1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:09,440 Amen. Stand with me tonight and let's 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:22,540 turn to the book of Genesis. I'm going to read the first 8 3 00:00:22,540 --> 00:00:30,620 verses here this evening of Genesis chapter 18 and let's see 4 00:00:30,620 --> 00:00:33,640 what the Lord says through His Word the Bible says. 5 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,480 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of memory, and he 6 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,040 sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 7 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,520 He lifted up his eyes and looked. 8 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,680 And lo, three men stood by him. And when he saw them, he ran to 9 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,520 meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the 10 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:54,640 ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have found faith, pass not 11 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:59,160 away, I pray thee, from thy servant Let a little water, I 12 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,600 pray you be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves 13 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,400 under the tree. And I will fetch a morsel of 14 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,480 bread and comfort ye your hearts. 15 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:12,720 After that shall after that ye shall pass on, for therefore are 16 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,560 ye come to your hand. Hastened into the tent unto 17 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,160 Sarah, and said, Make ready on the hearth. 18 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,240 And Abraham ran and to the herd, and fetched A calf tender and 19 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,560 good, and gave it to a young man, and he hasted to dress it. 20 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:32,240 And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he addressed, set 21 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,520 it before them, and he stood by them under the tree, and they 22 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,640 did eat. Amen. 23 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,400 For a little while tonight I want to teach this. 24 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,800 Angels at the door, promises in the tent. 25 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,680 Angels at the door, promises in the tent. 26 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,680 Father, I thank you, Lord, today, God, for your spirit, 27 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,560 God, that's been with us all day long. 28 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,840 I pray now, Lord, that you'd open up our hearts and our minds 29 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,040 that there be a spirit of revelation upon us, Lord, as we 30 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,480 read, study, Lord, it's been with us all day long. 31 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,320 I pray now, Lord, that you'd open up our hearts tonight, God. 32 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:13,360 Lord, let us give attention, Jesus to it, Lord. 33 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:18,880 And even those with yet another appearance of the Lord Abraham, 34 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,320 and this one tells us where it takes place in the plains of 35 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,080 Mainre. And this is not the first time 36 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,600 that the plains of Mainre has been mentioned here in the 37 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,560 Scripture. It's at this location in Hebron 38 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,360 that we go back to chapter 13, that this is a place that early 39 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,560 on that Abraham built an altar and he dwelt. 40 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,840 As a matter of fact, the plains of Mainre, although Abraham is 41 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,440 predominantly nomadic, moving from place to place, the plains 42 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,360 of Mamre almost seem like one of those places that he circles 43 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,440 back to and frequents quite often. 44 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:56,400 The Bible said in Genesis 13 and verse #18 Then Abram, right? 45 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,040 This was still back before his name was changed, removed his 46 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,200 tent and came to out the plain of Mamre, which is Hebron, and 47 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,320 built there an altar unto the Lord. 48 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,920 And so here is the Lord visiting him again at this place. 49 00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:14,240 And there's maybe some other times that he visited him there. 50 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,000 It may not tell us specifically that this is a place that he 51 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,120 often frequented. It is a place as we looked at 52 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:24,360 previously built in all of God visiting this man of faith, 53 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,520 especially a man that builds altars. 54 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,000 And so we know from the very beginning, sure in verse number 55 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,160 one that this the Scripture, the narrator of the Scripture tells 56 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,320 us that this is the Lord capital Lord, right? 57 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,040 And this is always indicating y'all. 58 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,000 So the narrator is telling this, this, but it's not necessarily 59 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,240 that Abraham understands this, right? 60 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,960 So we, there's a lot of times scripture does that we get 61 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,240 insight from the narration of scripture that maybe the person 62 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,280 that's involved in the scripture doesn't know anything about. 63 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,280 Like for instance, Joe, right? There's a lot of things Joe 64 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,280 didn't know that we know as readers. 65 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,640 And so it's kind of a similar thing right here in the 66 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,960 beginning of Genesis 18. We know this is the Lord, but 67 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,440 Abraham necessarily doesn't know that right here at the very, 68 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,960 very beginning, but he will realize it. 69 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,959 And in my estimation, the way that I read Scripture here, he 70 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:20,760 will realize it pretty soon that this is the Lord. 71 00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:24,920 And so notably, again, the writer uses that capital Lord 72 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:30,000 that that Yahweh, the covenant name of God, right as as as he 73 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,320 would all time appear. We read of even in the book of 74 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,520 Exodus, whenever, when I read scripture here, he will realize 75 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,880 it different things happened since then other layers of that 76 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,320 covenant come into existence concerning the details of the 77 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,000 promise. Also, I think it's important to 78 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,640 note tonight, just for our little timeline of events, 79 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,720 things that this appearance in chapter #18 must not have 80 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,760 happened too long from what happened in chapter 17, because 81 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,840 you'll remember in years will explicitly be told that he will 82 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:07,800 return into them according to the time of life and that she 83 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,120 will have a son. And so that time of life, of 84 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,240 course, is talking about the gestation cycle for a human 85 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,720 being to be formed in a womb, which is approximately Lord, you 86 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,480 know, nine months, but nonetheless that they'll be 87 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,920 back. And the Bible tells us then if 88 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:27,680 you Fast forward to chapter #21 and verse #5 it tells us then 89 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:32,120 that Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. 90 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,720 So if he was 99 in chapter 17 and he's 100 whenever Isaac is 91 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,240 born, this must be very close on the heels of the last visitation 92 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,520 in order for the Angel to say, according to the time of life, 93 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,360 I'm going to return and, and there will be a son. 94 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,160 So I think, I think it's just important to keep that in mind 95 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,720 that this appearance follows very closely the previous 96 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,240 appearance. And So what we have here, this 97 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,360 is in the heat of the day, this is a time when a lot of people, 98 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:06,680 the Near Eastern culture would would take their rest or siesta 99 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,640 if we want to get, you know, Spanish on them. 100 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,320 But nonetheless that they would take their rest, that they have 101 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,080 had a meal and that they would repose in the heat of the day 102 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:22,400 that as Abraham is is is laying here, he notices the Bible says 103 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,400 when he opens his eyes and he lifts up his eyes, he notices 104 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,480 three men that are standing nearby. 105 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:33,720 And upon seeing them, upon seeing them, Abraham springs 106 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:35,960 into action. As a matter of fact, the Bible, 107 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,040 I think is very purposeful in the verbs and some of the 108 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,400 adverbs that it uses here, because in everything of the 109 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,880 verbs and adverbs that are used, there is a sense of urgency. 110 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,080 There's a sense of, of making haste. 111 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,200 As a matter of fact, if you allow me just to run through 112 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,480 some of the verbs and adverbs that I see in the beginning 113 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,840 opening phrases of this chapter, here are some of them. 114 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,920 It speaks of Abraham that he ran and that he fetched. 115 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,480 As a matter of fact, that words used more than once that he 116 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,680 maybe fetched the calf and then he fetched this and and he 117 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,360 hastened. The Bible says that he made 118 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,520 ready quickly, right? That he ran again. 119 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,240 It says it fetch. It says that he had this man 120 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,000 that had the cap that he hasted to dress it. 121 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,080 All of that are words of haste. All of that is words of urgency, 122 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,240 right? It's not like he meandered over 123 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,040 to where the herd was and picked out a cap. 124 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,880 Then he was quick about this. He was very purposeful about 125 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:33,680 this. And there was some that will 126 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:38,320 say, well, well, this is just typical of Near East hospitable 127 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:42,360 behavior, someone showing hospitality, which is of course 128 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,680 very essential to their culture and even to the nation of 129 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,520 Israel, to their culture. They for sure undergirded this 130 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,840 whole aspect of being hospitable to people. 131 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:57,320 Again, you know, not having like in the five star hotels and all 132 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,640 of the restaurants in towns and cities as we do today. 133 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,760 They were dependent upon the, the good fortune of people 134 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,840 toward them for housing and for food and for care. 135 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,960 And so hospitality was very, very important. 136 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:15,760 But in, in, in Abraham here there's such a swiftness, not I 137 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,040 even say as we look at the Scripture, there is such a 138 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:23,320 excessiveness even in what was prepared for these three men 139 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:27,320 that seems to go beyond just the norm of what would be a usual, 140 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,680 usual or typical hospitality shown in that culture and time. 141 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:36,559 And so the Bible tells us that the Lord had spoken to, we 142 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,400 understand in Scripture, had spoken to or appeared before 143 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,520 Abraham at different times prior to this moment. 144 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:46,360 We we've seen, and I've looked at this already many times. 145 00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:49,640 Matter of fact, most of the record we have in Scripture is 146 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,480 when the Lord has either showed up to talk to Abraham or showed 147 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,880 up to appear actually to him. But along the journey, we are 148 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,520 not told wherever the spoke that the Lord appeared to Abraham. 149 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:04,720 We're not told how he appeared. We're not given what what 150 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:09,640 manifestation that he appeared unto Abraham or how he chose to 151 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:14,280 present himself to Abraham and all of these prior episodes. 152 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:18,160 And so again, since it's not been long since the last time 153 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:22,040 that the Lord had appeared to him, even if it was in a 154 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:26,600 different form, Abraham, I believe is starting to 155 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,000 understand with the different encounters with the Lord. 156 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,640 And I think you you can even attest to that or absolute 157 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,200 appearance that Abraham starts to get a feel or a sense of what 158 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,480 it feels like to be in the presence of the Lord. 159 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,440 I think you all can attest to the fact that that once you 160 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,520 start on this journey of growth in the Lord, that even in 161 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:50,640 services you, you can tell. And since whenever he's just 162 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,640 it's like in a prominent, undeniable way entered the room 163 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,200 Sunday night. Yes is a very good indication if 164 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,640 you know like the old preacher, if you couldn't feel that your 165 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:04,040 woods wet right you you knew whenever there was just a 166 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,200 ushering in of the presence of God. 167 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,760 And so with that in mind, I asked myself the question. 168 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:12,240 He's here in the heat of the day. 169 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,920 He's laying at the tent door and the Bible says in verse 2 and he 170 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:22,520 lifted up his eyes and lo looked and lo, three men stood by him. 171 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:27,360 I asked myself, what was it that caused Abraham during his siesta 172 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,560 rest time at noon, which was typical for their culture and 173 00:10:30,560 --> 00:10:32,920 his people? What caused him to lift up his 174 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:37,240 eyes and look? Did he hear the the the footfall 175 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,480 of men on the sands? Was that what it was? 176 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,600 Or Bishop? Did he sense something? 177 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:49,400 Did he sense something? It states that three men stood 178 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:53,680 by him, and yet the Bible describes evidently they were by 179 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:58,680 him, yet far enough off that he ran to meet them. 180 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:04,840 Now I'm convinced from the beginning that Abraham sensed 181 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,240 when those three men were there as they're described. 182 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:13,160 Right now, I'm convinced that Abraham sensed the same presence 183 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:18,160 that he had encountered several times before this particular 184 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,720 moment and not even that long ago. 185 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,720 So he rushes out, hence the urgency. 186 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:31,600 He rushes out to meet them and the Bible says that he bows to 187 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:36,120 the ground number one for an elderly man in his culture. 188 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:43,280 And I would call, I would call 99 elderly even in the even in 189 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,280 the demographic or where they are removed from the flood. 190 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:49,920 I would call that getting elderly in their culture, an 191 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,560 elderly man, especially a man of any means of wealth. 192 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,400 And Abraham had we understood the parting of Abraham and Lot 193 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:02,080 because of the goods of wealth, right and and substantial things 194 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,120 that they had any social status. It was not dignified for an 195 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:12,760 elderly man to run, but Abraham is casting off any dignity of 196 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:17,320 social status and position because of what's before him. 197 00:12:17,680 --> 00:12:20,520 And he is running. As a matter of fact, elders of 198 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:24,400 his society were more known to to to carry themselves with 199 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,320 dignity. And especially if they had any 200 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:30,480 type of wealth or status, they would intentionally walk slowly 201 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,280 and deliberately. That was that was the custom for 202 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,880 them. But not Abraham in this moment, 203 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,320 because I believe Abraham sent something about these three, 204 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,440 that these are just more than just three men. 205 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,200 Amen. He says as he approaches them, 206 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:50,600 he says, My Lord, which is Adonai, often spoken in the 207 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,680 place of Yahweh. And it's in the plural. 208 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:58,760 It's in the plural, and most scholars, many will state that 209 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,840 this is a plural of majesty, and we talked about this before. 210 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,560 And often when an individual uses the plural of majesty, it's 211 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:09,880 frequently used to denote the greatness of the one that is 212 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,520 being spoken to. The greatness are the 213 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:17,320 multifaceted aspects of the one that is being spoken, spoken to. 214 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:21,400 And so Abraham is perceiving that this visit is just no 215 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,040 ordinary occurrence, no ordinary people. 216 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:28,040 And we know one in Scripture here later we'll find out one is 217 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,400 indeed the Lord. We look into the next chapter 218 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:35,800 that the other two are angels. So this is absolutely a heavenly 219 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,840 visitation that has taken place here. 220 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,800 And look what he's telling them in verse #3 he's imploring them 221 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,000 to stay. He's imploring them to allow him 222 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,480 to take care of them. He, he's seeking their favor. 223 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,240 This is the way the Scripture describes it. 224 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,480 He's seeking their favor and he doesn't want them to go anywhere 225 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,000 else to get their needs of whatever they may be in their 226 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,160 travels to be met. He wants them to stay just right 227 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,520 here. And so as a result of this, 228 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,840 Abraham starts pulling all of the bunnies out of the hat, so 229 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:07,920 to speak. He starts showing all of these 230 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,560 acts of hospitality. He's getting water for their 231 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:13,080 feet. They've been on a long journey 232 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,560 so they could refresh themselves with washing their feet. 233 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,360 He's given them a place to rest, He's going to provide food for 234 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:23,080 them, etcetera, etcetera. And all of his movements 235 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:26,080 described, it's with haste, it's fetching, it's running. 236 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:28,880 Picture in your mind. 99 year old man here. 237 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,280 Please picture this 99 year old man running and fetching and 238 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:38,600 then hastening. And you understand Brother 239 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,960 Trout? 99 years old, huh? 240 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:46,040 Some people at 70 can't hasten. You understand what I'm talking 241 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,360 about right now. So he's, he's been very diligent 242 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:51,360 concerning all these things, his moves. 243 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,120 And I like what verse 5, This is what Abraham Amen says. 244 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,280 He says for therefore are you come to your servant? 245 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,480 Look at verse #5 He talks about fetching a more so a bread. 246 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,560 He said, comfort your hearts, He said, and then you can pass on. 247 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,960 He says, for therefore are ye come to your servant. 248 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:13,080 That is a powerful phrase to me, a powerful phrase to me because 249 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,640 what I sense Abraham is saying here, here these are these are 250 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,440 some people that that are on a mission. 251 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,520 They're going somewhere, right. We understand that they are on a 252 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:27,200 trip to Sodom to really investigate if the outcry that's 253 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,760 happened there is true. If the wickedness that is being 254 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:34,280 spoken of is true, they're on a mission, yes, with Abraham and 255 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:38,000 Sarah as well, but that seems to be like a side stop on their way 256 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,600 to Sodom. And we're going to soon find out 257 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,440 as after they investigate Sodom and they're going to destroy 258 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:49,440 Sodom with all of this, they stop by Abrahams of all places. 259 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,320 They stop by Abrahams. And so there is a sense that 260 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:56,120 Abraham is relaying to them, hey, let me do all this stuff 261 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,120 for you. Let me do all this stuff. 262 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:04,200 Let me be hospitable towards you because you came here knowing 263 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:09,200 that I would care for you. He says for or because therefore 264 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,720 ye are come to your servant. You know that if you came here, 265 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,920 I would offer a morsel bread. You knew if you came here that I 266 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,240 would take good care of you. That's the reason why you 267 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:25,440 stopped by here because you knew I would take care of you and 268 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,360 tend to you. So it's it's not something just 269 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:32,480 way out there and in La La land, some type of marvelous thought 270 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,480 that God would come and choose to visit Abraham. 271 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,160 No. He visited Abraham because he 272 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,640 knew Abraham would be attentive to him. 273 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,720 And I think that is vitally important, he says. 274 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:47,400 You came here because you knew what I would do if you showed 275 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:51,160 up. I want to be able to express to 276 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,280 the Lord God. I knew you would show up on 277 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,680 Wednesday night. I knew you would show up on 278 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:57,360 Sunday. I knew you would show up. 279 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,720 Why, why? Why would he, of all places want 280 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,320 to stop by at 1121 Cedar St. Because I think we need to 281 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,359 generate, if you will, an atmosphere that you know, if you 282 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,560 show up here, we're going to pay attention. 283 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:11,240 If you show up here, we're going to be attentive. 284 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:19,000 If you show up here, right? We're there for you. 285 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,760 You came here because you knew that this would happen. 286 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:27,720 God, I want First Apostolic Church to be a place that God 287 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,440 says if I'm going to stop by anywhere, I'll go out of my way 288 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:36,320 to stop right there because I know they'll be attempted to me. 289 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,560 Amen. And he doesn't come. 290 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,360 Look, the Lord doesn't come announcing who's coming. 291 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:49,680 No, he doesn't come announcing who's coming, but he got close 292 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,480 enough to Abraham that Abraham could sense who was there. 293 00:17:55,720 --> 00:18:01,800 Folks, do you realize the difference in someone having to 294 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,560 announce their presence and you just picking up on that they're 295 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,280 there without it having to be announced? 296 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:15,920 I mean, I love it and I love to identify. 297 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:17,200 I'd love to acknowledge the Lord. 298 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,800 I love sometimes to stay in the pool and sound and you hear me 299 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:21,480 say it. I acknowledge the Lord. 300 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:23,800 I acknowledge that he's here. That's great. 301 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,480 But I love the times when no one says anything and everybody's 302 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,120 like, don't say anything, but they're in their mind and in 303 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:30,440 their actions. They're like, he's here. 304 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,920 No one's announced him. No one said, hey, I want to give 305 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,040 all your attention to the King of glory that just walked in. 306 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,200 No, no, no, it's just this is what is it. 307 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,600 It's the hasting, it's the fetching, it's the running. 308 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,000 It's the activity that is matching what is in their 309 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:50,960 presence. That's powerful to me. 310 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,400 So I want God to visit FACI want him to stop by here because he 311 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:59,600 knows we will pay attention and entertain him. 312 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,560 So the Scripture says Abraham. Abraham says that he'll offer a 313 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:11,200 morsel of bread. Abraham's morsel of bread is 314 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,360 abundance. It's abundance. 315 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,960 As a matter of fact, it's it's characteristic even through 316 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,440 Scripture. If you were to look at it, it's 317 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:25,920 characteristic through Scripture that biblically generous people 318 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:31,200 will only mention only part of what they ultimately plan on 319 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:36,080 doing. Yeah, you, you, you even 320 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:41,200 remember you Later you'll remember the story of whenever 321 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:47,080 Abraham's servant is seeking out that wife for Isaac and he does 322 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:51,520 that prayer to the Lord and says the Lord if, if she'll offer me 323 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:59,880 to drink. But if in addition to that, she 324 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:05,120 says I'll water your camels also, and he meets her at the 325 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:10,480 well and the Bible tells us clearly that she does offer him 326 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:16,280 a drink. But then she says, I'll take 327 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:20,560 care of your camels also. And he had 10 camels with him 328 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:25,400 that can drink anywhere to 1020 really to 30 gallons of water a 329 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:32,920 piece. That's not revealing everything 330 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,360 that you plan to do, but you're going to do it. 331 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,040 It it it's almost similar even to New Testament somewhat. 332 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,440 Whenever you read of the story of the Samaritan, you know, the, 333 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,040 the priest and the Levi, you know, there's the going by the 334 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:46,880 passing, by the stopping, the considering. 335 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,640 But then the Samaritan comes to the one who who fell among 336 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,000 thieves and he's wounded and the Bible says that he bandages him 337 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,120 up. He puts the wine and the oil 338 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,360 almost like an antiseptic upon him, places him on his own 339 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:01,200 donkey and then takes him to the end. 340 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:06,840 And we're like, done, no. And he says, and whenever I come 341 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:12,120 back, whatever more has been spent, put it on my tab. 342 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,400 It's the spirit of generosity in Scripture. 343 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,400 And so we see this played out with vapor. 344 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:23,240 He says a morsel bread and his spread equals a morsel bread. 345 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:26,680 I'd hate to see what it was if it was the whole loaf. 346 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:33,440 You know what I'm saying? Abraham had Sarah prepare cakes. 347 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:38,400 This is in your Bible verse #6 from three measures or Sia's as 348 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,680 it's in, as we read the measurement of that time, Sia's 349 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,200 a fine meal or flour. That's about ladies. 350 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:52,960 That's about 6 gallons of flour. Someone say that's a lot of 351 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,800 cakes for three people. I didn't do the math. 352 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,760 I let chat GTP GPT do the math for me and do all the 353 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,600 conversions. And the final estimate was this, 354 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:07,800 that with that according to the nominal size of a cake of that 355 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:13,280 day, that that could equal to around 120 to 150 small cakes 356 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:17,280 depending on the size for three people. 357 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:25,160 Come on now, sister. I mean, if that's 120, that's 358 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,840 like 40 cakes apiece, right? Am I wrong? 359 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,440 Huh. It's like 40 cakes apiece. 360 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:34,120 Amen. And. 361 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:37,800 And in addition to that, Sarah, do that quickly. 362 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,360 Is it your Bibles? You want to? 363 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,920 If there's ever a picture of the woman having flour on the 364 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,120 forehead and on her elbows and arms, it's Sarah. 365 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,440 Not only that, this has taken some time. 366 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,080 Listen to me, this is taking some time. 367 00:22:55,480 --> 00:23:01,760 What better way though to enjoy the presence of the three then 368 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:03,840 to do something that will take time. 369 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,560 This is not fast food. This is not the greasy spoon. 370 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,760 This is not the microwave. Back to you, Jesus. 371 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,480 No, this is this is going to take some time, Lord. 372 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,240 So you guys stay around here because what we're preparing is 373 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:27,240 just not anything that's that, that that that's weak or, or, or 374 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,320 just not special. No, no, no. 375 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,600 It's going to take some time, so you gonna have to stay. 376 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:38,480 And so, yeah, do it quickly, but I don't know how quick you can 377 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,000 make 120 cakes. I just don't know. 378 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:46,600 And then he goes out and selects this cat from the herd and has 379 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:50,080 it dressed. And in that, a calf seems a 380 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:51,720 little excessive for three people. 381 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,800 As a matter of fact, in a lot of scenarios, you see either a lamb 382 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,920 or a goat that is chosen for such an occasion. 383 00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:02,600 But here is a calf and it's denoted a tender calf. 384 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,120 It's selected this. A tender calf is an item of 385 00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:08,800 luxury. It's an item for a very 386 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,400 luxurious, if you will, time a feasting that's usually reserved 387 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:14,720 for banquets. But he says that's what I want 388 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,680 for the guest here. I I want this tender cat. 389 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,720 And so here's Abraham. He gathers some some some butter 390 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,400 and some milk and he has the calf and he has all these things 391 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:28,600 and he presents it to his desk. Abraham has gone above and 392 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:38,800 beyond a Marshall bread of just being a good host, so he's 393 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,560 visited by these three. I'm persuaded he has an 394 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,960 inclination that there's something special about these 395 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:50,000 three beyond being three men, as the Scripture says. 396 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:54,760 But they do come though under the auspice of being strangers, 397 00:24:55,840 --> 00:25:00,320 don't announce himself being strangers, and they remain 398 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,760 unannounced. What we find out through 399 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:09,760 strangers and visitation and remaining unannounced off times 400 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:16,960 in Scripture is that when strangers come in and how you 401 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:22,920 treat the strangers then becomes a test really to the moral state 402 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,240 of the people that are being visited. 403 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:30,400 What are you saying that? Because really, how do you treat 404 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:35,040 them becomes a very telling sign with the Lord. 405 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:42,360 The same group we know for sure the two angels in the next 406 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:44,680 chapter, and I know we're going forward a little bit, they're 407 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:49,760 going to visit Lot too, and they're going to visit the city 408 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:53,760 of Sodom too. And whenever they visit Lot 409 00:25:53,760 --> 00:26:00,160 again, he does have this, this, this family relationship to, to, 410 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:04,240 to Abraham. And we understand that Lot being 411 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,600 in the city of Sodom that it vexed him daily, right? 412 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,480 It had influence on him. But nonetheless, we even see 413 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:16,280 when they come to Lot in Sodom and become guests, that Lot 414 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:18,440 likewise treats them pretty well. 415 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,640 You look ahead at Genesis chapter 19 and just run your 416 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:23,440 eyes through there. I'm just going to point out a 417 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,200 few things. The Bible mentions that he rises 418 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,560 to meet them, that he bows to greet them. 419 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:33,320 He invites them to stay, more particularly to stay in his 420 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,480 house. He provides water for their 421 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:36,480 feet. Amen. 422 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,480 They say no, don't worry about it, we'll stay in the street all 423 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:39,560 night. He says, Oh no. 424 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:41,840 He urges them come in to my house. 425 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,320 He prepares A feast for them. The Bible says in chapter 19, 426 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,040 which included some unleavened bread. 427 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,800 And in this whole scenario, he even attempts to protect them. 428 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:59,920 But when we talk about how Sodom accepted these strangers, they 429 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:03,080 don't treat them as warmly. As a matter of fact, when they 430 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:06,160 learned that they are in Lot's house, they're knocking on the 431 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,600 door and they are seeking that those men would be sent out so 432 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,600 that they can sexually abuse them. 433 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,160 Matter of fact, the Bible describes in one place that they 434 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:19,760 almost broke open the door and trying to get to them and do 435 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:23,680 them harm. But when you see how each of 436 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:28,360 these different ones, how they, how they treat, how they respond 437 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:31,920 to the strangers, it seems to almost grant certain things in 438 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,640 return. It was a telltale sign, if you 439 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:38,360 will, of their moral state. So Abraham is very lavishing 440 00:27:38,360 --> 00:27:41,640 with these things and he's going to get more details about his 441 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,600 promised child. We see Lot seems to do pretty 442 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,200 well and he and his household going to be drugged by angels 443 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,320 outside of that city in order to save them. 444 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:58,160 But Sodom destruction, the Bible says, and this whole episode, 445 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,040 along with some others, may have inspired the writer of Hebrews, 446 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:02,800 and perhaps your mind has already went there. 447 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,960 In Hebrews chapter #13 and verse one, it says Let brotherly love 448 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:15,800 continue and be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby 449 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:20,960 some of entertained angels unawares. 450 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,320 That's what's happened in Genesis 18. 451 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,000 That's what's happened in Genesis 19. 452 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,840 And both of these accounts in Genesis and what we read in 453 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:35,960 Hebrews, can I remind you, is also illustrated in the book in 454 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:39,080 the Gospel of Matthew chapter 25. 455 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,840 Two, the Bible describes that Jesus is in a setting and he's 456 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:48,480 separating the sheep from the goats, putting the sheep on his 457 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:52,040 right hand, I believe it is, and the goats on his left hand. 458 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:56,160 And the sheep are those that are described as those that cared 459 00:28:56,200 --> 00:29:02,000 for the Lord in some way, whether they gave him food, gave 460 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:05,400 food when they were hungry, or drink when they were thirsty, or 461 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,000 visited them when they were sick, or visited them in prison, 462 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,480 or clothed them. And here's what the 35th verse 463 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,680 says Jesus says. He says to them, I was a 464 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:22,760 stranger and you took me in hospitality. 465 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:25,200 Amen. Someone say Amen. 466 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:33,280 Let's continue with verse #9 Well, let's just continue verse 467 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:38,720 #9 Thank you, Jesus. And they said unto him, So these 468 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,800 are are the men, the company that that Abraham is hosting. 469 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:46,520 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? 470 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,880 And he said, Behold, in the tent. 471 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:54,080 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee, according to 472 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,680 the time of life. And lo, Sarah, thy wife shall 473 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,520 have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent 474 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:09,440 door which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were owed, 475 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,240 and if owed wasn't a good enough description, they are well 476 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:22,520 stricken in age and it sees to be with Sarah after the manner 477 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:25,880 of women. It's just speaking about the 478 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:30,400 condition of where they were in this visitation. 479 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,680 Therefore, Sarah laughed again within herself. 480 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,880 Remember, Abraham had a similar response of laughing within 481 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:42,120 himself. She's saying, after I am waxed, 482 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:47,880 Oh, shall I have pleasure, my Lord, being owed also, the Lord 483 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:51,160 said to Abraham, wherefore did Sarah laugh? 484 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:52,640 We'll look at this in weeks to come. 485 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,000 Because this was something that happened within her, but the 486 00:30:55,000 --> 00:31:00,760 Lord heard it right. We have other occurrences of 487 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:02,720 this Old Testament and New Testament. 488 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,520 You don't have to say something in order for the Lord to know 489 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:09,040 it. You can just think it. 490 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,400 He says so the Lord says in the Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah 491 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:18,320 laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child which am 492 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,680 owed? Is anything too hard for the 493 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:24,280 Lord at the time appointed? I will return into thee 494 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:27,480 according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 495 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:31,240 This is more details folks concerned the promise then Sarah 496 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:34,120 denied saying I laughed not but this is so hilarious to me. 497 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:37,320 Verse #15I laughed not for she was afraid. 498 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:40,960 And he said she was namely the Lord. 499 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:44,480 Nay, but thou didst laugh. I, I love that I just it's like 500 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:45,840 I didn't laugh. He's like, yes, you did. 501 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,360 But please look at verse 9 again and I I'm going to talk about 502 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,000 the rest of these scriptures, but I'm probably not getting, 503 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:57,200 I'm probably not getting much further. 504 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:03,440 And this group of people that they said unto him, where is 505 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:08,280 Sarah thy wife? And he said, behold, in the 506 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:15,800 tent, We've seen this already in Genesis, that when God asked a 507 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:23,960 question, it's not because he needs to know the answer, Adam, 508 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,760 where art thou? God knew where Adam was. 509 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:33,600 I know it's described to him as though he's, he's in the garden 510 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,280 looking for Adam. And that's just so that we can 511 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:38,680 relate to that, right? He's bringing that to a level of 512 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:40,960 humanity to cause a relation for us. 513 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:42,920 But whenever he asked Adam, where are you? 514 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:48,160 That wasn't for God's sake. That was for Adam's sake. 515 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,800 You're hiding among the trees. Why are you hiding among the 516 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,560 trees, right? That's for Adam's sake. 517 00:32:56,800 --> 00:33:01,120 Whenever he comes to Cain, then in Genesis chapter #4 and he 518 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:06,440 says, Cain, where is Abel, thy brother God, God. 519 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:11,360 God's not needing to know. God knows. 520 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:15,760 He wants Cain to reflect on where his brother is in. 521 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,160 Cain says, oh, am I? Am I my brother's keeper, you 522 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:19,360 know, and all this type of stuff. 523 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,840 He wanted to reflect on that. You did some unjustice, you 524 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:26,080 know, over here in the field and you acted, you know, erratically 525 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:29,360 and and and you were angry. And he's wanting to bring all 526 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,400 these things. He's wanting the person to know, 527 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:36,240 and even us as readers for that matter, to wrestle with and 528 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:39,760 identify the core answer answer because all these questions are 529 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:41,520 really trying to bring revelation. 530 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:48,240 And so whenever they are asking where is Sarah thy wife? 531 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:52,840 When God is asking where is he doesn't, He's not needing the 532 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:57,680 answer. He's trying to reveal something 533 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:01,840 and what's interesting we see that Abraham, Abraham's 534 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:05,120 interaction with these men, you know, his language and 535 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:08,400 everything that he says seems quite flowery, seems quite 536 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,159 elongated. He he's going to extend to be 537 00:34:11,159 --> 00:34:14,280 very expressive with, with details and stuff about what's 538 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:16,320 going on. But whenever we get to this 539 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,800 response, it, it's truncated by the Mason. 540 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:22,159 He doesn't, you know, it's like the difference between me and my 541 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:23,360 wife. You ask her a question, you'll 542 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:25,159 get this elongated thing and all that. 543 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:27,760 And then if you ask me, my kids give me all the time, you know, 544 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:29,199 text, they text me and it's a thumbs up. 545 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:30,520 It's like, that's a dad response. 546 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:36,239 Abraham had moved from this very, very elongated thing and 547 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:38,960 now it's truncated. And it's just like, behold, in 548 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:41,520 the tent. What is this? 549 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,320 And someone said, well, mate, maybe they just want to ensure 550 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,000 that Sarah was in earshot about what was getting ready to be 551 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,239 said because they're going to talk about according to the time 552 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:52,800 of life they're going to return and that she'd have a son. 553 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,719 Perhaps that. But let me let me present to you 554 00:34:55,719 --> 00:35:01,160 that possibly there's something more after all of this mass of 555 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:03,840 food and cakes and everything has been made. 556 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:08,720 Abraham comes and Abraham is doing the serving. 557 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:11,440 Now listen to me. Well, I want you to follow me 558 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:14,360 here tonight, scholar John H Walton said. 559 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:20,520 He said there is little evidence that it was not customary for 560 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:23,840 women to eat with men when there were guests among the Israelites 561 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:26,760 or in the ancient world. In other words, he says, you 562 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,720 might hear glimpses that, well, she wasn't there because she's a 563 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:31,480 woman and they had guessed and it wasn't proper. 564 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:35,040 He says there's little evidence that that's even true that a 565 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:38,240 woman could be there in ancient Israel. 566 00:35:38,720 --> 00:35:44,040 Furthermore, he said, and listen to me, one of the most common 567 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:49,400 reasons for a woman to be confined in her house or tent is 568 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:57,320 when she was menstruating. Just hold on William Robertson 569 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:01,560 Smith and I I I got sources OK, because I I think we need to 570 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:04,400 found this. William Robertson Smith noted 571 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:09,760 that in some pre ISM, like in Arab groups, women were confined 572 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:12,960 to a tent or Hut during their period. 573 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:15,080 I got the journal if you want to read it. 574 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:22,520 Therefore, a woman referred to as being in the tent came to be 575 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:26,480 known almost as a euphemism for she's having her period. 576 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:32,200 Saying that she's in her tent could be cryptive, just as 577 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:36,440 cryptive as in our day. And I grew up, listen, folks, I 578 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:41,960 grew up with four girls, OK? Just just as cryptive as saying, 579 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:44,080 well, you know, it's that time of the month. 580 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:50,000 We knew what that meant. Just the same as culturally, 581 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:53,080 they would know what it meant. She's in the tent. 582 00:36:54,400 --> 00:37:00,760 Someone say glory and as a as a result, then she's going to keep 583 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:03,560 distance because of the condition, because that was an 584 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:07,160 unclean condition unfit to be around people and others. 585 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:10,120 Look, if you will, for for some other scripture, you know, 586 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:12,120 pounding together the symbols, so to speak. 587 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:16,800 Genesis 31 verse 33. And Laban went into Jacob's 588 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:21,400 tent, into Leah's tent and into the two maidservants tent, but 589 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,480 he found them not he's looking for for a God that had been 590 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:28,360 taken from from the home or idol as it would seem the Bible says. 591 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:31,640 Then went he out of Leah's tent and entered to Rachel's tent. 592 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:35,000 Now Rachel had taken the images and put them in the camel's 593 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:38,200 furniture and set up on them. So she's really trying to hide 594 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:41,200 and disguise them. And Laban searched all the tent 595 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:43,680 but found them not. Now look what she says on verse 596 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:45,600 35. And she said to her father, let 597 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:50,360 it not displease my Lord, that I not cannot rise up before thee 598 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:54,560 for the custom of women, which is another way to to refer to 599 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:57,200 her period. The custom of women is upon me. 600 00:37:57,400 --> 00:37:59,600 And he searched but found not the images. 601 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:02,480 Here she is sitting down in her tent. 602 00:38:04,040 --> 00:38:06,760 She's saying the custom of women is upon me. 603 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:12,000 And so it isn't suspicious to Laban if that taking place her 604 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:14,960 sitting in her tent as a result of it. 605 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:19,600 Is everybody doing OK. I realize this may be absurd to 606 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:25,680 you because the narrator tells us in verse 11 the condition of 607 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:29,280 of Sarah when these three and these three come, that she's 608 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:32,760 old, well stricken in years. It seems to be with Sarah after 609 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:36,640 the manner of women. She is in many regards a post 610 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:42,360 menopausal woman. She's past the time of child 611 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:56,040 bearing. But somewhere Mr. Walton also 612 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:59,520 says, and there's other references, that baking bread 613 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:02,480 was often a forbidden activity to a menstruating woman. 614 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:07,320 There's even other Near Easterns, Hittites and such 615 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:11,080 forbid women from making bread when they are in their menstrual 616 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:14,000 cycle. Commentary of the Sumerian 617 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:18,160 proverb says may her bread be as bread made by an unclean woman. 618 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:22,440 No man eat it all right. And he was suggesting then that 619 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:25,920 refers to the restriction of bread making during a woman's 620 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:30,600 period. But Abraham, follow me here. 621 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:37,320 Abraham has Sarah make bread, but somewhere between the time 622 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:42,800 of finishing up making bread and it come in time to serve the 623 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:48,080 meal, there's an onset of something that starts happening 624 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:52,240 in Sarah that hasn't happened for a long time. 625 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:57,520 There's an onset of something that's happening in Sarah that 626 00:39:57,520 --> 00:39:59,840 hasn't happened a long time because she's post menopausal 627 00:39:59,840 --> 00:40:02,840 and she's no longer fertile. There's no longer any other 628 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:05,400 AIDS, right? Because whenever when a female 629 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:07,560 girl was born, she already has all the eggs she ever going to 630 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:11,760 have in her lifetime. But somewhere between finishing 631 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,160 making bread, because she was allowed to do that, and the 632 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:16,160 serving, he says she's in a tent. 633 00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:21,200 What he's acknowledging, Sarah's acknowledging, and the 634 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:23,400 revelation for the question is brought up. 635 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:26,160 She's there because of what's happening right now in her body. 636 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:30,280 There's an onset of a period. And that brings all the more 637 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:35,840 amusement to Sarah, for as she's standing there and then hearing 638 00:40:35,840 --> 00:40:42,200 the words of God say, according to the time of life, I'm going 639 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:46,400 to return and she will have a son, Isaac. 640 00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:49,520 Because there was already something happening in that 641 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:53,600 tent, the shedding, if you will, of the walls of that womb. 642 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:57,720 That would prepare the way for the preparation of a new egg to 643 00:40:57,720 --> 00:41:01,280 come into that womb for the purpose of fertilization from 644 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:04,160 the seed of a man. That could not happen to a 645 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:07,240 postmenopausal woman. Something that happened between 646 00:41:07,240 --> 00:41:10,800 bread making and the time that it was served, that there's 647 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:12,760 already indication coming this era. 648 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:17,360 The promise. The promise that we've been 649 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:21,360 waiting for, The promise that's been told to us something. 650 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:28,000 So when she hears you're going to have a son, Isaac, you better 651 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:30,040 believe she's laughing within herself. 652 00:41:30,320 --> 00:41:33,280 You better believe there's some amusement because something's 653 00:41:33,280 --> 00:41:37,480 already taken place that shouldn't be taking place to a 654 00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:41,400 woman of her age to make possible what needs and what's 655 00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:55,160 been promised to take place. All of that just with what God 656 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,400 is saying. She lashed in herself. 657 00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:00,440 Abraham, when he's thrown, he lashed within himself. 658 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:05,160 But there's a deep sense here because she's in the tent, 659 00:42:05,160 --> 00:42:12,760 because what's happening there is the first step, the first 660 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:18,280 step in conditioning her with what is necessary for 661 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:30,680 fertilization to become that promised child in her womb #1 if 662 00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:32,960 she's going through the period of the cycle of the period, 663 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:38,400 number one, it's telling us then she's not pregnant or there 664 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:40,320 would not be the shedding of the lining of the womb. 665 00:42:41,120 --> 00:42:45,480 It's telling us that she's not pregnant, but it's resetting the 666 00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:50,920 womb. It's resetting the womb for this 667 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:53,720 whole reproductive system. Amen of Sarah. 668 00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:59,640 It's getting ready for the possibility of a pregnancy. 669 00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:07,440 Not only that's the sign of a operating reproductive system. 670 00:43:10,120 --> 00:43:16,920 She needs that for the promise. According to verse 14, and I 671 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:18,560 won't hold you much longer. I know I've already been up here 672 00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:19,960 for a while. I didn't bring my phone up here. 673 00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:24,880 I'm glad you have the clock. The Angel says verse #14 or the 674 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:28,800 Lord says rather. Is there anything too hard for 675 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:31,720 the Lord? Right has that little 676 00:43:31,720 --> 00:43:33,600 conversation. Is that Sarah laughing right 677 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:36,600 Shall I have sure to bear a child when I'm out? 678 00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:40,560 Can I find pleasure? Can this happen? 679 00:43:41,400 --> 00:43:43,400 And he says, and this is important because this is a 680 00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:45,760 little different nuance than just saying according to the 681 00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:48,320 time of life, I will return. He says this is important, 682 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:53,560 folks. He says at the time appointed, I 683 00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:57,320 will return into the according to the time of life. 684 00:43:58,320 --> 00:44:01,080 See, what we have here is something that has started out 685 00:44:01,080 --> 00:44:07,080 very general, lacking details as a promise has become very 686 00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:10,080 definitive in this moment. It has grown. 687 00:44:10,240 --> 00:44:13,120 We have learned more about it. We've learned a great nation. 688 00:44:13,120 --> 00:44:14,440 We've learned there would be nations. 689 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:17,240 We've learned that that it would be from Abraham's bowels. 690 00:44:17,240 --> 00:44:23,800 We learned, we learned. But now it is through Sarah, and 691 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:28,320 now it is an appointed time. Can I say it like this, that the 692 00:44:28,320 --> 00:44:31,680 birth of Isaac was now a scheduled event? 693 00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:38,360 This is just not someday God's going to do. 694 00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:42,600 No, we got a scheduled event on the calendar. 695 00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:48,320 Stand with me tonight. So we got angels at the door, 696 00:44:49,080 --> 00:44:54,240 but we got promises in the tent. We just bowed our heads. 697 00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:57,960 Angels at the door but promises in the tent. 698 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:02,520 So I'm asking someone tonight if you find yourself in a similar 699 00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:04,360 place. I know that ours may not be 700 00:45:04,360 --> 00:45:07,240 identical, of course with Sarah and Abraham. 701 00:45:07,240 --> 00:45:10,960 But if you find yourself in this place, I'm asking you tonight to 702 00:45:11,160 --> 00:45:14,640 just throw open that tent door open up your heart. 703 00:45:14,640 --> 00:45:16,800 Whatever you got to do open your life. 704 00:45:17,080 --> 00:45:19,400 Amen. Don't, don't, don't, don't see 705 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:22,840 that that the three that are there or, or that the visitation 706 00:45:22,840 --> 00:45:25,920 don't, don't, don't interpret that as a, as a, as a 707 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:29,640 interruption, if you will, in your life because God may be 708 00:45:29,640 --> 00:45:33,600 closer than you realize. God may be closer than you 709 00:45:33,600 --> 00:45:36,600 think. And I don't want to disqualify 710 00:45:36,600 --> 00:45:39,920 myself. Even a don't disqualify yourself 711 00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:43,440 because of, because of age or delay or disappointment or 712 00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:45,160 whatever it may be. Amen. 713 00:45:45,240 --> 00:45:49,560 Don't disqualify yourself because God still delivered even 714 00:45:49,560 --> 00:45:54,800 for Sarah, even for Sarah. And he did everything that was 715 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:58,400 necessary and needful in order to bring the past. 716 00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:04,560 What he said would come to pass. So maybe you're at a stage in 717 00:46:04,560 --> 00:46:06,600 life you don't have all the details right now. 718 00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:09,200 It's been general. And maybe along the journey 719 00:46:09,200 --> 00:46:13,120 you've got glimpses or further instruction or further, if you 720 00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:16,440 will, some hues, if you will, that gave further definition. 721 00:46:16,720 --> 00:46:20,640 But perhaps God is on his way as a stranger to you. 722 00:46:21,080 --> 00:46:23,240 Amen, to see if you'll pick up on his presents. 723 00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:26,440 And maybe he wants to relay something of putting an 724 00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:30,160 appointment, if you will, of your promise on the calendar. 725 00:46:33,840 --> 00:46:37,440 God, I want to be able to be mindful of the angels then at 726 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:43,520 the door, God, and aware, Lord Jesus, of the promises in the 727 00:46:43,520 --> 00:46:45,600 tent. Can we just entertain the Lord 728 00:46:45,600 --> 00:46:49,200 right now? I need you, Jesus, we need you 729 00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:53,600 all across this building. Oh Lord, God, your spirit, your 730 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:57,240 power, Lord, your revelation. God, touch our hearts and our 731 00:46:57,240 --> 00:47:02,480 minds afresh. Oh God, call to our memory, call 732 00:47:02,480 --> 00:47:05,280 to our memory. God, when we struggle, Lord, 733 00:47:05,280 --> 00:47:10,680 with doubt and with fear and dismay, I pray, Oh Lord, start. 734 00:47:10,680 --> 00:47:14,240 Lord. God do a work Lord in us that we 735 00:47:14,240 --> 00:47:18,920 know unequivocally is the hand of God and it's the start. 736 00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:21,840 It's very unset. It's the it's the tip of the 737 00:47:21,840 --> 00:47:25,800 iceberg to bring about everything God that you said you 738 00:47:25,920 --> 00:47:30,280 would do God, we want to entertain strangers, Lord, 739 00:47:30,280 --> 00:47:34,920 whereby some have entertained the Lord angels unaware. 740 00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:38,160 Help us, Lord, to be hospitable. Help us, Lord, to move with 741 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:40,160 haste. Help us understand you. 742 00:47:40,160 --> 00:47:43,880 Stop by because you know we will care for you and pay attention 743 00:47:43,880 --> 00:47:46,800 for you. And we have come to know and 744 00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:50,120 sense and feel Your presence without it being announced. 745 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:53,040 I pray, oh God, today, those are the type of people that we 746 00:47:53,040 --> 00:47:57,680 desire to be God, to walk before the Lord. 747 00:47:57,960 --> 00:48:02,120 I love you Jesus, and I praise you in the lovely name of Jesus 748 00:48:02,120 --> 00:48:10,320 Christ that I pray and the church say Amen, Amen, Amen, 749 00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:15,680 Hallelujah, Amen. Do not forget Friday night, all 750 00:48:15,680 --> 00:48:18,680 right, starting at 7. Sunday summer kicked off. 751 00:48:18,840 --> 00:48:21,200 If you've not signed up for it, see my wife. 752 00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:24,480 If you'll bring a grill for cooking, talk to my wife. 753 00:48:24,680 --> 00:48:26,480 That will be very helpful. Amen. 754 00:48:26,600 --> 00:48:30,160 Next Wednesday will be another Genesis Wednesday, all right? 755 00:48:30,160 --> 00:48:32,160 And then the Wednesday after that will be revival. 756 00:48:32,360 --> 00:48:35,520 So here's what's going to happen then in the month of of of of 757 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:37,560 June, all right? What's going to happen in the 758 00:48:37,560 --> 00:48:39,840 month of June is you're basically going to get a month 759 00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:43,080 without Genesis, all right? Because we, we have a revival in 760 00:48:43,080 --> 00:48:45,160 Genesis. My family's going to be gone to 761 00:48:45,160 --> 00:48:46,240 general ministry. Huh. 762 00:48:46,880 --> 00:48:48,520 We're going to have revival in in June. 763 00:48:49,120 --> 00:48:50,720 We should be having revival in Genesis. 764 00:48:50,720 --> 00:48:52,720 And we'll say glory, Amen, Hallelujah, Amen. 765 00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:54,720 But we're going to have revival in June. 766 00:48:54,720 --> 00:48:57,480 My wife and I and kids will be gone to GMC in June. 767 00:48:57,640 --> 00:48:59,520 We're also going to take a vacation in June. 768 00:48:59,720 --> 00:49:01,520 All right. And so that only leaves one ever 769 00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:04,160 Wednesday in June. And I'm looking very hard and 770 00:49:04,160 --> 00:49:06,600 I've already put together some stuff and I haven't talked to 771 00:49:06,600 --> 00:49:08,040 him completely, but I gave him heads up. 772 00:49:08,040 --> 00:49:10,160 That'd be one of them. We'll be doing one of our little 773 00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:13,960 interview sessions the second Wednesday in June. 774 00:49:13,960 --> 00:49:18,120 So you'll get Wednesdays in June, GMC, I'm gone revival one 775 00:49:18,120 --> 00:49:19,800 of them. I'm gone on vacation, one of 776 00:49:19,800 --> 00:49:21,400 them interviewed. Those are 4 Wednesdays in June. 777 00:49:21,600 --> 00:49:24,840 You'll get a break from Genesis for the month of June and we'll 778 00:49:24,840 --> 00:49:27,280 come back to you. How about that? 779 00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:30,960 How you like those apples? Amen. 780 00:49:31,120 --> 00:49:32,560 God bless you tonight in Jesus name.