His promises are never under-supported
- God’s Power always supports His Promise
- At the appointed time
- God only works at the right time;
- He is perpetually punctual
- Jesus came at the right time (Gal. 4:4)
- God only works at the right time;
- The laughter of doubt vs. the laughter of delight
- God knows the difference
- He notes our unbelief
- We are responsible for our sin and doubt
- Nothing it too hard for the Lord
- God knows the difference
App. This passage calls on believers to believe God’s power to support His promises in our lives. It ultimately calls on us to claim His Promise through His Son.
App. This passage reminds of another promised Son, whose birth, in a similar, but much greater sense than that of Isaac, would be:
- Even more miraculous in His conception,
- Foretold by the Prophets,
- It would occur at the appointed time (Gal. 4:4),
- Bring salvation for His people,
- Bring joy (“laughter”) for His people