Under the Oaks of Mamre: A Calling Shaped by Hospitality

GOD appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot. Looking up, he saw three figures standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, he said, “My lords! If it please you, do not go on past your servant. Let a little water be brought; bathe your feet and recline under the tree. And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on—seeing that you have come your servant’s way.” They replied, “Do as you have said.” Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quick, three seahs of choice flour! Knead and make cakes!” Then Abraham ran to the herd, took a calf, tender and choice, and gave it to a servant-boy, who hastened to prepare it. He took curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree as they ate. They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he replied, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will return to you next year,; cf. 17.21; 2 Kings 4.16–17. and your wife Sarah shall have a son!” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah had stopped having her periods. And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Now that I’ve lost the ability, uncertain. am I to have enjoyment—with my husband so old?” Then GOD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I in truth bear a child, old as I am?’ Is anything too wondrous for GOD? I will return to you at the same season next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was frightened. Came the reply, “You did laugh.” The agents set out from there and looked down toward Sodom, Abraham walking with them to see them off. Now GOD had said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham is to become a great and populous nation and all the nations of the earth are to bless themselves by him? For I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of GOD by doing what is just and right, in order that GOD may bring about for Abraham what has been promised him.” Then GOD said, “The outrage of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave! I will go down to see whether they have acted altogether according to the outcry that has reached Me; if not, I will take note.” The agents went on from there to Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before GOD. Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” And GOD answered, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty innocent ones, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.” Abraham spoke up, saying, “Here I venture to speak to my Sovereign, I who am but dust and ashes: What if the fifty innocent should lack five? Will You destroy the whole city for want of the five?” “I will not destroy if I find forty-five there,” came the reply. But he spoke up again, and said, “What if forty should be found there?” “I will not do it, for the sake of the forty,” came the reply. And he said, “Let not my Sovereign be angry if I go on: What if thirty should be found there?” “I will not do it if I find thirty there,” came the reply. And he said, “I venture again to speak to my Sovereign: What if twenty should be found there?” “I will not destroy, for the sake of the twenty,” came the reply. And he said, “Let not my Sovereign be angry if I speak but this last time: What if ten should be found there?” “I will not destroy, for the sake of the ten,” came the reply. Having finished speaking to Abraham, GOD departed; and Abraham returned to his place.

Genesis 18:1–20 narrates a theophany at the oaks of Mamre in which the LORD appears to Abraham as three visitors. Abraham's hospitable response, Sarah's hidden laughter, and the divine announcement of Isaac together disclose God's purpose: to make Abraham a great nation through whom all the earth will be blessed. The passage closes with God's surprising decision to share His coming judgment on Sodom with Abraham, marking him as a covenant partner in the divine purpose.