Wesley Corpus

Chapter XVIII We have an account in this chapter of another interview between God and Abraham, probably within a few days after the former, as the reward of his chearful obedience to the law of circumcision. Here is, The visit which God made him, ver. 1 - 8 The matters discoursed of between them, The purposes of God's love concerning Sarah, ver. 9 - 15. The purposes of God's wrath concerning Sodom. The discovery God made to Abraham of his design to destroy Sodom, ver. 16 - 22. The intercession Abraham made for Sodom, ver. 23 - 33. This appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and majesty, than those we have hitherto read of, and therefore more resembles that great visit which in the fulness of time the Son of God was to make to the world. He sat in the tent - door in the heat of the day - Not so much to repose himself, as to seek an opportunity of doing good, by giving entertainment to strangers. And lo three men - These three men were three spiritual heavenly beings, now assuming human shapes, that they might be visible to Abraham, and conversable with him. Some think they were all three created angels; others, that one of them was the Son of God. He bowed himself towards the ground - Religion doth not destroy but improve good manners, and teaches us to honour all men. Where is Sarah thy wife - By naming her, they gave intimation to Abraham, that tho' they seemed strangers, yet they well knew him and his family: by enquiring after her, they shewed a kind concern for the family of one, whom they found respectful to them. And by speaking of her, she over - hearing it, they drew her to listen to what was farther to be said. I will certainly return unto thee - And visit thee. God will return to those that bid him welcome. Sarah laughed within herself - It was not a laughter of faith, like Abraham's, Ge 17:17, but a laughter of doubting and distrust. The great objection which Sarah could not get over was her age.