Lesson 6
Read: Genesis 18:1-15 - www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.18
Abraham:
- Hospitality – the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers
- Friendliness – inclined to approve, help, or support
- Generosity

Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent during the hottest part of the day. God appeared to Abraham in the form of a man. Before Jesus was born as a baby, He sometimes appeared to people in the form of a man or an angel. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing near him. He ran and greeted them, bowing down respectfully.

He invited the men to stop and rest under the tree. He promised them water to wash their feet, and food to refresh them on their journey. They appreciated Abraham’s hospitality, and accepted what he offered.

Abraham hurried into the tent to ask Sarah to make bread from their best flour. Then he ran to their cattle pen and chose the fattest calf, asking his servant to prepare it for them to eat. Abraham got curds and milk, and brought them to his visitors with the roasted calf. He stayed under the tree with the men as they ate.

The men asked Abraham where Sarah his wife was. Abraham told them she was in the tent. One of the men, who was Jesus, God’s Son, told Abraham that He would be coming back this same time the next year, and when He arrived, Sarah would have a son.

Sarah was listening inside the tent, at the door. She laughed silently at the thought of an old woman like her having a baby with her husband, who was even older.

Jesus knew that Sarah had laughed inside, even though He didn’t hear her laugh.

He asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh at the news she would have a baby in her old age? Is anything too hard for God?” He repeated, “I’ll be back this time next year, and Sarah will have a baby.”

Sarah was afraid because the man knew she laughed, so she lied and said she didn’t laugh. But God, who looked like a man, corrected her. “Yes, you did – you laughed.” The difference between Sarah’s laugh and Abraham’s laugh in chapter 17 was that Abraham had laughed in joy, and Sarah laughed in disbelief.

Abraham, continuing to show gracious hospitality, walked with the three men to say good-bye to them as they left on their journey to Sodom.

Apply God’s Word to your life:
*When was the last time you were friendly and/or generous, and with what results?
*How has God used you as you extended hospitality to others?
 *How will you encourage someone today who is finding it hard to believe God’s Word?