THAT'S THE TEST
Genesis 18: 1-15 (MSG) reads: God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them. He said, “Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I’ll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I’ll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path.” They said, “Certainly. Go ahead.”
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, “Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread.” Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate. The men said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He said, “In the tent.”
One of them said, “I’m coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man. Abraham and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age for having babies. Sarah laughed within herself, “An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?” God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh saying, ‘Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?’ Is anything too hard for God? I’ll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby.” Sarah lied. She said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was afraid. But he said, “Yes you did; you laughed.”
This story is so great - most are so familiar with the back half of this story. We relish in the fact that Sarah laughed. However, the string of events that led to that laughter is crucial to the story. Go here with me.
How many times does God reveal himself to us and we miss it? In the passage above, Abraham does not recognize the strangers as God. He wasn’t stirred with a word from God, or even a jolt of Holy Spirit goosebumps - all he sees is three travelers (whom many theologians believe to be the Trinity). These men are weary and thirsty and Abraham presents an offer of food, rest, and water. This is obviously a test of Abraham's heart -- God appears in such a commonplace way that Abraham is not aware of his identity. This was not a test he could study for, or one that he knew was coming - it was a test of the heart. In this case, Abraham was confronted with some simple situation.
We too are often confronted with similar simple situations:
You were relaxing at home and the phone rings and suddenly you are confronted with a call for help, or a demand for a response -- and you had planned to relax and enjoy yourself all afternoon -- what happens then? That’s the test.
You are busy around the house with your hands immersed in dishwater and something is burning on the stove and the refrigerator has just quit and the sink is stopped up and you've got sixteen different problems on your mind, and your child comes up and asks you a question which is obviously of little importance, what do you do then? That’s the test.
Your neighbor or friend gets sick and somebody has to take care of the children -- what do you do? What is your reaction? That’s the test.
When visitors come into our church that do not look, smell, or even exhibit the things one could think of as “holy” - how do we respond? That’s the test.
When things are different and we fill gaps of knowledge with suspicion instead of trust… That’s the test.
God tested Abraham and we too are tested every day. But look at the words of action here: He hastened into the tent and he said to her, "Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal."
By the way, these three measures of meal are the key to the parable of the leaven in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. In his little story about a woman who hid leaven in three measures of meal, the Lord is depicting something of the character of the church. These three measures of meal are a picture of the fellowship of God with his own, and this is the key to that parable.)
Then, Abraham ran to the herd and picked out a calf and gave it to the servant who hastened to prepare it. These words all indicate his prompt and ready response to the evident need before him. He did it all personally too. He has workers, money to pay someone else to do the work. But, he does not "pass the buck" -- he hastens to do this himself. As they ate, Abraham visited with them. He set the table (the atmosphere) and then got in with the people.
Revelation 3:20 (RSV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Simply put, Jesus is saying: “we will fellowship together, we will have dinner together.” This is not simply private enjoyment, not just a social hour for our own pleasure. This is a picture of the Lord using us as an instrument to meet the need of those around, and, in so doing, we enter into fellowship with the heart of Christ. When Christ comes in to us, he doesn't come in merely to give us a good time, to bless us, and make it an enjoyable experience. He comes in to fulfill his long-standing desire to be what he came into the world to be -- a Savior to seek and to save that which was lost, to give and show compassion to others, to minister to human needs whatever they may be, through us.
What made Abraham do this? He was in step with God and always ready to respond. Someone has well said, "Your reputation is what you do when everyone is looking, while your character is what you do when no one sees."
This story is a beautiful picture for us - we are called to set the table, prepare the meal and then meet the cry of human need all around. We do this many ways - but as leaders of worship; as we prepare our hearts and minds for worship; as we pray, practice, and arrive early for services. We are preparing the table. We are being met with tests. How will we respond?
… but the story isn’t over - the test, led to the promise (READ PART 2: YES YOU DID; YOU LAUGHED)