Genesis Chapter 18 — The Three Visitors and Intercession
Abraham hosts three divine visitors who announce that Sarah will have a son, and he later pleads for mercy on the city of Sodom.
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Notable Verses
Genesis 18:14
“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”
This verse affirms God's omnipotence and his ability to fulfill promises despite human limitations.
Genesis 18:25
“May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
This verse highlights Abraham's appeal to the moral nature and justice of God.
Chapter Summary
While Abraham is resting by the oaks of Mamre, three men appear before him. He responds with exceptional hospitality, preparing a feast of fine meal and a tender calf. During the meal, one of the visitors promises that Sarah will give birth to a son within a year. Sarah, hearing this from the tent, laughs to herself because of her advanced age, but the Lord responds by asking if anything is too hard for Him. As the men depart toward Sodom, the Lord chooses to reveal His plan to investigate the city's grievous sins. Abraham, concerned for the righteous living there, enters into a famous dialogue with the Lord. He asks if the city would be spared for the sake of fifty righteous people, eventually bargaining the number down to ten. The Lord agrees that for the sake of ten righteous people, He will not destroy the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
The text identifies the visitors as the Lord appearing to Abraham, accompanied by others who are later referred to as angels in the following chapter.
Sarah laughed because both she and Abraham were very old, and she believed she was physically past the age of childbearing.
Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare Sodom if as few as ten righteous people were found within the city.
Study Note
The Hebrew measure 'seah' used for the fine meal indicates that Sarah prepared a massive amount of bread, highlighting the scale of Abraham's hospitality.
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