Genesis 18:2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
At the heat of the day Abraham was sitting at his tent door under the oaks of Mamre when three men who seemed only weary travelers passed near, and he ran from the tent to meet them and bowed low toward the ground. They appeared as common men asking no favor, but they were holy angels in human form, and one of them was the Son of God himself. They were sent on a mission of mercy to visit him with promises of blessing and counsels of heaven before the destruction of Sodom. His running to meet and refresh unknown strangers is the foremost Bible picture of hospitality and true courtesy, and in so doing he entertained angels unawares and brought blessing into his dwelling. That same ministry continues now, for holy watchers still visit the earth unseen amid its cities and assemblies and share in human life.
Setting and Heavenly Visitors
It was hot summer noontide, in the heat of the day, and Abraham was resting and sitting at his tent door under the oaks of Mamre at Mamre. He was old and full of dignity and wealth and honor and accustomed to command. When three men who seemed only travelers passed near, he hurried and ran from the tent to meet them and bowed low toward the ground.
The three seemed to all appearance only human beings, common and weary travelers making no appeal and asking no favor, and Abraham thought them only such. In fact they were holy angels appearing in human form, disguised as men in need of shelter, mighty heavenly beings bearing a part in human life. One of them was the glorious Commander, the Son of God, Christ himself, the Creator, Redeemer and King, whom Abraham did not at first know.
They were sent on a mission of mercy to Abraham with promises of blessing, to communicate the Lord's will through angels and to open to him the counsels of heaven. They came to visit before the destruction of Sodom for its great wickedness. In that appearing Christ gave him clear and distinct knowledge of the requirements of the moral law and of the great salvation to be accomplished through Christ. He was called the friend of God and appointed to preserve the truth amid prevailing sins and increasing corruptions.
Angelic Ministry to Humanity
The verse shows God's care and interposition through holy angels who in all ages minister to His people for succor and deliverance. Celestial beings take an active part in the affairs of men and bear a part in human life. They come as men in the garb of wayfarers, appearing in human form and speaking and communing with men. At Mamre they rested as if weary under the oaks at noon, accepted the hospitalities of human homes and ate at humble boards, and tarried to share hospitality. They were sent on a mission of mercy to Abraham with promises of blessing, giving the pattern for entreating a divine Messenger to remain as guest.
Heavenly messengers met people in ordinary life and common occupations. Abraham encountered them while at his tent in the day and went out to welcome them, showing heaven was near to people.
The visit reveals the greatest interest of the whole heavenly universe in this speck of a world. That interest is because Christ has paid an infinite price for its inhabitants and has bound earth to heaven by ties of intelligence, and because the redeemed of the Lord are here. The same visitation continues now, for heavenly watchers and holy ones as invisible agencies still visit the earth. They are present amid busy cities and crowded thoroughfares and marts of trade and every assembly for business or pleasure and every gathering for worship, observing every word and deed where more listeners are present than can be seen with natural sight. Sometimes the curtain that hides the unseen world is drawn aside to withdraw thoughts from hurry and rush to consider the unseen witnesses to all that is done or said. The angels seen by Abraham and Lot may still be present unseen, a ministry that will not be fully understood until God's providences are seen in the light of eternity.
Hospitality and Courtesy Model
Genesis 18:2 is the foremost Bible picture of hospitality as a duty that brings blessing, an act counted important enough to be recorded in the word of God. Small acts of kindness shown to others can bring blessing and reveal a character that lives for others. Abraham would not let unknown wayfarers and passing strangers who might never come his way again go on unrefreshed, though they made no appeal and asked no favor. With prompt care for their needs he hurried to greet them and bowed low, brought water by his own hands to wash the travel dust from their feet, and gave refreshment and food which he himself selected and Sarah prepared while they rested in cooling shade and he stood respectfully beside them as they ate.
His running to meet them and welcoming and entertaining them is the finest example of the power of true courtesy, even Bible courtesy expressed through hospitality. It proves him a true gentleman and Christian gentleman who knew what is due from man to fellow man. He stands as a representative example of courtesy, kindness and love toward others, of the kind and attentive heart in politeness, courtesy and benevolence formed under the moulding and fashioning of the Lord, a sample of what all should be. In entertaining unknown strangers he was entertaining angels unawares and brought angels into his dwelling. The tarrying of the angels to share his hospitality gives the pattern for entreating a divine Messenger to remain as guest.
Lot learned this practice of courteous welcome from Abraham and made it part of his religious life. The same privilege is still open today, for by showing hospitality to God's children people may still receive angels in human form into their homes and receive a blessing left behind by holy beings. With the following chapter on Sodom, the passage calls hearers to seek the Lord most earnestly and take a more decided stand for the Lord. It calls them to be not only professed believers in the truth but obedient to all of God's requirements, with confession and earnest prayer.