#Abraham by Mamre oaks

[yhebrew]

INTENT - Whose Intent Matters?

Is God intentional? Can we see patterns to our future?

Thanksgiving is approaching with the ‘intent’ of being thankful. Families are being invited or they are disappointed by not being invited to friends and relatives. I do not believe it is ‘intentional’ to leave anyone off the Thanksgiving guest list, but it has become harder and harder to accommodate gathers. People are older and just don’t have the energy of what it takes to host…cleaning the…

[walkswithmyfather]

Genesis 18:1-15 (NASB). “Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, ‘My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. ‘Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant." And they said, ‘So do, as you have said."

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes." Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate.

Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, “There, in the tent." He said, ``I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" And the LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh."

“Laughing at the Impossible” By In Touch Ministries:

“God is able to do far more in your life than you can possibly imagine.”

“Sarah was approaching age 90 when she overheard a mysterious visitor tell her husband that she’d give birth to her first child in a year’s time. Sarah thought she was alone and unseen when she laughed in disbelief, but God revealed to Abraham how she’d reacted (Gen. 18:13-15). Sarah tried denying it, but the exchange emphasizes that nothing—not even a weary laugh—is hidden from God.

In fact, it wasn’t the first time Sarah had heard this promise. God had previously told her nearly century-old husband that she would give birth and the boy’s name would be Isaac (Genesis 17:15-22). Abraham had fathered one child, Ishmael, with Sarah’s Egyptian maid Hagar. But now God was saying the son born to Sarah in her old age would be heir to an earlier promise: that Abraham would be the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:2-3).

Sarah’s disbelief did not disqualify her from receiving the miraculous blessing God promised—and which the mysterious visitor had described with such clarity. God’s plans were far greater than her very understandable doubts. And after Sarah’s lifetime of infertility, her pregnancy would drive home an important lesson: Our supernatural God isn’t limited by what we label as “impossible.”

[Photo by Muhamad Rizal Firmansyah at Unsplash].

[hzaidan]

The Trinity was painted on a vertically aligned board. It depicts three angels sitting at a table. On the table, there is a cup containing the head of a calf. In the background, Rublev painted a house (supposedly Abraham's house), a tree (the Oak of Mamre), and a mountain (Mount Moriah)…

Please follow link for full post

Abraham,Art,Paintings,Trinity,Bible,Realism,Religion,Icons,biography,History,Andrei Rublev,Zaidan,Jesus,Sarah,Mythology,Classical,Icon,footnotes,Christ,

01 Religious Icon, Andrei Rublev's Trinity, with footnotes #37

[russianicons]

Everyone has heard about the legendary “Trinity” icon by Andrei Rublev, but it would be unfair to ignore other antique religious icons dedicated to the scene of three angels visiting Abraham at the Oak of Mamre. In the featured picture, you can see the 17th-century “Trinity” icon that includes a specter of events, including Abraham meeting angels and washing their feet, servants kneading the dough and stabbing the calf, and Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt. The image belongs to the Novgorod icon painting school.

https://russianicon.com/trinity-icons-in-the-orthodox-iconography/

[cissypc]

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Gloria – Creed First Reading GENESIS 18:1-10 1And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, 3and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5while I fetch a morsel of 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." 6And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes." 7And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent." 10The LORD said, "I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. https://www.instagram.com/p/CgH-DyEvDOL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fordecree7]

THE BIBLE THE BOOK OF GOD

Genesis 35

35 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.

7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

8 But Deborah, Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 35

Diane Beauford

[craftylovegentlemen]

Genesis

Chapter 35

1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth. 9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. 16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram. 27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 35

Diane Beauford

[panafrocore]

Abraham’s Oak by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1905)

Tanner’s Abraham’s Oak memorializes a pilgrimage site that the artist likely visited during his travels: a great oak tree on the plain of Mamre, a few miles north of Hebron, just off an old Roman road to Jerusalem. According to tradition, it was beneath this tree that Abram (not yet Abraham) pitched a tent and built an altar to the Lord of Israel after God’s promise of the land of Canaan to him…

[ivamstefam]

Прва Мојсијева књига - ПОСТАНАК - 35

CHAPTER 35 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth. 9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. 16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. 22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram. 27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. 20 And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.

[godknowledgetv]

⛪ Form of God in Christianity with Evidence ✝️

Ref: Holy Bible – Genesis. 📖

📓Those who study pious Bible means all Christians believe GOD is formless but what does the Bible say? That God is in form. Let us study the evidence in Genesis in the Holy Bible. Pious Taurat, Pious Injil, Pious Jaboor collectively is the Bible.📖

Genesis 1:24: The creation of everything between the sky and the earth was finished in six days by God. He got free from all his work on the seventh day and God blessed the seventh day and declared it sacred because he took rest on that day from his creation.

Genesis 1:26: God said ‘I will make humans like Myself, and God made humans like his own self.

Genesis 1:27: He created humans as male and female and humans will have authority over fishes in the sea, birds in the sky, four-legged animals and other animals who crawl on the earth.

Genesis 1:29: Then God said listen - I give you (humans) all small-seeded plants on earth and all seeded fruits in the tree for you to eat’. (He has not allowed them to eat meat).

Genesis 1:30: To every beast of the earth, to every bird of the sky ‘I have given every green plant for food’. God did not allow us to eat meat. This proves the existence of God in human form.

Genesis 3:8: That evening they heard the Lord. God walking in the garden and they hid from him among the trees. God is in form as he talks, walks, meets, eats and can be seen

Genesis 3:10: Adam said, ‘I got scared hearing your voice and I hid because I am nude’. On hearing his (GOD’s) footstep they both hid in that garden because they were naked.

Genesis 3:21: And Jehova God made for Adam and his wife coats of skins, and clothed them. God was standing there and he talked to them, gave them clothes means God is not formless. He is like humans.

Genesis 3:22: Then the Lord said ‘Now these humans have become like one of us’. The God who is saying this statement is also referring to other Gods of equal status which means he is not alone. There are more like him.

Genesis 18:1: Jehova appeared to Abraham (means God is in the form) by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the days.

Genesis 18:2: Proof of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh-Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby who are the controllers of 3 worlds-Heaven (Swarglok), Earth (Prithvilok) and Nether World (Patal Lok). When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and prostrated/bowed on the ground in front of them.

Genesis 18:4: I will bring some water, you may wash your feet and take rest under this tree.

Genesis 18:5: Then I will bring a piece of bread for you to eat with which you satisfy your respective souls.

John 7:16: So Jesus answered them and said ‘My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me’. Jesus is the son of God. God is speaking, this proves God is in human form.

Iyov 36:5: Orthodox Jewish Bible –OJB- See, El is Kabir, and despiseth not any; He is Kabir in ko’ach Lev (strength of understanding).

Genesis 7:1: Now, Abraham was 99 years old then ‘Yehovah’ appeared in front of him and said “I am super powerful GOD, you come along with me and become supernatural. Hence proved, when he appeared, he is in the form!

📓The Holy Bible has proved that God has a man-like visible body; who created the entire nature in six days and then took rest.📖

[preacherpollard]

Genesis: These Are The Generations (XIX)

The Twofold Mission Of The Three Men (19:1-33) Neal Pollard We cannot miss the opening phrase in this chapter–“the Lord appeared to him at the oaks of Mamre”–in connection with the events that follow. The entire episode constitutes a “theophany” (a visible appearance of God to humans) and helps us understand what transpires, including God’s difficult statement in verse 21.  Abraham is camped…

[irishgop]

Mi She’Berach

May the Holy One, blessed be he, give them their recompense;

may he remove from them all sickness, heal all their body, forgive

all their iniquity, and send blessing and prosperity upon all the work

of their hands, as well as upon all Israel, their brethren;

and let us say, Amen.

TODAY

O, may the author of Creation, who breathed life into a shaped scooping

of soil, take from us the sicknesses of our bodies and our souls. May we,

like David and Jonathan give each other our garments, and may our clerics

stop handing our children to Moloch. May we honor your provision of grain

and drink with meals for the immigrants and refugees in our midst, and may

You always entrust us, your children, with providing them all they need in your name,

Who brought our seed of Abraham to the Oaks of Mamre from the land of Ur.

[jrhughes]

The Lord Appears, Sarah Will Be a Mommy  

Sodom Will Be Destroyed. 

(Sunday October 8th  2023)  

Genesis 18:1-33 

Golden Text:     And He said,I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. - Genesis 18:10 

Less than three months ago, God had told Abraham that Sarah would have a son next year at this time and it does not appear that Sarah is yet pregnant. So this visitation by the three heavenly visitors is, most likely, within three months or less. God had just changed his name from Abram to Abraham and had informed them that Sarah would give birth to Isaac. Isaac would be the beginning of the line of many nations. Kings will come out of them. God now believed He could trust Abraham to keep the covenant agreement between God and Abraham.  

Sign of the Covenant. All the males in the house of Abraham and all that were bought with money would be circumcised as a sign and token of ownership by God. When God told Abraham that he was to have another baby, Abraham responded 

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before Thee! 19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. Genesis 17:18-19

So why is God back so soon? To reassure Abraham and Sarah that the baby is coming. He will be named Isaac and to reveal to Abraham what God is about to do in Sodom. 

Message Text  -  Genesis  Chapter 18:1-33 

1  And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 

God appears in the Person of Jesus The Christ along with two angels to Abram-Abraham in the plains of Mamre. Wikipedia reports:  

Mamre is the site where Abraham had first pitched the tents for his camp  and built an altar (Genesis 13:18). Now at this same place, Abram met three angelic beings, and told of Sarah's pregnancy (Genesis 18:1–15). Abraham was settling by 'the great trees of Mamre'. ...  

. . . 

Mamre being the name of one of the three Amorite chiefs who joined forces with those of Abraham in pursuit of Chedorlaomer to save Lot (Gen. 14:13,24). 

. . .  

Josephus (37–c. 100) records a tradition according to which the terebinth at Mamre was as old as the world itself (War 4.534). The site was soaked in legend. Jews, Christians and Pagans made sacrifices on the site, burning animals, and the tree was considered immune to the flames of the sacrifices. Constantine the Great (r.302–337) was still attempting, without success, to stop this tradition. 

These three heavenly visitors came in the heat of the day. The time of this appearance of the heavenly visitors was shortly after the incidents recorded in the preceding chapter. This, we see by the reassurance to Abraham concerning the birth of Isaac. Sarah was to have a baby one year later. This visit is before the birth and because it is not mentioned, we believe it was before Sarah was with child. Thus if that is true, the visit was within three months.  As her time of carrying the baby would be nine months, she would have to be impregnated by the third month.  

In the plains of Mamre. Literally, in the oaks of Mature (Genesis 13:18). 

 And he sat in the tent door. Literally, in the opening of the tent, a fold of which was fastened to a post nearby to admit any air that might be stirring. In the heat of the day, i.e. noontide, as the cool of the day, or the wind of the day (Genesis 3:8) means early evening. 

2  And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 

... lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them. And Abraham lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him. These three men were The LORD accompanied by two created angels. These are the same angels referred to in Genesis 19:1. Abraham saw them and understood that One of them was Jehovah. 

He ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground. The language in which Abraham immediately addresses one of the three men almost leads to the conclusion that Abraham already recognized Jehovah. 

When Abraham saw them, this ninety-nine (99) year older man, RAN to meet them.  We believe that Abraham recognized them as heavenly visitors and that One was God the Son. What did Abraham do?  But we learn that Abraham was in good shape and healthy as he ran to meet them.  

bowed himself toward the ground, Abraham recognized them and bowed as the lesser to the greater. Could one say that Abraham worshiped? And if Abraham bowed and worshiped, is that strong evidence Abraham knew One was God? 

3  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in Thy sight, pass not away, I pray Thee, from Thy servant:  4  Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 

My Lord, if now I have found favor in Thy sight, pass not away, Here we see Abraham has immediately recognized My Lord (Adonai, literally, Lord).  

a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet Abraham takes care of immediate needs, clean feet that are covered with whatever they may have picked up and the water cools and soothes these guests. Should foot washing be continued to this day? 

12  So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  13  Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I Am.  14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. -John 13:12-15 

Yes, hospitality should still be practiced.  We should not be forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares, (Heb 13:2). We should always do, this to the least of His brethren, as unto God.  

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. 

I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts. A morsel of bread? Yet, Abraham asks Sarah for her best baked cakes, then selects from the herd, and has one of his men kill one of his fatted calves and gives these three  a mini feast. Cheerful and obliging manners in showing kindness, are the signs of great Christian love. Abraham gave them a mini feast. 

...His Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) continues to stand at the door of every persons heart and knocks; when we are inclined to open, He enters into our hearts and lives; and by His gracious consolations He provides a rich feast, of which we partake with Him, (Rev 3:20)  - Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710 

And said, My Lord - Adonai, literally, Lord, as in Genesis 15:2. The term may have indicated nothing more than-Abraham s recognition of the superior authority of the Being addressed. As in verse 3 Abraham calls Him Lord (Adoni). 

pass not away, I pray Thee, from Thy servant. Stay, my lord, stay. Pass not on till Thou hast eaten bread, and rested under Thy servant's tent. Remain until Thy servant kills a kid and prepares, a feast. 

They agreed and said, so do. 

6  And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7  And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 8  And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 

Sarah was the one Abraham turned to first. He asked her for her hearth cakes. And I am certain she did not stop there. She most likely made a feast fit for a king, because her KING (King Jesus) was there. 

Now Abraham, himself picked out the fatted calf tender and good. Abraham gave that calf, he had chosen to one of his young men, most likely one who was very good at preparing a calf and meat for the cooking;  

And he hasted to dress it.  This was not the day of fast foods. It must have been a few hours, before the main meal was ready.  I am sure that there was much to eat while they waited. 

He stood by them under the tree, and they did eat Abraham, the host stood by to meet the needs of these three. Sounds like Abraham was standing by watching and ready to serve them 

Sarah 

9  And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.  10  And He said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 

Where is Sarah, thy wife? Surely God knew where Sarah was. So He asked the question as He was about to turn and focus on Sarah. 

I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.  Remember when you thought you had to help God keep His promise? You went into Hagar. That was totally unnecessary. Watch and see Sarah thy wife shall have a son. 

11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 

You two looked at your experience as opposed to the Word of God. You were wrong. You looked at the experience of the world. You thought you had to help God. God gave you one woman to be your wife. That is with whom you will father Isaac and continue the line to Messiah. 

12  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself. Sarah, who is said to be a woman of faith, looked at what she had seen. After she is no longer having cycles, she knows that she, Sarah, could never be the one to give Abraham a son. She lacked faith to believe. Upon which should we depend, our experience of the clear Word of the living Go. So when she heard about it she must have allowed the ideas of the world to be her measuring stick. This appeared  to be even too hard for even the LORD (she thought). 

13  And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?  14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 

 Wherefore did Sarah laugh.  First we note that Sarah did not laugh out loud. Sarah. Sarah laughed within herself.  God had heard her laugh from within. Then He said 

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?  The clear answer is: NO! The God who creates all that herein is: Earth and all that therein is, and breathes the breath of life into each person who is born, can do anything. Nothing is impossible with God. 

Can a virgin conceive and have a child?   World says No.  God says Yes. 

Can a man dead for four days be given life?     World No.   God says Yes. 

Can a person on Earth walk on water?     World: No   God: Yes 

Can anyone calm the sea by His command?  World: No      God says Yes. 

15  Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. 

God does not allow Sarah to attempt to lie to the One True, Creator God, Who knows your thoughts. He is everywhere and all knowing. Trying to lie to God will not work for Sarah and it will not work for you. Confess your sins and repent. 

16  And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 

And the men rose up from thence, They were in Mamre and now looked - and walked towards Sodom. Literally, towards the plain of Sodom, as if intending to go there. 

Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.  And Abraham went with them -maybe across the mountains on the east of Hebron, Literally, to send them away, or accord them a friendly convoy over a portion of their journey. 

17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?   

God said shall I hide from Abraham that which I do? God had to make a decision. Should He tell Abraham. God knew his nephew Lot was there.  God knew how Abraham would react.  

Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation. God knew the future for Abraham and his line. Should He tell Abraham? But God was steadfast in His plan. Both His plan for your salvation and His plan on how to deal with this great and grievous sin of Sodom. 

God was going to take care of the grievous sin problem in Sodom. 

19  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him. 

He will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD. God says Abraham will command his children. They will keep the way of the LORD (Pronounced: Je Hov Vaw) These children of Abraham shall keep the way of the Lord. 

20  And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 

Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 

What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? According to Genesis 19, the sin involved homosexuality. The very name of that ancient city has given us the term sodomy, in the sense of “copulation between two men, whether consensual or forced.” Clearly, homosexuality was part of why God destroyed the two cities. The men of Sodom and Gomorrah wanted to perform homosexual acts on what they thought were two men. 

God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Ezekiel 16:49–50 gives some more insight: “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before Me.” So, the sins of Sodom included pride, apathy, complacency, idleness, and unconcern for the underprivileged. BUT the main sin was the sodomy. 

Ezekiel 16:50 adds that a sin of Sodom was that they did “detestable things.” The Hebrew word translated “detestable” refers to something that is morally disgusting. It is the same word used in, Leviticus 20:13 where homosexuality is an “abomination.” Jude 1:7 also weighs in: “Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.” So, again, while homosexuality was not the only sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, it does appear to be the primary reason for the destruction of those cities. 

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know. 

It is believed by many commentators that God just wants us to be aware of the fact that God has to have overwhelming evidence, even to the point of leaving heaven and personally coming to Earth to visit personally so that He proves to man that God knows before HE unleashes His justice. 

22  And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 

There came a point in the traveling that the two angels continued on their way and separated from Abraham. But the LORD stayed with Abraham, as God knew that Abraham would want to better understand the Plan and Purpose of God. And here Abraham becomes an intercessor for the wicked people in Sodom. Abraham asks God to help Abraham understand. 

Now obviously God knew the motive of Abraham, so He listened, but God did not have to explain His actions to Abraham. God does not have to explain His actions to you or to me.  Be careful when you question God. God knows best. 

23  And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?  25 That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 

First Abraham tries to reason with God. Abraham reminds God of the fact that every man should die for his own sin and that if this large town has fifty righteous persons in it, it would not be in His Character to destroy the righteous persons with the wicked. Of course God knows there are not even ten. As you will remember there are only four people taken out before the destruction of the large town of Sodom, but God responds. 

26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 

Well intercession has worked God will spare the entire town of Sodom if there are but fifty righteous persons.  The Bible does not tell us the population, but I have seen estimates from 600-1200 and as high as 8000 in the plain which was destroyed. 

Abraham does not give up. Abraham negotiates the number down first by fives, then Abraham negotiates down by tens. Each time God assures Abraham that He, God will not destroy the city if we find as few as ten righteous. 

If 600 was correct - then when Abraham asked God to save the city (Gen 18:24) for 50 righteous people - that would have been about 8% of the city. Then God was willing to save the city for just 10, (Gen 18:32)- which would have been 1.6% of the population.  

27  And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have  taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but  dust and ashes:28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And He said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29 And He spake unto Him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty's sake. 30 And he said unto Him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And He said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.  31  And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And He said,I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.  32  And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And He said,  I will not destroy it for ten's sake. 

Some believe that Abraham thought he was safe in asking for ten righteous, but we will learn there were only four. 

The Lord will give Abraham an opportunity to intercede with Him, and shows him the reason of His conduct. Consider, as a very bright part of Abraham's character and example, that he not only prayed with his family, but he was very careful to teach and rule them well. Those who expect family blessings must make conscience of family duty. Abraham ... taught them to be serious and devout in the worship of God, and to be honest in their dealings with all men. Of how few may such a character be given in our days! How little care is taken by masters of families to ground those under them in the principles of religion! Do we watch from Sabbath to Sabbath whether they go forward or backward? 

Here is the first solemn prayer upon record in the Bible; and it is a prayer for the sparing of Sodom. Abraham prayed earnestly that Sodom might be spared, if but a few righteous persons should be found in it. Come and learn from Abraham what compassion we should feel for sinners, and how earnestly we should pray for them. We see here that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Abraham, indeed, failed in his request for the whole place, but Lot was miraculously delivered. Be encouraged then to expect, by earnest prayer, the blessing of God upon your families, your friends, your neighborhood. To this end you must not only pray, but you must live like Abraham. He knew the Judge of all the earth would do right. He does not plead that the wicked may be spared for their own sake, or because it would be severe to destroy them, but for the sake of the righteous who might be found among them. And righteousness only can be made a plea before God. How then did Christ make intercession for transgressors? Not by blaming the Divine law, nor by alleging aught in extenuation or excuse of human guilt; but by pleading HIS OWN obedience unto death.  -  Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710. 

33 And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. 

As soon as GOD had left communing with Abraham (because God recognized the prayer and intercession of Abraham were ended): and Abraham returned unto his place back to Mamre. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You allowed Jesus to come to Earth before His birth in Bethlehem, when direct contact was necessary with Your people. Thank You. And Thank You Jesus for all that You have done, especially at the cross and again as the Great High Priest, You still intercede for us.  WE (I) need it. Please forgive me of all of my sin and unrighteousness that has occurred since the last time we (I) prayed and asked You to forgive me. I am so thankful that I have an Advocate with the Father. Please cleanse me, forgive me and make me fit for Your use. Send a person my way who needs to hear about You and please guide me as I am a Witness for YOU, Lord. Help my times of unbelief and increase my faith and understanding so I may be used by You. Thank You for keeping Watch over me, keeping me out of accidents and injuries. Bring healing, I pray. I cast every devil of hell out of my life and ask You, God the Holy Ghost to come fill every part of every cell in my body. I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, our (my) Lord.  AMEN. 

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

[stmargaret]

Nothing is impossible for God

Our ALM Carol O gave this sermon on Sunday 18 June. Here it is for you again: May the words of my mouth be acceptable to you my strength and redeemer. Amen In Genesis 18 Abraham, by the oaks of Mamre, sees three men approaching in the heat of the day. And he seems to know that they are no ordinary strangers. Because, while hospitality is vital in that semi-arid climate, Abraham goes above and…

[johnhardinsawyer]

Present in the Presence

John Sawyer

Bedford Presbyterian Church

6 / 18 / 23 – Third Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 6

Matthew 9:35-10:14

Genesis 18:1-15

“Present in the Presence”

(When the Kingdom Comes Near)

I have a friend who, years ago, would often arrive at a birthday party or other celebration and not bring a gift.  They brought no box, wrapped in colorful paper.  There were no ribbons.  There wasn’t even a card.  Instead, my friend would say, quite simply – with a hint of a wink and a smile – “My present is my presence.”  Can you imagine, showing up to a party and telling people that your very presence at the party was enough of a gift?  You know, some folks might be offended by the very idea, but there comes a time – at certain age or stage in life – when someone who is celebrating a birthday doesn’t really need a gift with colorful paper, or ribbons, or even a card.  What do you give someone who has everything?  Well, a card with a well-written message is nice at any age, but sometimes, you just want to enjoy being with the people you love and that is gift enough.  Sometimes, in the present moment, the very presence of another person is the present that is most meaningful.

In both of today’s scripture readings we have read and heard two stories about the gift of God’s presence with people – people whom God loves – and how these people respond to the gift of God’s presence.

To set the scene for today’s reading from Genesis, you might remember that Abraham has traveled with all of his household from his homeland in Ur of the Chaldees to the land of Canaan – the land that God promised to give to Abraham and to his descendants.  You might also remember from today’s story that Abraham might have been promised some descendants, but he doesn’t have any descendants yet.  He and his wife, Sarah, do not have children and they are very old, to boot – well-past childbearing years.  Abraham and his wife and nephew and servants have set up camp by some old scrub oak trees that have been growing near the ancient city of Hebron, which is in the hill country not too far South from places like Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  Of course, as you travel farther South from Hebron, it gets hotter and drier, and even hotter and drier, still.  So, in this hot and dry place, it’s no wonder that Abraham is seeking what little shade there is by the oaks of Mamre – sitting at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

In a scene that sounds like it could have come from a movie western or a Lawrence of Arabia-type epic, the air is hot and still, and Abraham can almost hear the rocks on the ground, and the trees, and the tent above his head, sizzling with heat and see the heat rising up in waves.  I imagine old Abraham looking up and seeing, in the distance, three figures approaching through the waves of heat.  Are they some kind of mirage?  If they are, indeed, real, what are they doing out there in the heat of the day – when and where nobody in their right mind would travel?  

Now, we might be getting ahead of ourselves, because readers of today’s story will want to pay attention to the first line of the story, how “The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre. . .” (Genesis 18:1). These three mysterious figures aren’t just anybody,  out for a noon-time stroll.  No, as the story goes, they are the very presence of God.  

There must be something about the way these three people appear to Abraham.  Maybe they are giving off a certain Holy vibe.  Maybe it’s just that Abraham wants to be hospitable in a land and culture where hospitality is – to this day – an important practice, but as the three strangers approach the small cluster of trees and tents – possibly the only shade for miles – ninety-nine-year-old Abraham jumps up and runs to where they are and invites them over.  As Eugene Peterson translates, Abraham says,

Master, if it please you, stop for a while with [me], your servant.  I’ll get some water so you can wash your feet.  Rest under this tree.  I’ll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path.[1]

I love how Abraham implies that God’s travels have brought God across Abraham’s path, here, when really it should probably be the other way around.  It makes me wonder where and how God comes across our path – or, maybe, how we stumble across God’s path. . . Where and how often do we encounter God and do we even know it when it happens?  

Put yourself in Abraham’s shoes.  You are outside in your yard on a hot day, and three people you do not know come walking up.  What is your first instinctual reaction in the moment?  Just last Saturday, I saw two strangers walking down our street with clipboards and cell phones in their hands and I knew they were doing some kind of political canvassing.  This is the kind of thing you see in New Hampshire, and you just know. . . What was my reaction when I saw these visitors on our street?  “Uh-oh, we might need to pull the shades!” I thought.  “Act like nobody is home!”  And you know what?  Those people with clipboards and cell phones didn’t even stop to ring our doorbell!  They just walked on by!  How rude!

Abraham is far more hospitable than I was.  Besides, Abraham seems to know that something Holy and special is happening, here.  These three strangers show up, Abraham runs up to them and welcomes them to sit and relax, have some water to drink and wash up – and then Abraham and Sarah go about baking some fresh bread, and cooking a calf (probably taking several hours to cook it), and gathering curds and milk, and setting it as a feast before these honored guests.  Abraham doesn’t even sit down with them to eat – choosing, instead, to stand nearby, just in case they need anything else.  

When was the last time you and I were so generous and so attentive?  Of course, when was the last time we knew – in the present moment – that we were welcoming and serving God?  This might be a tough question for many of us to answer – tough, because, the very idea that we would (or could) welcome the full holiness of God into our home or our life seems rather far-fetched.  Many of the images of God in the Old Testament – involve the sheer power and greatness of God. . . far too powerful for mere mortals to even survive the experience.  In Exodus, Chapter 33, Moses asks to see God’s face and God says, “My face might be a bit much for you to handle.  I’ll show you my back, though, and actually cover you with my hand while I’m doing it so you can live to tell the tale.”[2]  God’s Holy presence moves past Moses and then Moses stumbles back down to his people, looking like he fell asleep for too long in a nuclear-powered tanning bed.[3]

But in today’s story, God shows up – in-person, in three persons – and eats a meal straight from Abraham’s kitchen, and Abraham lives to tell the tale.  It would seem that God will appear to whom God will appear and in the manner that God wishes to appear.  Abraham doesn’t get a holy sunburn in this story of being in God’s presence, but he and Sarah do receive the gift of a promise that Sarah – “advanced in age” (18:11), as the scriptures tell us – will have a baby.  God’s Holy promise from these three guests sitting in the shade with their full bellies seems so outlandish that it makes old Sarah laugh.  But as these three mysterious guests say, “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord [to do]?” (18:14)

Is anything too wonderful for the Lord to do – no matter how outlandish?  In today’s reading from Matthew, we see the outlandish expectation that Jesus has of his disciples.  After Jesus goes through the countryside, “. . . teaching in the synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness,” (Matthew 9:35), he asks his disciples – mere mortals – to go and do exactly the same things.  Jesus tells them to go throughout the countryside and. . . Proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. . .” (10:7-8)

But even before the disciples supposedly work miracles – like curing the sick and raising the dead – it is important to note that everywhere Jesus and the disciples go, they “proclaim the good news” that “the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  Another way of translating this phrase in the original language is that the kingdom of heaven is “at hand. . . so close.”[4] One translator writes that it implies “extreme closeness, immediate imminence – even a presence.”[5]  In other words, “the kingdom of God is present with you – right here, and right now.”  The kingdom of God is “at hand” – so close that you could touch it. . . with your hand.  

From very early on in his ministry, wherever Jesus goes, he tells people that the kingdom of God is so close that it is present with them.  And Jesus tells his disciples to proclaim this same good news wherever they go.  Can you imagine, someone showing up at a party and telling people that their very presence is the Presence of God?  And yet Jesus empowers his disciples to be the presence of the Holy – to be vessels of grace, and healing, and new life. . .  just as Jesus empowers us, by the Holy Spirit, to be and do the same.

Now, before you go saying, “I could never do that!  I could never be that!” remember that it is God who chooses when and how God will appear and God will work. . . in three strangers sitting in the shade, and in some great and powerful vision, and in the words of prophetic voices, and in the cry of a baby in a manger, and in the healing words and touch of a carpenter, in a cross of crucifixion, in an empty tomb.  God is present and will work wherever two or more are gathered. . . in a hospital room with someone who is sick, over a meal at which food and love are shared, in words of welcome backed up by actions of welcome, in hearts being broken open by grace, in a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, in giggling children, in a loving touch and a smile shared, in welcoming a stranger because we may very well be welcoming the presence of God.  At any moment, you and I could very well be an instrument of God’s grace for someone else or we could be the recipients of God’s grace through someone else that God is using in the moment to offer encouragement, and healing, and new life.  We always have the opportunity to offer God’s presence – just like the disciples – and we always have the opportunity to receive God’s presence – just like Abraham.  The question for us is, do we have the presence of mind, and heart, and soul in the present moment to recognize and welcome the presence of God?  Do we have the presence of mind, and heart, and soul, in the present moment to be the presence of God working through us?  Don’t be surprised when God’s grace catches your attention unexpectedly.  

Very often, the gift of God’s grace – given in love, given freely, given with heart, and hospitality, and hope, and healing – is enough.  In the present moment, the very presence of another who makes us feel loved, and accepted, and welcomed, and forgiven, and blessed, and alive is always the present that is most meaningful.  God is always offering God’s Holy presence to us, saying “My present to you in the present is my Presence.”  May we do the same – gratefully, and humbly, and lovingly offering God’s Presence with our presence.  

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

--------------------

[1] Eugene Peterson, The Message: Numbered Edition (Colorado Springs: NAV Press, 2002) 36. Genesis 18:3-5.

[2] Exodus 33:20-23 – Paraphrased, JHS.

[3] See Exodus 34:29-35.

[4] Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979) 213.

[5] https://biblehub.com/greek/1448.htm.  J. Schlosser.  

[duleshwar-patel]

#FactsAboutJesus

Genesis 18:1: Jehova appeared to Abraham (means God is in the form) by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the days.

Supreme God Kabir

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