Why did the Lord appear to Abraham prior to his judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah? Why didn’t he simply go to the cities and judge them, as that was clearly the purpose of his coming in the first place? It seems to me, the vision was for mercy’s sake, vis-à-vis to get Abram to stand between the Lord and the wicked cities, before he actually judged the five cities of the plain. The prophet Amos tells us that the Lord will do nothing, before he reveals his secret to his prophets (Amos 3:7). The Psalmist says all the ways of the Lord are full of mercy, as it pertains to those who keep his covenant, and he reveals his secrets to those who fear him (Psalm 25:10, 14). Add to all this the fact God says that Abraham was his friend, and friends share their thoughts and plans with each other.
In the context of the Lord’s appearance to Abraham (Genesis 18:1), it was to tell him he was about to judge the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:17, 20). The men of Sodom were wicked and deserved to be destroyed, but the Lord was looking to be merciful. They wouldn’t pray for mercy, but Abraham, who walked with the Lord, would pray (Genesis 18:22-33). Therefore, the Lord stopped to reveal his intentions first to Abraham, so that the Lord could legitimately offer mercy to the righteous, whom he was about to judge with the wickied.
It was in the heat of the day, that the Lord appeared to Abraham (Genesis 18:1), which probably means it was early afternoon.[1] The place was the plains of Mamre (KJV), but others say it was the oaks of Mamre (RV; NET, ASV), still others claim it to was the terebinth (cashew trees) of Mamre (JPS; TS2009).[2] The point is, the trees not only offered the comfort of shade away from the heat, but also promised water, if one should desire to dig a well. Interestingly, when the two, who were with the Lord, left him and Abraham (Genesis 18:2, 22), they came to Sodom, where Lot sat in the gate. When he saw them, he offered them to stay with him overnight (cp. Genesis 19:1-2). Thus, the mention of the heat of the day (Genesis 18:1) and even (Genesis 19:1) shows the Lord must have stayed with Abraham a few hours before leaving for Sodom.
Abraham was sitting in the opening of his tent, quietly relaxing during the hot part of the day. When he saw the Lord, he ran to meet him and, during the greeting, Abraham asked him and his two companions to stay and rest, refresh themselves, while he prepared them a little food, before they traveled on, and they agreed (Genesis 18:2-5).
Abraham had Sarah bake bread upon the hearth, while he fetched the fatted calf and gave it to one of his servants to kill and dress for the table. The point is that Abraham went to a great deal of trouble to honor his guests. The quantity of food was in overabundance, more than would have been needed. He lavished his hospitality upon the Lord and his companions, and he stood by them under a tree, while they ate (Genesis 18:6-8).
What we are presented with in the text is what is commonly referred to as an anthropomorphism, meaning the physical appearance of the Lord or one or more angels. The point is they are spirits, but they can and do appear in physical form from time to time. How does that happen, and, just as important, how do spirit beings consume physical food (Genesis 18:8)? The Jews seem very troubled over such things in the text. According to Philo, Josephus and the Targum of Jonathan they only seemed to eat, as though their eating was an allegory! Nevertheless, after his resurrection Jesus, when he appeared to his disciples in the locked upper room (John 20:19), ate a piece of broiled fish and a piece of honeycomb before them (Luke 24:42-43; cp. Acts 10:40-41)
In a world where important political figures wouldn’t dream of sitting down at a table with one of his more common supporters and sharing a cup of coffee with him, it seems oddly insincere, even hypocritical, for the Lord to act, like he and his companions enjoyed the hospitality of his friend, if, indeed, as a spirit being, he couldn’t enjoy such things. Why have Abraham go to the trouble of preparing a feast fit for a king (Genesis 18:5), if it only seemed, as though the Lord enjoyed the effort made in his honor? Imagine Abraham’s embarrassment, if he truly understood that the Lord really didn’t or couldn’t consume and enjoy the taste of food and only pretended, he did. How foolish Abraham might have seen himself, if such a thing were true! On the contrary, our God doesn’t lie in order to conform to our traditions.
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[1] If they came to Abraham in late afternoon, Abraham probably would have asked them to stay overnight with him (cp. Genesis 19:1-2). In any case, the heat of the day most likely indicates it wasn’t morning, which would have been cooler.
[2] The place of meeting was near Hebron, which was twenty Roman miles south of Jerusalem, and halfway between Jerusalem and Beersheba.
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