Bread Enough to Spare
Bread Enough to Spare
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.”
In biblical times bowing was a method of showing respect, the lesser bowing to the greater, or a method of demonstrating humility or showing acquiescence. In certain Asiatic countries it is a way of salutation, just as shaking hands is in Western countries. Bowing is also used to express an attitude of deference or homage.
Abraham bowed before the Lord to show respect and reverence. In Genesis 23:7, “Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites” to express thankfulness. In Genesis 33:3, Jacob bowed to Esau seven times—the bowing was undoubtedly to express respect and humility, and the seven times may have been to express repentance and seek forgiveness. This would be in keeping with what the Lord said as recorded in Luke 17:4, “If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” And in Genesis 43:28, the brothers of Joseph bowed before him to honor him as the governor of the land: “They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed low to pay him honor.”
A. Visitation (Gn 18:1–8)
The heat of the day is the period of rest in the Near East. For guests to arrive at that time of day was unusual. Abraham was sitting in the shade of his tent door enjoying what air might be stirring when he lifted up his eyes and saw three men standing near by. At least to all outward appearances they were only men. Two of the strangers were created angels (19:1). The third was the same divine personage who appeared to Hagar at Beer-lahai-roi, viz., the angel of the Lord. The first verse of the chapter alerts the reader to this identification, and the subsequent narrative confirms it.
In the exaggerated hospitality so characteristic of the region, Abraham ran to meet his guests and bowed himself to the ground before them. This action was a gesture of respect for distinguished visitors. It had no religious connotations, for the patriarch at first was not aware of the true character of his guests. Abraham addressed the leader of the three with great respect (“my lord”) and referred to himself deferentially (“your servant”). He promptly extended an invitation to his guests to tarry with him and refresh themselves. This invitation was humbly offered (“if I have now found favor in your sight”) and modestly described (“a little water … a morsel of bread”). Such language is designed to relieve the guests of any anxiety which they might have about being burdensome to their host. Washing the hot and dusty feet of travelers was the first act of hospitality performed for guests in the Patriarchal period. The three visitors promptly accepted the gracious offer (18:2–5).
Abraham knew nothing about these visitors. He was ignorant of their station, their nationality, their destination or mission. They had arrived unannounced and at the most inopportune time of day. Yet Abraham rolled out the proverbial red carpet for them. He ran to them, eager to extend a welcome. His courtesy was instinctive. Little wonder, then, that the apostle used this incident to encourage Christians to give themselves to hospitality (Heb 13:2).
Abraham and Sarah busied themselves in preparing a sumptuous meal for their three guests. Sarah prepared three seahs (about 22 liters) of fine flour as cakes. Abraham selected a tender calf for preparation by a servant. Meat was considered a luxury served only on special occasions. Curds (a thick milk by-product) and milk were also served. Abraham stood by to wait upon his guests as they ate. The amount prepared by the hosts would far exceed what three men could eat. The leftovers would be given to the servants (18:6–8).
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3. Personal activity. Though the master of a large household, with 300 trained domestics, and the noble Eliezer at their head, the patriarch does not think of relegating the important work of preparing the entertainment to his subordinates, but himself attends to its immediate execution. Indeed, in all the bustling activity which forthwith pervades the tent his figure is always and everywhere conspicuous. And when the meal is ready he reverently serves it with his own hand; again a true pattern of humility, as if he had caught up by anticipation the spirit of our Saviour’s words (Matt. 20:26); and a true preacher of Christian duty, saying that in God’s work personal service is ever better than labouring by proxy.