I write about Stuff

“The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre.” — Genesis 18:1

Abraham’s story is one of long waiting, deep longing, and astonishing grace. God had spoken a breathtaking promise over his life: he would become the father of a great nation, and through his descendants, blessing would spill out to the whole world. Yet the promise came without a schedule, without a roadmap, and without any visible sign that it was even possible. Abraham and Sarah were growing older, their bodies slowing, their hope stretched thin. Still, God kept inviting them to trust Him—step by step, year by year.

When God first called Abram to leave his homeland and journey to Canaan, He met him there with reassurance: this land would one day belong to his descendants. Later, God appeared again to establish a covenant, changing Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah as a sign of what He intended to do. These encounters were not random; they were God’s way of shaping Abraham’s faith, reminding him that the promise was anchored not in human strength but in divine faithfulness.

Then came the moment at Mamre. Abraham, resting in the heat of the day, looked up to see three visitors approaching. Somehow—whether by memory, recognition, or spiritual insight—he knew that one of them was the Lord Himself. This was not the first time Abraham had seen Him, and it would not be the last. Scripture makes it clear that no one has ever seen God the Father, so the One who appeared must have been the pre-incarnate Christ. Jesus Himself later hinted at this when He told the Pharisees that Abraham had rejoiced to see His day.

Abraham welcomed the visitors with urgency and honour, while Sarah listened from inside the tent. When the Lord repeated the promise that she would bear a son, her laughter revealed both disbelief and longing. She knew her age. She knew Abraham’s age. She knew the impossibility of it all. But Jesus responded with a question that has echoed through generations: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Within a year, Isaac—whose name means “laughter”—was born, turning Sarah’s quiet disbelief into joyful amazement.

Jesus came to Abraham as a traveller, a sojourner, because that is what Abraham was—a man on a journey, living between promise and fulfilment. Jesus still meets people this way: in forms that speak to their season, their questions, their fears, and their hopes. Through the Holy Spirit, He comes alongside us to strengthen our patience, steady our trust, and remind us that His timing is never late, even when it feels unbearably slow.

God’s appearance at Mamre was not only a reassurance about a child; it was a reminder that God sees, God knows, and God keeps His word. Abraham and Sarah learned that the God who promises is also the God who appears—again and again—until our hearts can rest in Him.

What about you?

Where might Jesus be drawing near to you in this season, offering reassurance or inviting you to trust Him in a place that feels impossible?