God told Abraham and Sarah that He would give them a son to be the promised heir. This seemed like an impossibility in their old age, but “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:2626But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)). He asked God that Ishmael might live before Him, but this was not a prayer of faith. Sometimes we, too, ask God for things which are not for our good, and if we persist, He may let us have them to our own sorrow. So it was here, for Ishmael did live, and his descendants were the continual enemies of the people of God. When making requests in prayer, we should always say “if it be Thy will,” because God knows what is best for us.
In spite of Abraham’s failure, God was faithful. He fulfilled His promise in His own time and gave them a son.
At the end of our chapter we see beautiful obedience on the part of Abraham, for although we all fail in some things, God takes knowledge of what is done for Him. Abraham and all his household were circumcised “the selfsame day” in which God spoke to him. Too often we are very slow in doing what the Lord has asked us to do. If there is something, dear young Christian, which you know the Lord wants you to do, ask Him for strength to do it now. Delay is always dangerous and a hindrance to blessing.
Courtesy Shown to Strangers
The eighteenth chapter opens with a very beautiful scene. It was a very hot day, and Abraham was sitting in his tent door when three men came near.
He ran to meet them and bowed himself. This was real courtesy, and God has put it in His Word to show us that it was pleasing to Him. We are told to “be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8), and we should always act kindly to others. It is never right to be rude and thoughtless.
We are living in days when many often forget those little acts of kindness which God wants to see in His children. Never mind whether others are courteous to you; you can be courteous to them just to please the Lord Jesus who died for you. So many children say they are saved, but it often saddens our hearts to hear them answering back and being bold to their parents, their teachers at school, and to others much older than themselves. When we have really accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we should be careful to show it out in our lives day by day. God wants reality, not just lip profession.
These three men were strangers to Abraham. He did not recognize at first that one was the Lord, and the other two were angels. However he welcomed them and showed them true hospitality. He invited them to rest under the trees and got water for them to wash their hot feet. People did not travel in fine cars in those days and had to walk long distances in the scorching sun. How they must have appreciated Abraham’s thoughtfulness and the welcome he gave them. God takes more notice of the little things we do for Him, than we are inclined to think. When someone comes to your home, do you try to welcome them, and do little acts of kindness for them? The Lord will fully reward you if you do such things “as unto the Lord,” even if they forget to thank you. “Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:1010As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)).
Further Meditation
1. What did Abraham do when the three men came near?
2. We often think of hospitality as inviting our friends over to have a good time doing things we both enjoy. Can you contrast this with the kind of hospitality that Abraham showed?
3. The Institution of Marriage by P. Wilson has an excellent chapter entitled Bethany that gives some helpful instruction about hospitality.