Genesis 18:7, commentary and pictures

Abraham at hot noontide under the oaks of Mamre welcomed three unknown, weary travelers into his home, himself running to the herd to choose a tender and good calf and giving it to a young man to dress and make ready promptly. The travelers were heavenly angels in the garb and form of wayfaring men, and one of them was the Son of God come on a mission of mercy with promises of blessing. Though old, wealthy, honored and accustomed to command, Abraham served them himself with respectful, hurried care, bringing water with his own hands to wash their feet and standing beside them in the shade while they ate. His courteous, unselfish entertainment of strangers who might never come again is the finest pattern of true courtesy and Christian kindness, and by it he ministered to angels, had the counsels of heaven opened to him, and was called the friend of God. The same ministry continues still, so that by hospitality to God's children people may yet receive angels in human form and leave blessing behind, as Gideon afterward followed Abraham's hastening precedent when entreating the Covenant Angel to remain as his guest.

Abraham's Welcoming Meal

The verse belongs to the welcoming of three unknown travelers at hot summer noontide under the oaks of Mamre, who rested as if weary and accepted hospitality in Abraham's home. They came as men in the garb of wayfarers, appearing in human form and talking with Abraham as men. They were heavenly angels, and one among them was the Son of God, the glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer, and King. They came on a mission of mercy to Abraham with promises of blessing.

Though old, dignified, wealthy, highly honored, and accustomed to command, Abraham himself served them personally and respectfully. He ran to meet them, bowed to the ground, and begged them to stay. He brought water with his own hands to wash the dust of travel from their feet, and stood respectfully beside them under the cooling shade while they ate.

For their food he himself ran to the herd and selected a tender and good calf. He gave it to a young man, who hasted to dress it, and had it made ready promptly, with Sarah making ready the rest of the meal. His hastening to provide for their needs and to choose what was good and tender showed unselfish care for others and considerate, prompt service. He did all this simply for passing wayfarers who might never come his way again, seeking nothing and knowing nothing of who they were, not knowing that one was the Son of God.

Angelic Ministry Continues

The meal is evidence that holy angels work for the succor and deliverance of God's people by taking an active part in the affairs of men in all ages. They were celestial beings who appeared in human form to a man of God, coming as men in the garb of wayfarers. They were sent on a mission of mercy to Abraham with promises of blessing, and they communed with him and tarried to share his hospitality. At his tent they rested as if weary under the oaks at hot noontide and accepted the hospitality of a human home, including the calf he hasted to dress and make ready for them.

The same kind of visit still occurs since the proclamation of the third angel's message began. When complaints are brought against God's servants, angels are often sent down to look into their course. At times they talk with men without being recognized, questioning those in error until they reveal all that is in their hearts, and then they carry back to heaven a report of things exactly as they are. The privilege granted to Abraham is not denied now, for by showing hospitality to God's children people today may still receive angels in human form into their homes. The unseen angels who accompany Christians leave a blessing behind them.

Abraham's hastening to prepare food for his guests set a precedent that Gideon followed. When Gideon desired a token that the one addressing him was the Covenant Angel who had wrought for Israel in time past, he entreated the divine Messenger to remain as his guest. He then hastened to his tent to prepare a kid and unleavened cakes from his scanty store and set them before Him.

Courtesy and Faithful Living

Abraham's courteous welcome and entertainment of the messengers is the finest example of the power of true courtesy and the pattern of a Christian gentleman. He hastened to provide for the needs of the three travelers, choosing a good, tender calf and arranging for it to be prepared, and his hospitality reflected unselfish care for others. His kindness and courtesy toward his fellow people, shown in his care in preparing food for his visitors, illustrates what is due from man to his fellow man. Bible courtesy is expressed through such considerate, prompt service as hastening to provide a good meal, and such courtesy can open hearts to receive the truth and bring glory to God.

His personal, hurried care in selecting and preparing food for passing strangers shows hospitality in practical action. Welcoming and caring for strangers can be part of religious life, and small, willing acts of kindness matter. The act was important enough for God to record in His word and is included in the command not to forget to entertain strangers because some have entertained angels unawares. By this hospitality Abraham received heavenly angels into his dwelling, and the privilege granted to him is not denied now, for by showing hospitality to God's children people today may still receive angels in human form into their homes, and the unseen angels who accompany Christians leave a blessing behind them.

Though old, dignified, wealthy, highly honored, and accustomed to command, he ran to meet three unknown travelers, bowed to the ground, begged them to stay, brought water with his own hands to wash the dust of travel from their feet, himself selected their food, had it made ready, and stood respectfully beside them under the cooling shade while they ate. He did this simply for passing wayfarers who might never come his way again, seeking nothing and knowing nothing of who they were. In doing so he ministered not only to heavenly angels but to their glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer, and King, and the counsels of heaven were opened to him and he was called the friend of God, showing hospitality brings blessing. The chapter to which the verse belongs urges believers to seek the Lord most earnestly and to take a more decided stand to be obedient to all of God's requirements and not only profess belief in the truth.

The record of Abraham preparing and serving a meal that included a tender and good calf bears directly on the subject of meat eating and must be read carefully, given due consideration, and represented fairly in all its bearings. It shows reason not yet to make meat eating a test question, since a positive presentation would cause some to stumble and others to make it a stone of stumbling.