The Seventh Appearance
CHAPTER SIX: THE SEVENTH APPEARANCE
IN Genesis 18. 1 the Lord appeared to Abraham for the seventh time in the plains of Mamre. According to Genesis 13: 18 Mamre is Hebron, and Hebron means fellowship. Now Abraham had learned that privilege of enjoying that fellowship with God. In chapter 19 we see Abraham sitting at his tent door with great expectation. He is not happy exactly, but expectant. He is looking forward to something. As you grow spiritually you may be given admonition of coming events. There is something in the heart that will warn you to be on the lookout.
In this way we are prepared beforehand. To Abraham in chapter 18:2 the Lord appeared as an ordinary man, but to lot in chapter 19 God appeared as an angel. In chapter 18:9 three men speak to Abraham. And they put a question together, but in verses 10 and 13 the Lord is alone with Abraham and is speaking to him. When God began to talk to Abraham alone, Abraham recognized that he was talking to God, though he was disguised Himself as an angel. In case of Lot only two angels go to him. Though they came as ordinary men Abraham welcomed them with great joy. In the case of Lot however, though they appeared to him as angels, yet half-hearted welcome he gave to them.
Compare the welcome given by two men in chapter 18 and 19. Abraham runs to meet them. That shows what joy he had in receiving them. Though Abraham saw them as ordinary men yet he went out to meet them with joy. Lot knew that these men were angels, but he stood where he was to welcome them. In Genesis 18. 3-5 Abraham is saying "come and sit down. I will go inside and prepare food for you three." But Lot gives them no mention of food, though he gives them water to wash their feet. He told the angels, " you stay here and go away in the morning"(Gen. 19:2). Perhaps he was afraid that his wife would reject them and refuse to give them food. In Genesis 18:6, with what great joy Abraham ran to the herd and brought in young calf. He told his wife to take three measures of fine flour. Now one measure of flour is enough for three people, but they prepared food for nearly thirty people. Though he had three guests, his joy was so great that he wanted his whole family to have fellowship together. Whatever he could prepare he prepared in full abundance, and they came to him with great joy.
In the case of Lot however, the angel said, "we will abide in the street" (Gen. 19:2). They were quite willing to stay in the street all night because of half-hearted welcome given by Lot. They knew that wife and children of Lot were not of one mind with him, and therefore the angels were not willing to go inside, so Lot had to press them to do so. When we go to some houses we feel that the Lord is there. We find it great joy to be with such people. But when we go to other homes we do not like to be there even for a few minutes.
What kind of home is your home? It is not your furniture or wealth or food that can make a happy home. It is only Lord's presence that can make a homehappy. Abraham, Sarah and the whole family joined together to receive three guests, and the guests were very happy to be with them. But in the case of Lot in Genesis 19:3, only after much persuasion the angels came into Lot's house. Perhaps Lot said, " By the way have you had any food?" For the sake of formality some people ask this question and not with the desire of entertain. Many years I went to see my sister. She asked me " Won't you have something to eat? I replied, " Yes, please" then she said, " You looked so tired that I thought that you would refuse. We have nothing in house. Perhaps Lot was doing the same kind of thing. There is no mention of Lot's wife. Perhaps if Lot had asked his wife to prepare food for the guests she might have retorted, " Prepare it yourself. They are not my guests, but yours." We read that Lot himself " baked unleavened bread, and they did eat."
Lot had chosen to stay very near to Sodom. At first he may have lived outside Sodom, but later on he came inside. Then he became an elder in Sodom, and the result was that his own people became full of worldly pleasures. Many people lose their joy and happiness because they are attracted by worldly honor and wealth and glamour. Abraham received these guests because he thought that they were God's messengers. He received them as strangers at first. Perhaps, Hebrews.13: 2 refer to Abraham. It was only when he began to speak to them that he knew who they were. That should be our attitude also; to receive even strangers in His name with great joy.
The lord appeared to Abraham to strengthen his faith. The Lord said, "Sarah, thy wife, shall have a son". Sarah laughed within herself saying: "After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also?" The Lord asked: "Why did Sarah laugh?" How the devil tried to bring in doubt. That is the devil's work. God knew beforehand that doubt would come to their minds, so He came lovingly to take away their doubts. God will surely send messengers from time to time, to encourage and strengthen His people when they are full of discouragement. This can happen through letters, a book or messengers.
In Genesis 18: 16 Abraham walked with the men. He walked with them as Enoch walked with God, not to get any favor but just to have fellowship with them. Then the two men went to Sodom and the Lord stayed behind, to talk with Abraham personally. He said: "Abraham is my friend. I know him and I cannot hide any secret from him. I have watched him and know how he looks after his family. Now I'm going to tell him my heart's secret. My time has come to judge the men of Sodom and Gomorrah." Abraham stood before the Lord while the angels went on to Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Lord Jehovah talked to Abraham alone. As the friend of Abraham He talked freely with him. He did not send His angels to speak to Abraham but came in person to do so. Some men when they want to talk to us they send their servants. They tell them: " Go to so and so and give them this message". Here God is saying, " I will talk to Abraham myself. I have an important matter to talk with him". So He sent His angels on to Sodom and Gomorrah.
What a privilege we have, what a great honor to be His friends. Just imagine the Lord Himself coming to talk with us. But first we have to be tested and approved to be worthy of this privilege. In Genesis 18:19 the Lord said, " I know him that he will command his children and his household after him." So the Lord has been watching Abraham and his household all this time; how he had been giving God's message to whole family faithfully. Every family should have family prayer regularly. If we will teach our children God's word regularly and faithfully we too can become God's friends, and that which is hidden from the angels be revealed to us. When God told Abraham about coming events, Abraham interceded for the men of Sodom and Gomorrah. He gained boldness as God's friend. We can also have boldness and liberty to intercede for others, and to claim grace and mercy for those who are in darkness. Thus we can become God's coworkers (Vs. 33).
God did not go to Lot, but sent His angels to warn them, because Abraham interceded for Lot and his wife and his two daughters. The Lord had no desire to share His secret with Lot, because Lot had grieved Him by preferring to stay near Sodom and Gomorrah. He was deceived by fertile land nearby, and in the end had become an elder in Sodom. If anyone of us like Lot, prefers worldly pleasures and honor, the Lord will not come to us, nor reveal to us His secrets. I know of many believers who are born-again. They know the meaning of the "Church of God". But they want to be elders somewhere, and they despise the fellowship of God's people. They want to be honored by elders, and nominal Christians are ready to welcome them. They will be rescued from 'fire', but all that they have done will be as 'wood, hay and stubble' and will be burned up. Let us take warning, lest the things of this world are more to us than the promises of God.