In Genesis 18:1 it states that, “ 1 And 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. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 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”… 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
It is amazing to me that theologians have stated that the Trinity was not foreshadowed or typologically presented in the Old Testament wherein there is a passage that states that “the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre… three men (emphasis mine) stood in front of him… (Abraham) said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight”… So they said, “Do as you have said”… They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said I will surely return to you in the spring and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”
I’m curious to understand more about the original Hebrew wherein it must be understood that God was understood to be present in the appearance of three different persons? Was this interpreted to be angels that were messengers of God? When the Christian faith revealed and claimed that God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit were three persons with one essence did anyone look back at this passage and go…”hmmm?” I recall seeing that some theologians claimed that the Trinity was not revealed or foreshadowed in the OT. I believe they were possibly in the Church Father’s class. I’m either not recalling correctly or I need to understand better what I was reading (seventeen years ago as I was converting).
This seems to me to be a 83% clear foreshadowing of the Holy Trinity, and would be curious to know more about how early communities such as the Hebrews interpreted this text throughout the history before the revelation of Jesus Christ and since.
Any scholars in the house? What articles or explanations can you give of the original Hebrew? Thanks in advance and let us celebrate the revelation of God’s heart to us in Jesus Christ!!! God is love, and it should be spelt “GOD IS LOVE!!!” And then we bask in the implications of that.
Let us reflect and Praise God!
Full text of Genesis 18:1-15 RSV-CE
“1 And 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. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 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.” 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, in the spring, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”