Scripture: Genesis 18:1-2
The LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at the entrance of his tent in the day’s heat. He looked up and suddenly saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from his tent entrance to greet them and bowed deeply.
Thought for the Day: There is a lot of talk in regard to this passage. Are the “three men” God, as if an expression of the Trinity? Or are the “three men” angels, representatives of God – as a true envoy had the same authority as the one who sent the envoy? Is it possibly a waste of our time to be debating exactly how this was an expression of God? Maybe… but I do believe we need to acknowledge that as the story is told, and as the character Abraham saw it, the divine was present before him. More importantly, at a time when Abraham and Sarah were beginning to question God’s presence in their lives, God showed up. God makes unexpected appearances, though if we were to think about it, these type of appearances should not be all that surprising. It’s as if God is in the business of showing up when we least expect it. Could it be that God is eternally present, or to say it in another way, God is always with us? I believe there are occasions when the feelings of desperation, sorrow or loneliness awaken something within us that makes us more aware of a divine presence that was always there.
Prayer: Awaken me to your everlasting presence, O Lord who came before Abraham and Sarah. Awaken me to this presence, even in times when life is good and I may not see a real need for you. These are the moments when I actually might need you more for it is as if I am trying to live my life as one who has it all figured out. Amen.
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