Thursday, Day 4

THREE MEN
AND A BABY
It was the hottest part of the day in the Judean hills. Its best for
an old man to stay in the shade at such times and not exert one-
self.
Then again, when you can go weeks and months without meet-
ing anyone new, without seeing anyone outside your own family
and flocks, it is a potential holiday when you see three human
forms materialize on the horizon.
So Abraham, who had been sitting in the shade at the en-
trance of his tent, rose from his cushions and shuffled toward the
travelers. There were three of them. He hurried in their direction,
afraid they might pass by without stopping.
Like the Mideastern tribal chief he was, he bowed low as he
advanced toward them. Displaying the kind of hospitality typi-
cal in desert culture, he invited them to stay. If you would be so
kind, please stay for a visit. Let me provide water to wash your
dusty feet. Rest for awhile in the shade while food is prepared,
before you continue your journey.
The three men agreed, so Abraham happily clapped his
hands together and ducked back into his tend. He told his wife,
Sarah, to get started making bread, and personally selected a
calf from his herd for a servant to butcher and roast. Then he

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returned to the travelers with goats milk and curds to begin the
feast.
One of the men asked for his wife, calling her by name.
Abraham said she was in the tent. The traveler said, I will sure-
ly return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife
will have a son (Genesis 18:10a).
Sarah, who had been eavesdropping, laughed at the mans
words. The traveler heard her laugh, and asked, Is anything
too hard for the Lord? He repeated his prediction.
When the travelers finished the feast Abraham had provided,
two resume their journey for Sodom. But the one who foretold
a child for Sarah stayed, and revealed to Abraham the Lords
plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great
wickedness.
The Bible account of the incident, in Genesis 18, repeatedly
uses Yahweh, the name of God, to refer to the Traveler who
spoke to Abraham. And many scholars see in those scenes a
Christophany, an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ.
In any case, the Traveler who promised a child to Sarah and
entertained Abrahams petitions for the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah foreshadows the coming of Jesus to earth as the Mes-
senger of God. Like Abrahams visitor, Jesus spoke gracious
promises to his loved ones; some have listed more than two hun-
dred promises Jesus made! Also like Abrahams visitor, Jesus
graciously hears and grants our petitions and intercessions; he
says, You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it
(John 14:14).
And there is at least one more way in which Abrahams chief
visitor parallels Jesus. If you look closely at Genesis 18, in which
Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah, you will see
something important. Abraham asks the Lord if he would spare
the cities if fifty righteous people were found in them (Genesis
18:24), and the Lord says he would do so. Next, Abraham asks
the Lord if he would spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake
for forty-five righteous people (Genesis 18:28), and the Lord
says he would do so. Abraham presses his case, reducing the
number to forty (Genesis 18:29), then thirty (Genesis 18:30),
twenty (Genesis 18:31), and even ten (Genesis 18:32). And the
Lord agrees to withhold judgment for the sake of ten righteous
people in the city. But apparently, Abraham stops asking. The
chapter concludes with the words, When the LORD had finished

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 speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home
(Genesis 18:33).
Heres the point: Abraham apparently stopped asking before
the Lord stopped answering! Abraham stopped at the number
ten. What if he had kept interceding for five? Or even one?
Would those cities have been spared?
We dont know. But we do know this. Like Abrahams visitor,
Jesus connects his continued answers to our continued asking,
saying, Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for
(Matthew 7:7, NLT). May we never stop asking until he answers.
And may we never stop until he has finished giving us what we
ask.

FROM THE BIBLE

The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of
Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat
of the day.
Genesis 18:1

The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham
remained standing before the LORD.
Genesis 18:22

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing

some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing
it.
Hebrews 13:2

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep
on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door
will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7, NLT

FROM THE HEART

Lord Jesus, thank you for your words of promise. Thank you for
your promise of answered prayer. Teach me to keep on asking,
keep on seeking, keep on knocking, until I fully apprehend an-
swers to my prayers. Help me to intercede for others, as Abra-
ham did for Sodom, but never to stop asking before you are
finished giving, in Jesus name, amen.

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DID YOU KNOW?
Some scholars see Jesus words in John 8:56 (Your father Abra-
ham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and
was glad) as a reference to Abraham meeting Jesus and con-
versing with him at the above incident in Genesis 18.

EXPERIENCE THE STORY:

REIGNITE A REQUEST
Is there a need you have stopped bringing to the Lord in pray-
er? Is there someone for whom you once interceded regularly
but then gave up at some point? If so, reignite that request (es-
pecially if it is intercession for someone who has not yet moved
from death to new life in Christ). Start asking again, and keep
asking until the Lord grants your request no matter how long
that takes.

GO DEEPER
For further study, read the full account of Abrahams three visi-
tors at Mamre and the subsequent events in Genesis 18-19.

REFLECTION TIME
Jesus said to Keep on asking. Keep on seeking, and,
Keep on knocking (Matthew 7:7, NLT). Take some time to list:

one thing I will keep asking

one thing I will keep seeking
one door I will keep knocking on until it opens

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