When the Lord came to Dinner
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Genesis 18:1–15
Genesis 18:1–15
Big Idea: Those who walk closely with God welcome His presence, joyfully serve Him, and confidently trust His promises.
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever had an unexpected visitor completely change your day? Perhaps it was an old friend you hadn't seen in years. Maybe it was family who stopped by unexpectedly. Or perhaps it was someone so important that everything else suddenly became secondary.
The chores could wait. The phone was forgotten. Dinner plans changed.
Why?
Because the presence of the guest changed everything. There are some visitors you simply make time for. Genesis 18 begins with the greatest visitor anyone could ever receive.
Read the opening words carefully.
"And the LORD appeared unto him…"
Church…
Don't rush past those six words.
This isn't another dream.
This isn't another vision.
This isn't another angel delivering a message.
The Lord Himself appears to Abraham.
Imagine opening your tent that afternoon… expecting another ordinary day… only to discover that God had come to visit.
I don't know about you, but that thought arrests me. How would my afternoon change if the Lord came to my house?
Would my priorities change? Would my schedule suddenly become unimportant? Would the things consuming my attention seem insignificant?
Genesis 18 is one of the most intimate chapters in all of the Old Testament.
God sits beneath the oaks of Mamre.
God shares a meal with Abraham.
God speaks with His servant like a friend.
James later writes:
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
That raises a wonderful question.
What does a friend of God look like?
Not theoretically… Practically. How does someone live who enjoys fellowship with God?
Genesis 18 answers that question. This chapter isn't merely showing us Abraham's hospitality. It is showing us Abraham's heart. Because people who walk closely with God begin to reflect His presence in every area of life.
This morning I'd like us to notice four evidences of a life that enjoys fellowship with God.
I). A Friend of God Is Sensitive to His Presence - (Vs. 1-5)
I). A Friend of God Is Sensitive to His Presence - (Vs. 1-5)
Notice how quietly the chapter begins.
(Vs. 1)
Nothing seems extraordinary. There are no earthquakes. No thunder. No trumpet blasts. Just an elderly man sitting outside his tent during the hottest part of the day.
Most likely, Abraham is resting. The heat of the afternoon had slowed everything down…
To everyone else… It looked like an ordinary day. Isn't it interesting that God so often works in ordinary moments?
Moses wasn't tending a tabernacle. He was tending sheep. David wasn't sitting on a throne. He was watching sheep. The disciples weren't preaching sermons. They were mending nets.
And Abraham… He's simply sitting in his tent.
Church, never underestimate what God can do in an ordinary day. One of the dangers of the Christian life is believing God only works during extraordinary moments.
The truth is… Most of God's greatest work happens during what appear to be ordinary days.
(Vs. 2a)
I love that phrase. Abraham was paying attention. His eyes were open. He wasn't so distracted that he missed what God was doing. That challenges me.
Because we live in perhaps the most distracted generation in history. Phones constantly buzz. Schedules stay full. Our minds race from one responsibility to another.
And sometimes we're so busy doing things… that we fail to see God standing right in front of us.
Abraham looked up. Can I encourage you with something?
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is simply look up.
Lift your eyes from your calendar.
Lift your eyes from your worries.
Lift your eyes from your problems.
God often meets people who are looking for Him.
Jeremiah wrote,
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Notice what happens next. Abraham doesn't merely notice the visitors. He responds.
(Vs. 2b)
Think about that. This is a ninety-nine-year-old man.
Yet he runs. Why?
Because nothing becomes more important than welcoming these visitors.
Then he bows himself toward the ground. What humility.
What eagerness.
What reverence.
One commentator wrote,
"The posture of Abraham reveals that reverence is never out of date." - Unknown
Isn't that true?
Our culture has largely lost the concept of reverence. We've become casual about holy things.
But Abraham reminds us that when God draws near… our hearts ought to respond with awe.
Notice the urgency that fills these verses. Moses uses action after action.
He ran.
He bowed.
He begged them to stay.
He hurried to Sarah.
He ran to the herd.
He gave it to a servant.
He stood by while they ate.
There is movement everywhere…
Why?
Because fellowship with God creates joyful eagerness. Abraham isn't serving because he has to. He's serving because he wants to. Love always changes our attitude toward service.
Jesus would later say,
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Love transforms duty into delight.
The writer of Hebrews commemorates Abraham’s hospitality with this famous advice:
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
I smile every time I read that verse. Abraham thought he was serving travelers.
In reality… He was welcoming heaven into his home.
How many opportunities has God placed in front of us that looked ordinary… but were actually divine appointments?
Sometimes God comes disguised as interruptions.
The phone call you didn't expect.
The neighbor who needed help.
The person who crossed your path.
The ministry opportunity that interrupted your plans.
Perhaps the greatest interruptions in life are actually invitations from God.
May I ask you something this morning?
If the Lord interrupted your plans this week...
Would He be welcomed...
Or would He be viewed as an inconvenience?
Would your first response be,
"Lord, come in..."
Or,
"Lord, I'm busy."
Friendship with God begins with a heart that is sensitive to His presence.
It says,
"Lord...
Whatever You want to do today… I'm available."
But genuine fellowship with God never remains a private experience.
When the heart welcomes God's presence… The hands naturally become busy serving. That brings us to the second evidence of a friend of God...
A friend of God gladly serves alongside others.
II). A Friend of God Leads His Home in Serving the Lord - (Vs. 6-8)
II). A Friend of God Leads His Home in Serving the Lord - (Vs. 6-8)
The moment Abraham recognizes the Lord, something remarkable happens. He doesn't simply welcome the Lord...
He mobilizes his home. Look at the activity in these verses.
(Vs. 6)
Notice the word "hastened."
This isn't reluctant service. This isn't delayed obedience. There is eagerness. Abraham understands that serving the Lord is never an inconvenience.
It is a privilege.
He tells Sarah,
(Vs. 6b)
(Vs. 7a)
Again… He runs. Think about that. This is now the second time in the chapter that this ninety-nine-year-old man is running.
The older I become, the more I appreciate Abraham's energy!
Why such urgency?
Because when you truly value someone's presence, your service becomes joyful rather than burdensome.
Paul later writes,
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Notice he doesn't simply say, “Serve." He reminds us who we are serving. That changes everything.
One pastor wisely said,
"The smallest act done for Christ becomes sacred." - Unknown
Changing a diaper in the nursery...
Greeting someone at the door...
Teaching a Sunday school class...
Preparing a meal...
None of those things are ordinary when they are done for the Lord…
One of the details I love about this passage is that Abraham doesn't serve alone. Sarah begins preparing bread. The servant prepares the calf. Abraham prepares the curds and milk.
Then Abraham personally serves the meal. Every member of the household has a role. This isn't merely Abraham's ministry. It is the culture of his home. That isn't accidental.
In just a few verses, God Himself will say,
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.
Moses is already giving us a glimpse of why God could say that. Abraham had cultivated a home where serving God was normal.
Can I say something to our families this morning? One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is not merely bringing them to church.
It is letting them see you joyfully serve the Lord…
Children learn far more from what they observe than from what they are told. If they see Dad excited about worship… They'll remember that.
If they see Mom gladly serving others… They'll remember that. If they see their parents opening their home...
Giving generously...
Speaking kindly...
Serving faithfully...
Those moments shape a family for generations.
Joshua declared,
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Notice the order. He didn't merely say,
"I will."
He said,
"My house."
His leadership influenced everyone under his roof. Abraham's life illustrates that truth beautifully…
Notice the meal Abraham prepares.
A tender calf. Fresh bread. Curds. Milk.
This wasn't a simple snack. This was a feast.
Give of your best to the master…
Abraham gave his best.
Why?
Because generous hearts naturally accompany grateful hearts.
One commentator observed,
"Hospitality in Scripture is often a visible expression of invisible grace." - Unknown
I think that's exactly what we're seeing. Abraham isn't trying to impress God. He's expressing his love for God.
There's a difference.
Love always gives its best. Doesn't that remind you of another meal? Centuries later, Jesus would sit around a table with His disciples. He would break bread. He would serve. Then He would wash their feet. The Creator became the Servant.
The greater Abraham serves His people. What Abraham pictures imperfectly… Christ fulfills perfectly.
Jesus said,
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Every act of humble service ultimately points us to Christ.
One final detail often goes unnoticed.
(Vs. 8)
Abraham doesn't sit down. He stands nearby.
Watching.
Serving.
Ready for whatever the guests might need.
That posture speaks volumes. His greatest concern wasn't his own comfort. It was honoring his Guest. Church, that's what true worship looks like. Worship isn't merely singing songs.
It is placing Christ at the center and gladly serving Him.
Many years ago, a missionary was asked what made one church so different from another.
He replied,
"In one church the people ask, 'What can the church do for me?' In the other, they ask, 'How can I serve Christ here?'"
That simple difference changes everything. One mindset consumes. The other contributes. One waits to be served. The other looks for opportunities to serve.
That was Abraham.
Can I ask you a personal question this morning?
When you think about serving the Lord...
What is your first emotion?
Obligation?
Or opportunity?
Duty?
Or delight?
Abraham reminds us that people who walk closely with God don't have to be begged into service.
They have discovered that serving the Lord is one of life's greatest privileges.
After the meal is finished, the conversation takes an unexpected turn. The Lord has not come merely to enjoy Abraham's hospitality. He has come to reaffirm His promise.
And suddenly the focus shifts from Abraham's service… to Sarah's faith.
Because fellowship with God will always bring us back to this question:
"Will we trust what God has said, even when it seems impossible?"
That leads us to our final evidence.
III). A Friend of God Trusts God's Promises Even When They Seem Impossible - (Vs. 9-15)
III). A Friend of God Trusts God's Promises Even When They Seem Impossible - (Vs. 9-15)
The meal has ended. The conversation changes. Suddenly the Lord asks a very personal question.
(Vs. 9a)
At first glance, that seems like an ordinary question. But remember… The Lord already knows where Sarah is. He isn't asking for information. He's preparing Sarah to hear a promise.
Abraham answers,
(Vs. 9b)
Like many homes in that culture, Sarah would have remained inside while the men visited outside. Though unseen… She is listening. And what she is about to hear will change the rest of her life.
(Vs. 10a)
Notice the certainty.
Not...
"Perhaps."
Not...
"If everything works out."
Not...
"We'll see."
God says, “I will certainly..."
Church, our confidence has never rested on the strength of our faith. Our confidence rests on the certainty of God's Word. What God promises… God performs.
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:
Joshua testified near the end of his life,
14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
Titus tells us that God...
"...cannot lie." (Titus 1:2)
When God speaks… The matter is settled.
Then Moses lets us look inside the tent. Sarah is listening. She hears every word.
(Vs. 12a)
This laughter is different from Abraham's in chapter 17. Abraham laughed while worshiping. Paul tells us in Romans 4 that he "staggered not at the promise of God."
Sarah's laughter is different.
Notice what she says.
(Vs. 12b)
She isn't laughing because she's overwhelmed. She's laughing because she's skeptical. From a human perspective… This promise makes no sense.
Think about Sarah's life. For decades she had hoped for a child. For decades she had prayed. For decades she had watched month after month pass without an answer.
Eventually...
Hope deferred became disappointment.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Her laughter wasn't simply unbelief. It was the laughter of a weary heart. One detail has always amazed me.
Sarah laughed...
within herself.
She never said a word aloud. Yet the Lord responded.
(Vs. 13) Wherefore did Sarah laugh?"
What a reminder of God's omniscience. The Lord didn't simply hear her words.
He heard her thoughts.
Psalm 139 teaches that nothing is hidden from God—not even the silent thoughts of our hearts. The same God who knew Sarah's unspoken laughter is the God who knows us completely and lovingly meets us where we are.
Psalm 139 says,"Thou understandest my thought afar off."
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
That truth is both sobering… And comforting.
It is sobering because nothing is hidden from God. But it is comforting because He understands the struggles we never express.
He knows the questions we've never voiced. He sees the tears no one else notices. The God who knew Sarah's silent laughter is the same God who knows every hidden burden we carry today.
Then comes one of the greatest questions in the entire Bible.
(Vs. 14a)
Church...
That question wasn't asked because God needed information. It was asked because Sarah needed perspective. Everything depends on how we answer that question.
If nothing is too hard for the Lord...
Then there is no impossible marriage.
No impossible prodigal.
No impossible addiction.
No impossible ministry.
No impossible circumstance.
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
This question becomes a thread that runs throughout the entire Bible. Every impossible situation ultimately bows before the omnipotence of God.
"There is no attribute more comforting to His children than the doctrine of God's sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, sovereignty overrules them, and sovereignty will sanctify them all." - C.H. Spurgeon
Why?
Because if God is truly sovereign… Nothing is beyond His ability.
Verse 15 almost makes us smile. (Vs. 15)
Fear often causes us to hide. Instead of confessing...
Sarah covers…
How patient the Lord is. He doesn't shame her. He simply says,
"Nay; but thou didst laugh."
Truth spoken… With grace.
Church, isn't that how God deals with us? He lovingly exposes what we try to hide… Not to condemn us… But to grow us.
Can I ask you one question as we close? What have you decided is impossible? What prayer have you quietly stopped praying?
What promise have you stopped expecting God to fulfill? What burden have you accepted as permanent?
Can I gently remind you...
Your situation has not changed who God is. The same God who visited Abraham… The same God who gave Sarah a son… The same God who raised Jesus from the dead...
Is still on His throne.
The question has never been,
"Is this too hard for me?"
The real question is the one God asked Sarah:
"Is any thing too hard for the LORD?"
The more impossible circumstances become opportunities to witness His faithfulness.
