Seattle, September 23, 2005. (90)
THE APPERANCE OF THE LORD. Abraham on lifting his eyes saw three men standing before him. Of this we may be certain. There were three and they were men. Jehovah, paid a visit to Abraham, not in His eternal form, not as an angel, but in the form of a man. The three were united by the fact that they were called LORD or Jehovah. They are identified by the name LORD or Jehovah in verse 1, 13, 14, 17, 20, 22, 26, 33. While the name LORD may be applied to all persons of the Godhead, initially it represented the Father. He said, “I am the LORD: that is my name.” Isa. 42:8 The closeness, the intimacy of the Godhead is seen in the interchangeability of this name LORD. For, “God has made this same Jesus both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36 So, we see that the name LORD was not only the name whereby the Father was identified but the Father also very willingly shared it with His Son as a sign of His status. The name of Jesus was God breathed. He was not named by his parents but by the Lord Himself. His name, the Lord Jesus Christ is above and over, far greater than any other name in heaven and earth. Phil. 2:9 The Spirit is also recognized as Lord For He is the Spirit of the Lord. It is He who reveals the glories of that marvelous name to us. 2 Cor. 3:17 The name LORD is shared and shared equally by all members of the Godhead. All of its virtues and powers are likewise manifest equally in each of them.
THE APPROACH OF ABRAHAM TO THEM. Just His reactions speak volumes concerning his reconciliation of whom was standing before him. He hastily ran toward them. He was anxious to meet and to please them. Though not a word had been spoken Abraham acknowledged their importance. Furthermore, he bowed before them. This was more than an act of meeting with equals an welcoming them. This was an act of worship. In addressing them as Lord, Adoni, he was declaring them to be sovereign, Lord or master. In other words, greater than himself. Abraham was a man of authority in his own rights. He was a man of wealth and was respected by hose of his day. He confessed that he was in the presence of a those of higher authority. Gen. 18:2.
BY HIS WORDS HE KNEW THAT THEY HAD A BLESSING FOR HIM.
His actions were more than common courtesy and custom. He sought their favor. Do not pass me by. He approached them as a servant in all humility. Gen. 18:3.