![]() Nevertheless, although man has not been able to devise any such test, God is always testing us, and his testing does not come when we are warned and ready. It is quite possible, and in fact demonstratively possible, to graduate from seminary with a Doctor of Divinity degree or a doctorate in theology and not possess true spirituality or true maturity in Christ. There is little which reveals the real spiritual achievement of the life. All the tests that are commonly used reveal only the amount of information that has been amassed. I've long wished for some kind of a test which could be used in Bible schools and seminaries to determine the degree of spiritual maturity the students have attained. This is obviously a test of Abraham's heart - whether he is really a circumcised believer - in which God appears in such a commonplace way that Abraham is not aware of his identity. Further, Abraham's offer of food, rest, and water shows he had no idea whom he was entertaining. You will notice in the Revised Standard Version that "lord" is not capitalized. The salutation, "my lord," with which Abraham addresses the central figure is simply the common language of courtesy and does not mean that he had any thoughts that this was indeed the Lord. ![]() Abraham is seated under the oaks of Mamre in the doorway of his tent in the heat of the day looking out on the blazing countryside and suddenly he sees three men coming toward him. All he sees is three travelers, weary and thirsty as they come in off the desert where the temperature often reaches 120-125 - in the shade - and there is no shade. He appears as a man, accompanied by two angels in human disguise.Ībraham does not recognize him. Here is one of those mysterious appearances of Christ before he came to take upon himself human life. Because there are three men here, some have taken this to be a representation of the trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit appearing together, but a careful look at the context indicates that this is what we might regard as a pre-incarnate appearance of the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. ![]() These are the same two who visit Lot to warn him of the impending judgment upon the cities of the plain. "The Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre." It is Jehovah himself coming to see Abraham, and with him come two angels who appear later on in connection with the destruction of Sodom. We are told clearly in Verse 1 who this is that appears to Abraham. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on - since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." (Genesis 18:1-5 RSV) When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. In the first five verses we see God appearing in disguise:Īnd the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. We first see God in disguise, then Abraham in haste, and finally, Sarah in doubt. ![]() ![]() These few verses center around three persons. It is faith-in-overalls, a combination of grace and groceries. Here is a very homey scene, what we might call kitchen-sink religion. In Chapter 18, we shall see the results of this in terms of practical experience. Abraham, led of the Spirit of God through many difficulties and trials and after years of wandering in a state of alternating victory and defeat, has come into the fullness of the circumcised life. Paul describes it this way in Philippians 3:3 (RSV): "We are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh." That is the circumcised life. This is the picture of the heart that is wholly Christ's. In our study through the life of Abraham, the pattern man of faith, we last saw him entering into the circumcised life. ![]()
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