Topical Bible: Abraham: Angels Appear To

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Biblical Context:

The account of angels appearing to Abraham is a significant event in the biblical narrative, illustrating divine intervention and communication with humanity. This event is primarily recorded in Genesis 18, where Abraham encounters three visitors near the great trees of Mamre.

Genesis 18:1-15 :

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a piece of bread, so that you may refresh yourselves. After that, you may go on—since you have come to your servant."

The visitors agreed, and Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread." Then Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

One of the visitors, who is later revealed to be the Lord, announced that Sarah would have a son by the same time next year. Sarah, who was listening at the entrance of the tent, laughed to herself, thinking she was too old to have a child. The Lord asked Abraham why Sarah laughed and questioned if anything was too difficult for the Lord. Sarah, afraid, denied laughing, but the Lord insisted that she did.

Significance:

1. Divine Revelation and Promise: The appearance of the angels to Abraham is a pivotal moment of divine revelation. It reaffirms God's promise to Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac, despite the advanced age of Abraham and Sarah. This encounter underscores the theme of faith and the fulfillment of God's promises.

2. Hospitality: Abraham's response to the visitors highlights the cultural importance of hospitality in the ancient Near East. His eagerness to serve and provide for the visitors reflects a deep-seated tradition of welcoming strangers, which is later echoed in the New Testament (Hebrews 13:2).

3. Theophany: The narrative is often interpreted as a theophany, where God appears in a human form. The presence of the Lord among the three visitors suggests a unique manifestation of God, engaging directly with Abraham.

4. Intercession for Sodom: Following the meal, the narrative transitions to the Lord revealing to Abraham the impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham's subsequent intercession for the cities demonstrates his role as a mediator and his concern for justice and mercy.

5. Faith and Doubt: Sarah's laughter and subsequent denial reflect human doubt in the face of divine promises. This moment serves as a reminder of the challenges of faith and the human tendency to question the seemingly impossible.

Related Themes and References:

· Hospitality: The importance of hospitality is a recurring theme in the Bible, as seen in other passages such as Hebrews 13:2, which encourages believers to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.

· Divine Promises: The promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah is part of the broader Abrahamic covenant, which includes numerous descendants and the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-6).

· Faith and Righteousness: Abraham's faith is a central theme in the biblical narrative, later highlighted in the New Testament as an example of righteousness through faith (Romans 4:3, Hebrews 11:8-12).

· Judgment and Mercy: The subsequent discussion about Sodom and Gomorrah introduces themes of divine judgment and mercy, illustrating God's justice and Abraham's role as an intercessor.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 18:1-16
And the LORD appeared to him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
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Genesis 22:11,15
And the angel of the LORD called to him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
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Genesis 24:7
The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spoke to me, and that swore to me, saying, To your seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife to my son from there.
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Library

Of the Three Men or Angels, in whom the Lord is Related to have ...
... God appeared again to Abraham at the oak of Mamre ... it is not to be doubted were angels,
although some ... nature, without changing itself at all, to appear even to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 29 of the three men.htm

Whether the Angels Exercise Functions of Life in the Bodies ...
... in their assumed bodies they ate, and Abraham offered them ... contrary to the truth
of the holy angels that through their assumed bodies they appear to be ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the angels exercise functions.htm

Refutation of Marcion's Objections Derived from the Cases of the ...
... Therefore on that occasion He did Himself appear with the angels to Abraham in the
verity of the flesh, which had not as yet undergone birth, because it was ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter ix refutation of marcions objections.htm

The Essence of God Never Appeared in Itself. Divine Appearances to ...
... of God and men, from the seed of Abraham, was preparing His own ... of the Saviour, when
God was said to appear, were wrought by angels: whether themselves ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 11 the essence of god.htm

The Appearance to Lot is Examined.
... on to say, "And the Lord went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham;
and Abraham returned to ... Two appear; both are called angels; they are ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 12 the appearance to lot.htm

Christ's Nativity Both Possible and Becoming the Heretical Opinion ...
... have been changed into human form, and have even borne about so veritable a body,
that Abraham even washed ... Or else, did those angels appear as phantoms of flesh ...
/.../ on the flesh of christ/chapter iii christs nativity both possible.htm

The Doctrine of Apelles Refuted, that Christ's Body was of ...
... because it has been submitted to angels to appear even amongst ... Lord Himself at that
very time appeared to Abraham amongst those angels without being ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter vi the doctrine of apelles.htm

God who Appeared to Moses is Distinguished from God the Father.
... return to thee hereafter, and Sarah shall have a son,' [2129] appear to have ... believing
that the three who were in the tent with Abraham were all angels.". ...
/.../chapter lvi god who appeared to.htm

The Testament of Abraham. Introduction.
... of souls, and the presence of recording angels at the ... of Abraham's unwillingness
to die, which is so prominent a ... of a New Testament character appear in it ...
/.../unknown/the testament of abraham/the testament of abraham introduction.htm

The Appearance in the Bush.
... to be the one God, is the God of Abraham, and the ... if he was one of the rest of the
angels, and whether ... of the business in hand, whereby both to appear to human ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 13 the appearance in the.htm