Lesson 7 – Abraham’s Visitors from Heaven

God came to Abraham with a promise of a son. Abraham’s descendent, our Lord Jesus, comes to us in Word and Sacraments, telling us that in Him all things are possible.

Opening

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This lesson will use the Bible. Also paper and pencil will be needed.

What Are Angels? Often, when someone dies, we hear people say that person has become an angel. This happened when actor Paul Walker died in a tragic car crash.

Watch the video, "Paul Walker-Do People Become Angels?"

The angels in our lesson today were never human, but surprisingly, they brought someone with them who became human one day.

Prayer: Lord God, give us discernment to tell Your truth from error, to know Your love and grace, to live as Your people. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks

The word, theophany means an appearance of or encounter with God. Theo means “God' in Greek.

Read Hebrews 1:1-3 which is shown on the Student Page at the end of this lesson.

What do these verses say about God speaking to us? God has spoken to us by His Son. We learn about Jesus from the Bible, God's true Word.

What does Hebrews 1 say Jesus did for us? Through Him, God created the world. He upholds the universe. He made purification for sins.

Would you rather hear God's Word from His prophets, from Jesus, or from the Bible? God's Word in the Bible contains all of these.

In our lesson, we read about how Abraham met the preincarnate Christ and two angels. Jesus is the greatest theophany! Preincarnate means "before having human flesh"; in other words, before Jesus came to earth as a baby.

On the Student page, under Three Visitors Deliver a Message read the Genesis 18:1-15.Then follow the directions and answer the questions.

Read Genesis 18:1-15

Abraham's family camped near the oak trees of Mamre. On a sheet of paper, draw a large tree.

When did Abraham first see the three men? Draw a sun that shows this time of day. "The heat of the day" noon or early afternoon.

The rest of Genesis 18 and 19:1 show that two of the men were angels. Who was the third, according to 18:1? The Lord

Christ, before He was born in the flesh, sometimes appeared for short times and for specific reasons. Scripture identifies Him as the Lord here. (A theophany!)

What did Abraham do to welcome the men and show hospitality? He ran to them, bowed, and pleaded that they stop and visit. He said that if he found favor in their sight, then they shouldn't pass by their servant. He offered water to wash their feet, which a servant probably did. This was a common courtesy because the roads were dusty and people wore sandals. He also offered rest under the oak tree and a 'morsel" of bread. Abraham asked Sarah to make bread (cakes). He chose a calf and had a young man quickly prepare it. Abraham personally served the food to the men. This was well beyond the understated "morsel" Abraham offered. Abraham stood nearby, ready to do or get whatever they needed, like an on-call waiter. This showed great respect and hospitality. It seems odd that the strangers knew Abraham's wife's name, but the Lord knows everything.

What did He say about her? The Lord said He would return about the same time next year and Sarah would have a son.

What did Sarah do when she heard the Lord say she would have a baby? Sarah laughed and spoke to herself.

Who heard her laughter and words? The Lord heard her laughter and words, just as He heard Abraham's hidden laughter and words in the lesson about God's covenant with Abram.

Earlier, Abraham laughed when God promised a son. God said to name their baby Isaac, which means "laughter!" What a perfect name for this child!

What did the Lord say in response to Sarah's laughter and words? "ls anything too hard for the LORD" in a year, Sarah would have a son.

Add something to represent laughter on your drawing.

Why did Sarah deny laughing? She felt afraid.

Just as God said, Isaac was born a year later. Write the parents' names on the tree base and Isaac's name on a main branch.

God hears our spoken, whispered, lip-synced, written, and texted words and thoughts. Does this comfort you or make you feel afraid, as it did Sarah?

How did the Lord show hospitality to Sarah and Abraham? Despite their sin, unbelief, and attempts to fix things, Abraham and Sarah were still loved by God. He told them they would soon have their son, Isaac, and He kept this promise. He also kept the promise to bring the Savior, Jesus, our Lord, from their lineage and to make them the ancestors of many kings and nations.

How does God show us hospitality? God shows this same grace in Christ Jesus by forgiving our sins and rescuing us from sin and death through Jesus' perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection.

Write Jesus' name coming off a branch from Isaac. Add crosses on the tree to show that God accepts and welcomes us in Christ Jesus.

We Live

On the Student page, under Children of Abraham read the verses from Galatians.

How did Abraham's relationship with the Lord change over time? As Abraham learned to rely on God, their relationship deepened. Abraham felt confident enough to tell the Lord what he really thought or needed. Their encounters became more like dialogues than God just giving directions.

When God promised to give Abraham offspring, to whom did He refer? Paul says the offspring is Jesus Christ, not Isaac.  Read Galatians 3:16 (on Student Page). God said "through lsaac shall your offspring be named (Genesis 21:12; Romans 9:7).

New Testament religious leaders proudly proclaimed status as children of Abraham. Jesus disagreed, saying that if they were, they would listen to Him because He came from God (John 8:34-59).

So who are the children of Abraham? How did they become this? Read Galatians 3:13-14, 27-29 on the Student Page.

Christ redeemed us so we might receive Abraham's blessing and receive the promised Spirit through faith. The baptized in Christ are one in Him and, through Him, become children of Abraham.

What special blessing connected to Abraham do we receive through Baptism? Baptized and adopted into God's family, we are Abrahams children too and heirs of the promises God gave Him, especially to bless all the families of the world through Abraham's descendant and God's Son, Jesus.

Closing

Close by reading Galatians 3:27-29 on the on Student Page or say the Lord's Prayer.