Genesis Part II: Lesson 35: Hospitality of Abraham

23Background of Abraham11: Call of Abraham11:31-12:1 25Promise of Abraham12:2-3 26Worship of Abraham12:4-9 27Wealth of Abraham12: Dwelling of Abraham13: Expedition of Abraham13:14-14:16 30Enemy of Abraham14: Tithe of Abraham14: Covenant of Abraham15: Concubine of Abraham16: Circumcision of Abraham17: Hospitality of Abraham18:1-33

Hebrews 13 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. φιλοξενίας (philoxenias) –“love of strangers”; to show hospitality Abraham was unaware that these three guests were God and His angels. ἡ φιλοξενία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ The Hospitality of Abraham

1.Servitude(Genesis 18:1-8) ἡ φιλοξενία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ The Hospitality of Abraham

Genesis 18 1 And the L ORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; The word translated L ORD is Jehovah. Whenever Moses names this guest (9 times), he uses Jehovah to unmistakably point out that this is God who visited him. This guest is none other than Jesus Christ.

Jesus is Jehovah, the great I AM. Servitude acknowledges this fact. John 8 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.” 57 Then said the Jews unto Him, “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’ “ Muslims call Jesus a prophet. Jews call Jesus a rabbi. Christians call Jesus God.

Genesis 18 1 And the L ORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; “Plains” refers to oaks or terebinths. The meal occurs under a tree. 4 … rest yourselves under the tree: 8 … he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. Abraham displays servitude.

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, Abraham recognized these 3 “men” afar off and ran to meet them (at 99). Abraham considers at least one to be greater than he is. Genesis 18 3 and said, “My Lord … Abraham greets Him with Adoni rather than Jehovah.

Abraham calls Him, Adoni, even though he calls God, Jehovah. Abraham thinks this is someone else who is greater than he is. Genesis And Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lift up mine hand unto the L ORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth …” 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem … 19 … said, “Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth … The greater blesses the lesser.

I believe this is Jesus Christ, disguised as Melchizedek, who appeared to him. Abraham knows this king is God’s high priest. Hebrews 7 4 Now consider how great [Melchizedek is], un- to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. Abraham is honorable as a king, but humbles himself in servitude.

1.Servitude(Genesis 18:1-8) ἡ φιλοξενία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ The Hospitality of Abraham 2.Fortitude(Genesis 18:9-15)

Genesis 18 9 And they said unto him, “Where is Sarah thy wife?” And he said, “Behold, in the tent.” 10 And He said, “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind Him. The time of life is 9 months, the time Jesus spent after giving up Godhead. This is spoken twice in Gen. 18 and quoted in Rom. 9:9.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Genesis 18 Sarah is menopausal. Abraham and Sarah display fortitude in waiting 25 years. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, say- ing, “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” Both think this is funny.

Genesis Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” Like Sarah, Abraham said this to himself, but God hears thoughts. Laughing builds fortitude. Genesis And the L ORD said unto Abraham, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?’

Genesis “Is any thing too hard for the L ORD ? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” God says again that He is coming back in 9 months to see Sarah’s son. Romans 9 9 For this is the word of promise, “At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.” God makes life out of the dead- ness of the womb and tomb.

Romans 4 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations … Genesis Then Sarah denied, saying, “I laughed not”; for she was afraid. And He said, “Nay; but thou didst laugh.” When all hope was gone, Abraham displayed fortitude in clinging to hope. Sarah now knows this guest is more than a king and priest.

1.Servitude(Genesis 18:1-8) ἡ φιλοξενία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ The Hospitality of Abraham 2.Fortitude(Genesis 18:9-15) 3.Aptitude(Genesis 18:16-21)

Genesis And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. They are headed to Sodom to destroy it. Melchizedek stops by Hebron on His way to Sodom to reveal His plans. Abraham’s aptitude allowed God to confide His plans and make Abraham a part of them. 17 And the L ORD said, “Shall I hide from Abra- ham that thing which I do;

18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 “For I know him, that he will command his chil- dren and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the L ORD, to do justice and judg- ment; that the L ORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.” Abraham’s aptitude stems from his insistence that his family lives in obedience to God. Genesis 18

20 And the L ORD said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 “I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.” The families in Sodom and Gomorrah had no leaders with aptitude. The earth cries to God for justice when it is stained by sin.

1.Servitude(Genesis 18:1-8) ἡ φιλοξενία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ The Hospitality of Abraham 2.Fortitude(Genesis 18:9-15) 3.Aptitude(Genesis 18:16-21) 4.Attitude(Genesis 18:22-33)

Genesis And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the L ORD. These two angels will arrive in Sodom at sundown. Lot will recognize them and invite them into his home. 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, “Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” Abraham’s attitude is one of concern for people’s lives.

24 “Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 “That be far from Thee to do after this man- ner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18 Abraham recognizes Melchizedek as the supreme court.

26 And the L ORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Just 50 righteous people can save a city. Abraham further displays his concern for life by negotiating from 50 to 45 to 40 to 30 to 20 to And Abraham answered and said, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28 “Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.” 29 And he spake unto Him yet again, and said, “Peradventure there shall be forty found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for forty’s sake.” Do not limit your prayers when making a request. Continue to ask until you get what you want.

30 And he said unto Him, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.” And He said, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 And he said, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.”

32 And he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” 33 And the L ORD went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: and Abra- ham returned unto his place. It will be a restless night for Abra- ham. He will arise early and go to this same spot to see the out- come of Sodom.

Genesis Part II: Lesson 35: Hospitality of Abraham