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Genesis Chapter
Eighteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Friend of God
Abraham
A. Abraham received God and the angels (v.1-8);
B. God promised Sarah the son (v.9-15);
C. Abraham walked with God and knew the will of
God (v.16-21);
D. Abraham prayed to God for Lot (v.22-23);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 18:1 “Then the LORD appeared to
him by the terebinth trees of Mamre
as he was sitting in the tent door in the
heat of the day.”
YLT:
“And Jehovah appeareth unto
him among the oaks of Mamre
and he is sitting at the opening of the tent
about the heat of the day;”
Spiritual
Meaning: this was a symbolic
picture: “the terebinth trees of Mamre” were in
“He was
sitting in the tent door”
it typified that
he had kept the position of a sojourner on the earth and sought a better and
heavenly country (Heb. 11:9
16). In such a condition
God manifested to him
and became his friend and had fellowship with him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The truthfulness will be more realized in the
fellowship with Him. The more we have sweet fellowship with God
the more we
enjoy His presence.
2) “In
the heat of the day” ---- was not our
heart burning in us as he spoke to us on the way (Luke 24:32)?
3) If anyone loves the world
the love of the Father is not in him
(1John 2:15). Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy
of God (James 4:4).
4) If we keep ourselves as sojourners in the world
we will be friends
of God and have intimate fellowship with God.
5) The God of glory even humbles Himself and manifests to us as a common
man. Therefore
God is so ready to have fellowship with those who are of Him!
let us more cherish the fellowship with God.
Gen. 18:2 “So he lifted his eyes and
looked
and behold
three men were standing by him; and when he saw them
he
ran from the tent door to meet them
and bowed himself to the ground
”
YLT: “and he lifteth up his eyes and looketh
and
lo
three men standing by him
and he seeth
and runneth to meet them from the
opening of the tent
and boweth himself towards the earth
”
Literal
Meaning: “three men”
one of them is God (see v.13). Jehovah
had personally manifested to Abram in a figure of man with two angels (Gen.
19:1). At that time
Abram might have not recognized that they were God and
angels.
The word in the New Testament ---- “by entertaining strangers some have
unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13:2) ---- is just in allusion to the
record of the hospitality of Abram here from verse one to three.
“Ran
from the tent door to meet them”
it showed his
hospitality.
“Bowed
himself to the ground”
it unveiled his
humility.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The God of glory humbled himself and was found
in appearance as a man and stood on the equal position with man
because he
loves to be a friend of man and have fellowship with man.
2) Let us often learn to “life our eyes and look” in fellowship.
3) God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1Pet.
5:5).
4) He who often lives in the fellowship with God is so kind and humble
to both God and men.
Gen. 18:3 “and said
"My Lord
if I have now found favor in Your sight
do not pass on by Your servant.”
YLT: “And he saith
`My Lord
if
I pray thee
I
have found grace in thine eyes
do not
I pray thee
pass on from thy servant;”
Literal
Meaning: “My Lord … servant …”
it is a
respective tone to elders.
“If I have now found favor in Your sight”
it revealed that he received them
for he
found favor in their sight
not they found favor in his sight.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Let believers seize each chance to serve others.
2) Apparently
he who serves others gives a favor to those whom he
serves. Actually
it is those who are serves that have presented us a chance to
find favor. E.g. the more we preach the gospel
the more will we be blessed by
God.
3) In the church
we have to serve in the mind of “entreating”
thinking
that it is the Lord’s graciousness that we are enabled to serve.
Gen. 18:4 “Please let a little water
be brought
and wash your feet
and rest yourselves under the tree.”
YLT: “let
I pray thee
a little water be
accepted
and wash your feet
and recline under the tree;”
The Background: in the old times
people in the areas of the
Literal
Meaning:
this verse indicated that Abraham was considerate towards the wayfarers who
were tired and weary.
Spiritual Meaning:
“and wash your feet”
it typifies the washing away of the defilement
of the world by the living water of life.
“And
rest yourselves under the tree”
it typifies the
rest in the shadow of the Lord.
Verse three to verse five can be regarded as Abraham’s prayer
expressing the willing of devotion to God and hoping to present what he has to
God for His satisfaction and joy.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord commands us to wash the feet of one
another and wash away the worldly constitutions of others by the divine life.
Through such love
all will know that we are the Lord’s disciples (John 13:14
35).
2) We may be exposed to sun when we run on the way
so let us often rest
under the shadow of the Lord.
3) Let believers have the willingness of devotion
and let us not pray
for the blessing of God only
and yet ignore the expectation and need of God.
Gen. 18:5 “And I will bring a morsel
of bread
that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by
inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said
"Do as you
have said."”
YLT: “and I bring a piece of bread
and support ye
your heart; afterwards pass on
for therefore have ye passed over unto your
servant;' and they say
`So mayest thou do as thou has spoken.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ is the bread of life (John 6:48)
which
strengthens us to walk the way before us.
2) The prayer of Abraham was granted by God ---- “do as you have said”
---- (2Cor. 8:12).
Gen. 18:6 “So Abraham hurried into
the tent to Sarah and said
"Quickly
make ready three measures of fine
meal; knead it and make cakes."”
YLT: “And Abraham hasteth towards the tent
unto
Sarah
and saith
`Hasten three measures of flour-meal
knead
and make cakes;'”
Literal
Meaning: “hurried into …quickly”
it showed his
swift action.
Spiritual
Meaning: “three measures of fine
meal; knead it and make cakes”
it typifies that
the holy Trinity has become the provision of life. How even and how gentle! And
here it also typifies that we can only offer the Christ whom we have partaken
of to God to be a meat-offering (Lev. 2:4-9).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Let us seize the opportunity to serve God
diligently (“hurried
into …quickly”).
2) Working with fellow workers excels in working alone. It is better to
encourage others to work together (“hurried into the tent to Sarah”).
Gen. 18:7 “And Abraham ran to the
herd
took a tender and good calf
gave it to a young man
and he hastened to
prepare it.”
YLT: “and Abraham ran unto the herd
and taketh a
son of the herd
tender and good
and giveth unto the young man
and he hasteth
to prepare it;”
Literal
Meaning: “Abraham ran to … he hastened to prepare”
the state of those who were around him was also
influenced.
“A
tender and good calf”
he entertained
the guests with the best.
Spiritual
Meaning: “a tender and good calf”
it typifies that Christ is the “fat calf”
(Luke 15:23).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Whatever is given to God and to man should be
the best.
2) When the saints work together
let them work harmoniously ----
neither one is fast and the other is slow
nor one is zealous and the other is
indifferent.
Gen. 18:8 “So he took butter and
milk and the calf which he had prepared
and set it before them; and he stood
by them under the tree as they ate.”
YLT: “and Abraham ran unto the herd
and taketh a
son of the herd
tender and good
and giveth unto the young man
and he hasteth
to prepare it;”
Literal
Meaning: “he stood by them under the
tree”
“stood” indicated that he served them in
a spirit of servant (Luke 17:8-10).
Spiritual
Meaning: “butter and milk” symbolize the essence of Christ we have
experienced.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Service shall be perfect with no shortness of
whatever is ought to be presented.
2) In our service
let us keep the position of a servant before God and
be humble to men.
3) The best thing we can present before God is the Christ we have
experienced in us. Christ is the joint satisfaction and joy of both God and
men.
Gen. 18:9 “Then they said to him
"Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said
"Here
in the
tent."”
YLT: “And they say unto him
`Where Sarah thy
wife?' and he saith
`Lo -- in the tent;'”
Literal
Meaning: God manifested to
Abraham with His purposes. And the first purpose was to reveal him the birth of
Isaac by Sarah. What was worthy of observation was that God did not give his revelation
the moment he manifested
but mentioned it at this moment.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we desire to obtain the divine revelation
we
have to first have sweet fellowship with God and let God find satisfaction in
us.
2) When God find more satisfaction in us
He will take us as His friends
and are ready to share His secret with us. .
3) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
Gen. 18:10 “And He said
"I will
certainly return to you according to the time of life
and behold
Sarah your
wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was
behind him.)”
YLT: “and he saith
`returning I return unto thee
about the time of life
and lo
to Sarah thy wife a son. And Sarah is hearkening
at the opening of the tent
which is behind him;'”
Literal
Meaning: “I” refers to God.
“According
to the time of life”
it was the same
as the second promise of God to Abraham (Gen. 17:21). Probably
it was because
Sarah was not on the spot.
Spiritual
Meaning: “have a son”
it refers to Isaac
which typifies “living
out Christ in daily life”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When God comes
the son is begotten. God is the
origin of life. The efficacious way of preaching the gospel and spreading the
divine life is to look upon the presence of God.
2) That “Sarah has a son” is the will of God. However
the fulfillment
of this will should be according to the time of life. Therefore
God fulfills His
will by Himself. He personally fulfills what is initiated by Him. The
fulfillment of God’s will does not need human help.
3) God has His appointed time
so let us wait with patience.
4) The will of God is that we shall live out Christ in daily life. The
more one has obtained the manifestation of God and the more one has intimate
fellowship with God
the more can he live out Christ.
Gen. 18:11 “Now Abraham and Sarah
were old
well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.”
YLT:
“and
Abraham and Sarah aged
entering into days -- the way of women hath ceased to
be to Sarah;”
Literal
Meaning: this verse meant
that they had no hope of bearing a son from this perspective. Man’s hope often
lies in his own strength and condition. However
the works of God do not need
human strength
so He often starts to work when man gives himself up.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Man’s extremity is the opportunity of God.
2) We may not be used by God when we feel confident of ourselves.
3) The more our natural strength decreases
the more the divine strength
will be manifested.
Gen. 18:12 “Therefore Sarah laughed
within herself
saying
"After I have grown old
shall I have pleasure
my
lord being old also?"”
YLT: “and Sarah laugheth in her heart
saying
`After I have waxed old I have had
pleasure! -- my lord also old!'”
Literal
Meaning: note the word “I” in
this verse
which is the origin of unbelief. Sarah inferred that it was
impossible from the natural perspective
so she laughed.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The infidel sees only his own difficulty. However
believers trust in the Almighty God in spite of the difficulties.
2) Whenever the constitution of “I” decreases
the works of God will be
manifested.
Gen. 18:13 “And the LORD said to
Abraham
"Why did Sarah laugh
saying
"Shall I surely bear a child
since I am old?'”
YLT:
“And Jehovah saith unto
Abraham
`Why this? Sarah hath laughed
saying
Is it true really -- I bear --
and I am aged?”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God is a God who searches the minds and hearts (Rev.
2:23; Jer. 20:12). Our mind is naked and open to Him (Heb. 4:12-13).
2) The Lord tries our hearts (Ps. 26:2) so that our thoughts shall be
accepted by Him (Ps. 19:14).
Gen. 18:14 “Is anything too hard for
the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you
according to the time of
life
and Sarah shall have a son."”
YLT: “Is any thing too wonderful for Jehovah? at
the appointed time I return unto thee
about the time of life
and Sarah hath a
son.' “”
Literal
Meaning: “is anything too hard for the LORD?” When Sarah saw herself
she uttered the questions
that “it is true?...can I really beget a son?” (see v.12-13)
but he did not
consider God. However
with men this is impossible
but with God all things are
impossible (Matt. 19:26).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Whatever difficulties we have met
let us
discern everything according to God and believe “is anything too hard for the
LORD?” (Job. 42:2; Jer. 32:17).
2) The success of a thing depends on whether God has spoken of it
not
the difficulty level
for with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37).
3) It is fully amazing that believers can even manifest Christ
for it
is out of the wonderful works of God
not human works.
Gen. 18:15 “But Sarah denied it
saying
"I did not laugh
" for she was afraid. And He said
"No
but you did laugh!"”
YLT: “And Sarah denieth
saying
`I did not
laugh;' for she hath been afraid; and He saith
`Nay
but thou didst laugh.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since we believers have the sincerity of Christ
(2Cor. 11:10) in us
let us speak truth in love (Eph. 4:25).
2) If we have fault
let us not dare not to confess it because of fear.
Whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy (Pro. 28:13).
Gen. 18:16 “Then the men rose from
there and looked toward
YLT: “And the men rise from thence
and look on
the face of
Literal
Meaning: “looked toward Sodom”
here it suggests that God visited Abraham
for another purpose ---- He revealed His will of destroying Sodom to Abraham so
that He would pray for the whole family of his nephew Lot (Gen. 19:29).
To see someone off shows the reluctance to leave. Man often sees off the
common friends at that door
but intimate friends a further distance. Here that
Abraham send
them on the way indicated his close
friendship with God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who has fellowship with God shall walk with
God. If we have fellowship with God in the tent
we will go forth to Him
outside the camp (Heb. 13:13) and walk with Him in our daily life.
2) Only when we believers walk with God
can we have thorough and clear knowledge
of the sinful world (“
3) Every time when we have sweet fellowship with God
we will feel reluctant
to leave.
4) In the gatherings of the church
the climax of both God’s revelation
and the corporate joy is often found in the final section ---- “went with them to send them
on the way”.
Gen. 18:17 “And the LORD said
"Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing
”
YLT: “and Jehovah said
`Am I concealing from
Abraham that which I am doing
”
Literal
Meaning: since Abraham
expressed close friendship to God here
God was also moved to tell him what He
was doing (Ps. 25:14).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God pleases to reveal His will to us (Gal.
1:16). And the problem is whether we have prepared to know the will of God.
2) The more one draws near to God
the more can he share the secreta in
God’s heart.
Gen. 18:18 “since Abraham shall
surely become a great and mighty nation
and all the nations of the earth shall
be blessed in him?”
YLT: “and Abraham certainly becometh a nation
great and mighty
and blessed in him have been all nations of the earth?”
Literal
Meaning: “all the nations of
the earth shall be blessed in him”
Christ is the seed of Abraham (Matt. 1:1)
which means Abraham brings Christ
so all nations are blessed in him.
Enlightenment
in the Word: God plans to build
a
Gen. 18:19 “For I have known him
in
order that he may command his children and his household after him
that they
keep the way of the LORD
to do righteousness and justice
that the LORD may
bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."”
YLT: “for I have known him
that he commandeth his
children
and his house after him (and they have kept the way of Jehovah)
to
do righteousness and judgment
that Jehovah may bring on Abraham that which He
hath spoken concerning him.'”
Literal
Meaning: “I have known him”: “I have taken him as a friend” (Is.
41:8).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God knows us in order to make us know His will
and teach all those who are around us (including our children
relatives
colleagues
etc.) to fear God (Jos. 24:15).
2) He who has been saved by grace shall not sin but keep his word and
manifest the righteousness of God.
Gen. 18:20 “And the LORD said
"Because the outcry against
YLT:
“And Jehovah saith
`The cry
of
Gen. 18:21 “I will go down now and
see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that
has come to Me; and if not
I will know."”
YLT: “I go down now
and see whether according to
its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely -- and if not -- I
know;'”
Literal
Meaning: “I
will go down now and see”
it does not mean
God has to really come down to the earth to obtain the true fact
for God is
omnipresent (Jer. 23:24) and omniscient (Is. 46:9).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God condescends to us to lead us into His will
so that we shall be partakers of His works by prayer.
2) Every time when God reveals His will to us
it shows that He
cherishes us and wants us to become fellow-workers of Him.
Gen. 18:22 “Then the men turned away
from there and went toward
YLT: “and the men turn from thence
and go towards
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is a blessed way of standing before God all
the time.
2) Through the grace of God
we are enabled to come to God with boldness
(Heb. 4:16).
Gen. 18:23 “And Abraham came near and
said
"Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”
YLT: “And Abraham draweth nigh and saith
`Dost
Thou also consume righteous with wicked?”
Literal
Meaning: “Abraham came near”
since Abraham had known the will of God
of destroying the city of
“Would
You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” It goes against the righteousness of God if the
righteous is destroyed with the wicked. Therefore
Abraham prayed according to
the righteousness of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Abraham prayed with a burden of interceding for
2) The best prayer of believers is to stand on the side of God and think
of God’s righteousness. However
the majority of our prayers are thinking of
ourselves and asking God to answer our unrighteous requests.
Gen. 18:24 “Suppose there were fifty
righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it
for the fifty righteous that were in it?”
YLT:
“peradventure there are fifty
righteous in the midst of the city; dost Thou also consume
and not bear with
the place for the sake of the fifty -- the righteous who in its midst?”
Literal
Meaning: Abraham asked God according
to the principle of God’s work. In fact
God said
by the prophet Jeremiah
“If
you can find a man
if there is anyone who executes judgment
who seeks the
truth
I will pardon her” (Jer. 5:1).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Many times
God does not hear our prayer
for we
have not seized the principle of God’ work.
2) God is righteous
so He must judge sins (Heb. 1:9). However if we
confess our sins
He will surely forgive our sins (1John 1:9).
Gen. 18:25 “Far be it from You to do
such a thing as this
to slay the righteous with the wicked
so that the
righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of
all the earth do right?"”
YLT:
“Far be it from Thee to do
according to this thing
to put to death the righteous with the wicked; that it
hath been -- as the righteous so the wicked -- far be it from Thee; doth the
Judge of all the earth not do justice?'”
Literal
Meaning: Abraham emphasized
that God would not do unrighteousness ---- “to slay the righteous with the
wicked so that the righteous should be as the wicked” ---- it is not allowed in
the light of God’s righteousness.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The most efficacious prayer is the prayer
according to the knowledge of God
for God cannot deny Himself (2Tim. 2:13).
2) Many people beg hardly and plead desperately in prayers
intending to
move God to sympathize with them.
Gen. 18:26 “So the LORD said
"If I find in
YLT: “And Jehovah saith
`If I find in
Literal
Meaning: in Abraham’s prayer
he firstly established the foundation of speaking with God
and then negotiated
with God to regulate His requirements. Here Abraham confirmed the principle
that “God would not destroy that city as long as there were fifty righteous men
within the city”.
Gen. 18:27 “Then Abraham answered and
said
"Indeed now
I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself
to speak to the Lord:”
YLT:
“And Abraham answereth and
saith
`Lo
I pray thee
I have willed to speak unto the Lord
and I -- dust
and ashes;”
Gen. 18:28 “Suppose there were five
less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of
five?" So He said
"If I find there forty-five
I will not destroy
it."”
YLT: “peradventure there are lacking five of the
fifty righteous -- dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He
saith
`I destroy not
if I find there forty and five.'”
Literal
Meaning: here Abraham meant
that though he was unworthy of reasoning with God
since God had approved the
principle of “sparing the city for the sake of the fifty
righteous”
he wondered “the least number of the righteous men” that would make
the city spared”.
Gen. 18:29 “And he spoke to Him yet
again and said
"Suppose there should be forty found there?" So He
said
"I will not do it for the sake of forty."”
YLT:
“And he addeth again to speak
unto Him and saith
`Peradventure there are found there forty?' and He saith
`I do not
because of the forty.'”
Gen. 18:30 “Then he said
"Let
not the Lord be angry
and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found
there?" So He said
"I will not do it if I find thirty there."”
YLT:
“And he saith
`Let it not
be
I Pray thee
displeasing to the Lord
and I speak: peradventure there are
found there thirty?' and He saith
`I do not
if I find there thirty.'”
Gen. 18:31 “And he said
"Indeed
now
I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be
found there?" So He said
"I will not destroy it for the sake of
twenty."”
YLT:
“And he saith
`Lo
I pray
thee
I have willed to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there are found there
twenty?' and He saith
`I do not destroy
because of the twenty.'”
Gen. 18:32 “Then he said
"Let
not the Lord be angry
and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be
found there?" And He said
"I will not destroy it for the sake of
ten."”
YLT:
“And he saith
`Let it not
be
I pray Thee
displeasing to the Lord
and I speak only this time:
peradventure there are found there ten?' and He saith
`I do not destroy
because of the ten.'”
Literal
Meaning: from verse
twenty-seven to thirty-two
Abraham decreased the number of the righteous to
ten. Probably
it was because he had not known God enough that he dared not to
mention “ten” directly in fear of offending God. Abraham might think there were
at least ten among
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Abraham “asked” rather than “spoke” in his
prayer. To ask God is truly a good way of prayer (Ps. 27:14).
2) Believers may know the will of God step by step in the process of
asking and entreating.
Gen. 18:33 “So the LORD went His way
as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his
place.”
YLT: “And Jehovah goeth on
when He hath finished
speaking unto Abraham
and Abraham hath turned back to his place.”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Prayer involves believers’ uttering as well as
hearing.
2) We may utter some word in prayer and then rise up and go away without
hearing God. However
a normal prayer is a dialogue with God. And after God’s
speaking
we return to our place.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Virtues Abraham Have Manifested When He
Entertained the Angels
A. Zealous and not unwilling ---- ran from the
door to meet them (v.2);
B. Humble ---- bow himself to the ground (v.2);
C. Regard entertainment as a favor instead of a
cost (v.3);
D. Respectful ---- call him “my LORD” (v.3);
E. Great hospitality ---- washing your feet and
preparing the feast (v.4-5);
F. Present the best swiftly ---- quickly
tender and good (v.6-7);
G. Careful service ---- he stood by them (v.8);
Examples of Abraham’s Prayer
A. He had close fellowship with God first
(v.1-8);
B. He walked with God and was the friend of God
(v.16);
C. He obtained the revelation of God and knew
the will of God (v.17-21);
D. He received the burden of prayer from the revelation
of God (v.22);
E. He knew God according to the fellowship of God
and the walking with God
and thus held the principles of God’s working (v.23);
F. He interceded with God for others according
to the principles of God’s works (v.24-26);
G. He asked God for the limit of God’s tolerance
step by step (v.27-32);
H. He stood before God as soon as He had
finishing speaking with him (v.33);
Characteristics Abraham Have Manifested in
Prayer
A. Boldness (v.23
25);
B. Perseverant prayer (v.24
29-32);
C. Godliness (v.30
32);
D. Earnest Prayer (because of seeing the danger
of sinners);
E. Be granted by the Lord (see Gen. 19:29);
Two Key Revelations of God
A. The positive revelation ---- beget Isaac
(v.9-14) ---- manifest Christ in daily life;
B. The passive revelation ---- destroy
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou