Genesis 18:1-10  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.  ² He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground.  ³ He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant.  ⁴ Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.  ⁵ Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."  ⁶ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes."  ⁷ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it.  ⁸ Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.  ⁹ They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent."  ¹⁰ Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.

            Yesterday’s first lesson left me with a question:  Who were the three men that visited Abraham at Mamre?  Our lesson tells us that The Lord appeared to him, but who were the three men?  Abraham even called one of them “Lord”.  The easy answer for Christians is that this is the Trinitarian God.  However, that is a long shot.  We don’t really know the answer because the text doesn’t say.  Perhaps they were angels.  Regardless, they were sent from God.

            This got me thinking about all the other times God appears as three people.  My mind goes to the transfiguration scene on top of Mt. Tabor (in all three synoptic Gospels).  Jesus stands with Moses and Elijah, with God’s voice being heard.  Also, I am reminded of the Magi that visit Jesus shortly after his birth.  They are often depicted as three individuals (although there is no evidence that it was three).

            The three men that visited Abraham and Sarah brought with them the blessing of God.  That blessing and covenant was that Sarah, despite her old age, would have a child.  Abraham’s generosity towards these three men (or angels) solidifies his faith in God.  God in turns promises the child and a return visit.

To see a painting of this scene, follow this link:

http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=4207&handle=li

In our prayers this week:  Helen, Ann, and Robert

God’s Peace,