A lot was packed into this chapter. Many have commented well on what is contained in this account of Go's visitation to Abraham. I believe it says that Abraham's tent was set up in Mamre, just as in a previous chapter before Abraham went to Egypt. I think that this was between Bethel and Ai and on a hill. From there they could look over the plains Jordan valley. Bethel was a special place for Abraham and Jacob.
Abraham must have been familiar with meeting with God in visible form. He was at his tent door and, upon seeing them, ran to meet them, bowing down out of respect. Bowing down to visitors was a common gesture in the culture of that time.
Even so, I think Abraham recognized God and the two angels from afar. He hastened to go out to meet them instead of waiting for them to arrive at the tent. It is remarkable that Scripture noted that God and the angels ate a meal with Abraham. This must have happened before since Abraham knew that they would dine with him, Just like it says in Rev. 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
Also, Abraham asked them not to pass by without staying and eating with him. He must have known that they intended to travel farther than Abraham's tent. They were headed towards Sodom and Gomorrah. yet, before that destruction, God wished to announce a life-giving message to Abraham, the fulfillment of the prophecy of a child being born to Sarah and himself. Remember, Abraham laughed when God first gave him the prophecy that he would father a child and become a great nation. Here Sarah laughs as she considers her situation-lifelong infertility and being well past menopause. She knew Abraham could father children because Ishmael was now 10 or 11 years old, but she must have considered it impossible for her to conceive. God was about to do a very great miracle in Sarah-restore her fertility and open her womb to conceive Isaac.
Abraham must have been familiar with meeting with God in visible form. He was at his tent door and, upon seeing them, ran to meet them, bowing down out of respect. Bowing down to visitors was a common gesture in the culture of that time.
Even so, I think Abraham recognized God and the two angels from afar. He hastened to go out to meet them instead of waiting for them to arrive at the tent. It is remarkable that Scripture noted that God and the angels ate a meal with Abraham. This must have happened before since Abraham knew that they would dine with him, Just like it says in Rev. 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
Also, Abraham asked them not to pass by without staying and eating with him. He must have known that they intended to travel farther than Abraham's tent. They were headed towards Sodom and Gomorrah. yet, before that destruction, God wished to announce a life-giving message to Abraham, the fulfillment of the prophecy of a child being born to Sarah and himself. Remember, Abraham laughed when God first gave him the prophecy that he would father a child and become a great nation. Here Sarah laughs as she considers her situation-lifelong infertility and being well past menopause. She knew Abraham could father children because Ishmael was now 10 or 11 years old, but she must have considered it impossible for her to conceive. God was about to do a very great miracle in Sarah-restore her fertility and open her womb to conceive Isaac.
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