Responding to the visitation

 This week's verses are Genesis 18:1-11:

 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest time of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

He said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. Let a little water be brought so that you may all wash your feet and rest under the tree. And let me get a bit of food so that you may refresh yourselves since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.” “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”

So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.” Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Abraham then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them. They ate while he was standing near them under a tree.

Then they asked him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There, in the tent.” One of them said, “I will surely return to you when the season comes round again, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him. Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years; Sarah had long since passed menopause.)

In these verses, God mysteriously visits Abraham in the form of three men. We don't really know why God revealed himself like that. Theologians could give you good reasons, but they don't really know either. Only God knows.

The verses make it sound as though the visitors basically just appear out of nowhere. Maybe this is why Abraham recognizes the men as God. How often do guys just "appear" in a desert wilderness?

Abraham bows in submission. God is still God, even if he's wearing three men as a disguise.

Abraham welcomes them to the extent of his ability, even at the most inconvenient time. Who wants to rush around building a fire and cooking at the hottest point of the day? Yet he wasn't like "Hey, you guys want to come back later on sometime?"

He gives his best. And then he waits to see what they have to say to him.

God responds with a blessing that could only come from him. An aged, infertile couple will give birth to a healthy naturally born child. Sarah later laughs at how ridiculous it sounded, but Abraham took it seriously.

When we see how Abraham responded to a visitation from God, we have to examine ourselves. How do we respond to God's visitation? When God appears in the moment, or when we agree to spend a moment in prayer, do we welcome him with reverence the way Abraham welcomed him? Do we give our best in his service? Do we wait patiently, even if we are hungry ourselves, until he is ready to speak?

When God appears to us, or when we have a chance to encounter him, he is no less God in the moment than he was when he encountered Abraham. Do we kneel, bow, or pause in respect?  What gestures might we make to show our reverence?

And when the time is inconvenient, maybe during the workday, maybe right before a meal, maybe late at night when we want to sleep, or early in the morning when we don't want to be awake, are we as eager to serve as Abraham was? How might we better put the situation in perspective?

And do we give him space like Abraham gave him space? Maybe he doesn't want to talk right away. Maybe he doesn't want us talking at him endlessly. Maybe we need to pause and listen and respect his timing.

In this case, God came with a blessing. Abraham's respectful worship, service, and patience were rewarded.  He didn't make God bless him through manipulation, but he created an environment such that, if God was there to say something, there would be space to say it.

Next time you encounter God, whether it's three men suddenly appearing or just your evening prayer time, try to approach it like Abraham approached it. See what happens when you respond to the visitation with respect, worship, service, and silence.