I must admit that it felt kind of weird typing the words “God drops by for dinner”, but that’s what happened. Abraham was sitting outside his tent one day when he sees three men approaching; they were God, Father, Son and Spirit.
No, I don’t think it was God and two bodyguards; what would He need bodyguards for?
Being a gracious host, Abraham offers something to eat and drink, and they accept. He tells Sarah to get busy baking bread; he selects a perfect calf and tells a servant to prepare it for roasting; the Three would be there for the day it would seem, for it takes a long time to go from flour to bread and from a living calf to a roasted one… They would be visiting for quite some time, just as close friends like to do.
I wonder how often we spend with God just visiting…
Abraham returns to his Guest with milk and curds. “Where is Sarah?” He asks. (Notice they knew his wife’s name?).
Abraham says that she is in the tent.
Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” (18:10)
Sarah, listening at the opening of the tent (wasn’t she supposed to be making bread?) chuckles to herself at the thought of becoming pregnant at 90 and the Lord wanted to know why she was laughing; she lied. “Yes you did laugh” was the Lord’s reply…
The Christmas Story is all about an impossible birth, and so is Father Abraham’s story. From an earthly point of view, neither story can be true, and ever since that time, people who do not have ears to hear, have dismissed both as mere myth. Yet both really took place, for nothing is too hard for our God. Abraham’s is a story of promise, the Christmas Story is a story of promise fulfilled and I can’t help but think that of all seasons of the year, this is the most hopeful, for if nothing else it reminds us of the hope we have in Christ… if only we could stop hustling and bustling long enough to have eyes that see.
We’ll pick up the story here next time, and when we do we will have a rare glimpse into the mind of God at work: see you then!
Life Project Blog 
“I must admit that it felt kind of weird typing the words “God drops by for dinner”, ,,,” 🙂
And typing “What if there was no original sin” this morning falls into the same category.
Love the way you make the Trinity so intimate here. Beautiful post, thank you!
Thanks Paul.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
I love this story! I think it shows the relationship God wanted to have with us from the beginning. One on one continuous connection. Which through Jesus and Holy Spirit He has now attained.
Well said. He went to such lengths to make that connection possible, and so often we are too busy! Isn’t that crazy?!
“God and his body guards.” lol
‘Abraham’s is a story of promise, the Christmas Story is a story of promise fulfilled and I can’t help but think that of all seasons of the year, this is the most hopeful, for if nothing else it reminds us of the hope we have in Christ… if only we could stop hustling and bustling long enough to have eyes that see.”
When they came to visit they stayed for awhile. No hustling and bustling there.
Loved this post Don .
Amen!
Thank you Laura
Don, can’t say as I have ever heard that scene was the Trinity in human form. I’ve heard the lead character was a Christophany. Now you have me mulling this one over. Dinner anyone?
I’ve heard that too, but notice “Lord” is all caps:LORD. Whenever you see that it’s Yĕhovah in Hebrew which is where we get Jehova. Hmmm… so much to process, let’s do dinner! 🙂
Actually, in Hebrew it is Adonai. Which is frequently translated as the LORD, since no one knows how to pronounce the Name of God. I seem to recall you’re on the eastern side of the continent. Dinner might have to virtual for now.
Better look this one up…
YHVH
So, let’s eat! 🙂
We’ll have to arrange a Skype date. 🙂
In Gen 18:1 it is YHWH but in 18:3 Abraham addresses the 3 men as Adonai. The name of God is HWH which means I AM in Hebrew but as the Hebrews were superstitious and couldn’t write or say God’s name the letter Y was added to the HWH making God’s name unpronounceable.
Interesting side point. The letter Y added in Hebrew is actually HWHY (Hebrew reads right to left) and this letter is also in hebrew the number 1 and so in English we could read it as I AM (number) 1 or I AM one. We know the verse “The LORD your God is one LORD” where the ‘one’ is a collective 1 but where the mistake is made is that the LORD is one but ELOHIM (GOD) is plural and is of course Father, Son & Holy Spirit which is 3 personages. 🙂 Very few people seem to be able to wrap their heads around this.
This is one of many instances when God intervened in the life of one of His “chosen-ladies” and made them able to conceive and bear a son. Just one generation later, God intervened on behalf of Rebekah and enabled her to bear Esau and Jacob. God gave Hannah the ability to bear Samuel.
The story of Ruth closes with; 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
Had Ruth been barren prior to her marrying Boaz? This phrase, “And the Lord enabled her to conceive,” is used many times throughout the Bible when God intervened and gave a barren woman the ability to become pregnant. Could this be why she and her first husband didn’t have any children? Had God “saved” her for this point in her life, to accomplish His special-purpose?
The final prophet, John the Baptist, was born to Elizabeth, who was elderly and barren. God is also God of the womb.
Blessings,
Steve
Indeed He is. Thanks Steve!
Yes…hope… 💗💗💗
Hi Don
Been saying that it was the Trinity dropping by for years and got argued to. Nice to see someone else can see it clearly.
Thanks Steve. I know what you mean, there are differing views on it, but it seems clear enough to me. 🙂
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Thanks for this post. I’m just starting to work on a series for my parish entitled “Eucharistic Eating.” This post fits in well with that idea.
Yes it would, thank you