Special Guests
Special Guests
The events began during the heat of the day (Gen. 18:1). Customarily in this culture, people spent this early afternoon period of 2-3 hours resting. Abraham, his wife, and their servants (for the most part) would have rested at this time each day during the summer season. Their usually dark colored goatskin tents were fashioned to allow circulation of air with lifted flaps. This provided welcome relief on hot days and shelter from the blazing sun. Ideally, the tents would have normally been positioned amongst groves of moderate sized shade trees and preferably near water. Large tree stands close to water provided optimum shelter for nomadic herdsmen and their community. Just after refreshment of their midday meal, they would have relaxed and rested under their coverings. This practice of afternoon inactivity is not as familiar in the U.S. but is still very common in many other cultures around the world today.
During this normal time of rest, Abraham’s visitors suddenly and surprisingly appeared (Gen. 18:1-3). He immediately recognized one of the visitors to be the Lord. Having had previous contact with God numeorus times from long ago in Ur, Abraham boldly ran and threw himself prostrate. To most of the onlooking camp, his actions were probably shocking. They wouldn’t have been used to witnessing their great leader so eagerly and reverently thrust himself down in honor to a stranger. All eyes would have been closely on the scene as the event unfolded. Abraham begged these supernatural visitors indulgence in allowing him the hospitable act of foot washing normally performed only for honored guests arriving from afar. He also offered these special guests the choicest seats underneath a pleasant shade tree, and he pleaded additional indulgence hoping they would accept his offer to provide a banquet/feast (Gen. 18:4-5). Abraham would have lived for these moments of direct contact and service to the God who had called him out of that pagan world of Babylon some 25 years earlier.
From the moment they arrived, events moved very quickly. First, permission was granted, and Abraham’s supernatural visitors announced their intention to stay. Then Abraham quickly ran into the tent and ordered Sarah to hurriedly make three cakes of unleavened bread (Gen. 18:6). He then swiftly raced to his nearest herd and pulled out a prime calf and ordered his servant to dress it for immediate roasting as fast as possible (Gen. 18:7). Abraham’s haste in this passage is important to note. In fact, a quick read through the entire passage clearly indicates a repeated attitude of haste on Abraham’s part.
In their culture, eating meat was often reserved for special occasions. They also normally consumed meat quickly once it was cooked as preservation was not easy in their climate, especially in the warmer summer season. Any meat offered to a normal visiting guest would have generally been a less valued lamb or goat. Abraham’s indulgence of culling out an ideal and choice beef calf would have been a costly sacrifice; thus, this action signified honor of the highest degree. The very substantial feast of grilled calf meat accompanied with bread and many other special treats was prepared. Soon a feast for a visiting King took shape.
Although a feast was prepared, many have supposed that Abraham’s supernatural visitors did not actually need this food for bodily sustenance. Why did they eat then? Numerous scholars have grappled with this question and fewer yet have given sufficient answer. It couldn’t have been due to a need of physical food for their bodies to survive could it? Apparently, even in their normal spirit realm, angels may have some food intake needs (Ps. 78:25). Possibly, even supernatural angelic beings, having entered into this physical dimension, were subject to the same physical laws that God has created and placed in order here on Earth. Maybe the food they ate would greatly improve their physical stamina as they traveled along the walking path set before them. Perhaps, the student is to merely consider that supernatural beings occasionally eat food. Whatever the case, Abraham clearly prepared food for them.
At the end of this feast fit for a King, Abraham and his three guests rose up and walked to a view looking down towards Sodom in the far distant plain beneath them (Gen. 18:16). Located just south of modern day Hebron, Israel, Mamre stood as one of the highest points in all of populated Canaan. The view from their vantagepoint must have been magnificent as it ecompassed the entire lower territory and stretched out before them. Genesis 18:16 clearly indicates that Abraham accompanied these special visitors towards a path leading to Sodom. Immediately following in Gen. 18:17-21 is a set of very short statements made by God as they near the path. Finally, in Gen. 18:22, the angels depart on foot walking towards Sodom.
The Lord alone, remained behind with Abraham. They then engaged in a dialogue that many preachers and scholars have popularized. This conversation is one of the most famous passages in the entire Bible (Gen. 18:23-32). Some have erred in the past thinking Abraham’s discourse with God was for the sake of unfamiliar peoples in all the cities of the plain around Sodom. This is an incorrect assumption. Abraham was surely pleading the most for only one man and that man’s immediate family. That man was Abraham’s close and beloved elder/nephew Lot who resided in Sodom. Aware that the surrounding peoples were all pagan and still driven by very similar fertility cults that had plagued them before in Ur, Abraham likely believed that Lot and his family were the only righteous people in all these cities. Abraham focused on this fact in the discussion with God. He was pleading for the preservance of his familial elder and brother Lot. Because Abraham does not beg for grace towards any fewer than ten, logically Lot’s immediate family numbered close to ten, or less (Gen. 18:32). During the entire conversation, the only city mentioned by name in Abraham’s pleas for mercy was Sodom, where Lot was situated (Gen. 18:22-33). The fact that none of the other cities facing certain destruction were ever mentioned is no accident and lends support to the fact that Abraham attempted to save Lot.
After this brief conversation between God and Abraham, the Lord departed walking towards Sodom along the same path the two angels had begun walking. Abraham also left and walked back to his home, but with great heaviness of heart as he knew the Lord intended to follow through with destroying the city of Sodom. Abraham’s mind must have been filled with thoughts of Lot and concern for his welfare. After all, Lot was a righteous man that had faithfully followed the Lord’s calling in leaving Ur as Abraham had done. Close to 25 years had gone by since the death of their patriarchal father, Terah, and subsequent departure from Haran. Furthermore, they had lived as family many years before Abraham ever received the initial call to depart. The Holy Spirit had worked on Lot’s heart and Abraham’s heart long ago; they had become more than just family members. They were brothers in the faith. Naturally, Abraham would have been concerned for Lot.
These two men of God experienced many good times and overcome many trials. How long had it been since Abraham had last seen Lot? Had they been planning a family get together and just not found the time to make the connection? Given that they were probably the only two countrymen with like minds in their faith supports the argument that they had a very close and loving relationship. Surely, the gathering of their families would have always been the most exceptional and joyous of occasions. Yet, their gatherings and ability to fellowship together were probably rare due to business and family concerns. They would have missed each other and been ready to help when hard times threatened either of them. In fact, as previously mentioned, Abraham had rescued Lot from imprisonment from an invading army years earlier. They would have had many memories and stories to reflect on and share with their families at their gatherings.
Despite all this, Abraham was now faced with the stark realization that Lot and his family stood in mortal danger. We are unable to ascertain exactly what was said between Abraham and God as the entire conversation was not recorded in Scripture. However, logic dictates that God knew all the thoughts and emotions of Abraham as he reasoned down to ten souls. The Lord knew that Abraham loved Lot and was deeply concerned for him and his family. That would be one good reason why God gave Abraham the opportunity to warn Lot.
By the time God left, the two angels had already begun their walk down the path towards Sodom. Since the conversation between God and Abraham was short, God probably quickly caught up to the angels along the path. Abraham’s concern must have continued to build. Abraham must have been worried about getting word to Lot in time. He must have reasoned that a faster messenger could make it on beast much quicker than the walking visitors could. He would have tried.
We must ask why God and His angels did not just merely stand and wait until the conclusion of the conversation with Abraham and then suddenly vanish to reappear in Sodom and start the destruction. Indeed, upon initially arriving in front of Abraham, they seemed to suddenly appear from thin air. His first reaction to these supernatural visitors in Gen. 18 is complete surprise as they suddenly appear. Many commentaries agree their appearance was sudden and that Abraham didn’t see them walk up as he later saw them walking away. Yet, upon departing, Scripture is very clear in showing the two angels left on foot a short time prior to the discourse concerning Lot’s possible rescue in Sodom (Gen. 18:16, 18). The ensuing conversation, regarding Lot’s survival, would have only taken a few brief moments. Then, too, the Lord followed on foot by all reasonable consideration. A logical explanation for their travel by foot is that the Lord gave Abraham an opportunity to warn Lot. God always warns just before destruction. Similarly, Abraham must have attempted to warn Lot. Now, some might ask why God didn’t just show up to Lot to warn him personally, since he was a righteous man as well. Our easy answer is that God chose to do it this way for us today. The way it played out then and was recorded in Scripture will help us in these latter days before the destruction to come. The passage contains some very important things that may help us all to better understand the process by which our adversary will attempt to take over this planet and deceive even some of God’s children.
Traveling to Sodom on foot would have taken two days and we have concluded that these supernatural beings probably walked all the way. While it can’t be proven one way or the other whether these beings walked all the way or not, we ask that the reader merely consider the possibility. After all, Scripture indicates very clearly that Abraham did not see them suddenly vanish. No, they walked away down the path that he had led them to following their banquet.
After the Lord’s departure, Abraham would have focused on how to warn Lot. Considering his great wealth with many servants and herds, Abraham would have simply sent word to Lot with the message that supernatural beings were enroute to destroy the entire area. As soon as he was back at camp, he would have ordered his fastest animal(s) to be ridden hastily by messenger(s) towards his beloved brother Lot. Anyone riding on some animal transport would very easily arrive sooner than the visitors could if they left in a timely manner. Did these messengers pass directly by the visiting angels as they traveled along the path? A study of the region will reveal more than one possible route to Sodom. Regardless, Abraham would have instructed the messenger to take the fastest possible route. Warning Lot would have been the only priority!
Righteous Lot: Forgotten Hero
