In Genesis 18 the New King James version says:
Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre,[a] as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”
Abraham, during the most uncomfortable part of the day, was sitting in his tent near a tree whose roots dig so deep that the terebinth tree remains green even during a drought. It is here that the Lord appears to Abraham. What does Abraham do when he lifts his eyes? He recognizes Him, runs to greet them and bows before them. Focus on the Family had a guest speaker which discussed how Jewish custom found a man running in his long robes a humiliation. This would mean that not only did Abraham have a relationship with the Lord that he would recognize Him, but that Abraham rushed out to greet Him even when it was uncomfortable and even humiliting to do so. It seems clear that Abraham was filled with joy to see the Lord and did not consider what others thought. At meeting the Lord Abraham humbly kneels to the ground in full submission before the Lord and asks Him if he may provide the Lord with a visit, offering some water and to wash His feet while resting under this massive oak (terebinth) tree. Abraham further offers the Lord food and rest of His heart before going on His way, acknowledging the Lord for visiting him, Abraham calling himself the Lord's servant.
This passage is beautiful in that it represents the relationship with the Lord. When we know Him we are willing to rush to meet Him, to acknowledge, to join Him despite how it may appear to the world around us. We are willing to go even when it's uncomfortable. We rush to His side to fellowship with Him. We humble ourselves, acknowledging our submission to Him accepting Him rightfully as Lord over our lives. We are His servant. The Lord, also desiring to have this relationship with us (so much so that He gave His life on a tree in a very public way), communes with us in the place of solace and strength. We fellowship together in the place where we can rest our hearts together. Abraham offers the Living Water, the Tree of Life rest, nourishment and fellowship. Christ our Lord in turn offers us this every day - even during the discomfort - to remember to take time out to recognize and invite our Savior to join us and find rest in the place of strength and endurance in the shade of the tree. To find rest and nourishment just talking and listening with the Lord. After all the original plan for each of us was to have a relationship together in the place of serenity where we could enjoy each others company together in the garden, living out our lives.
Christ the Lord invites each of us individually, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre,[a] as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”
Abraham, during the most uncomfortable part of the day, was sitting in his tent near a tree whose roots dig so deep that the terebinth tree remains green even during a drought. It is here that the Lord appears to Abraham. What does Abraham do when he lifts his eyes? He recognizes Him, runs to greet them and bows before them. Focus on the Family had a guest speaker which discussed how Jewish custom found a man running in his long robes a humiliation. This would mean that not only did Abraham have a relationship with the Lord that he would recognize Him, but that Abraham rushed out to greet Him even when it was uncomfortable and even humiliting to do so. It seems clear that Abraham was filled with joy to see the Lord and did not consider what others thought. At meeting the Lord Abraham humbly kneels to the ground in full submission before the Lord and asks Him if he may provide the Lord with a visit, offering some water and to wash His feet while resting under this massive oak (terebinth) tree. Abraham further offers the Lord food and rest of His heart before going on His way, acknowledging the Lord for visiting him, Abraham calling himself the Lord's servant.
This passage is beautiful in that it represents the relationship with the Lord. When we know Him we are willing to rush to meet Him, to acknowledge, to join Him despite how it may appear to the world around us. We are willing to go even when it's uncomfortable. We rush to His side to fellowship with Him. We humble ourselves, acknowledging our submission to Him accepting Him rightfully as Lord over our lives. We are His servant. The Lord, also desiring to have this relationship with us (so much so that He gave His life on a tree in a very public way), communes with us in the place of solace and strength. We fellowship together in the place where we can rest our hearts together. Abraham offers the Living Water, the Tree of Life rest, nourishment and fellowship. Christ our Lord in turn offers us this every day - even during the discomfort - to remember to take time out to recognize and invite our Savior to join us and find rest in the place of strength and endurance in the shade of the tree. To find rest and nourishment just talking and listening with the Lord. After all the original plan for each of us was to have a relationship together in the place of serenity where we could enjoy each others company together in the garden, living out our lives.
Christ the Lord invites each of us individually, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
