Rande Greene

“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.”

– Genesis 18:1

Notice it was in the “heat of the day” when the Lord came calling upon Abraham.

The time of the day when you might postpone some things until a more hospitable time. In the “heat of the day” we may be prone to delay our responses and wait for conditions to be more conducive to activity and work. We may reason that “now is not the best time”. Tents were made from goatskin and when the tent flaps were lowered they would hold in the heat during the cold nights. During the day the flaps would be raised for the breeze to pass through. Abraham was sitting in the doorway of his tent. The shade of the tent kept him as comfortable as could be expected. No A.C. We’re talking about desert heat. Abraham sees his guests and quickly responds. He marshals Sarah to make bread. He chooses a calf, “tender and good” from his herd and has a servant prepare it. He is preparing a feast. This is especially generous. Meat would not have been part of their daily diet. Meat would have reserved for special occasions of feasting. Also, his visitors would have accumulated dust and dirt from walking. Open leather sandals were common in the A.N.E. Washing the feet of guests was an act of hospitality and welcome. Later, when they arrived Sodom no one washed their feet. A much different response awaited them there.