Genesis 18:1-21 - Yahweh Appears To Abraham As A Man
1 Later, the LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks belonging to Mamre. As Abraham was sitting near the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day, 2 he glanced up and saw three men standing there, not far from him. As soon as he noticed them, Abraham ran from the tent entrance to greet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 "My lords," he told them, "if I have found favor with you, please don't leave your servant. 4 I'll have some water brought to wash your feet while you rest under the tree. 5 I'll bring some food for you, and after that you may continue your journey, since you have come to visit your servant." So they replied, "Okay! Do what you've proposed."
6 Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick! Take three measures of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread." 7 Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate.
9 The men asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" "There, in the tent," he replied.
10 Then one of them said, "I will certainly return to you in about a year's time. By then, your wife Sarah will have borne a son."
11 Now Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Abraham and Sarah were old really old and Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing. 12 That's why Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "After I'm so old and my husband is old, too, am I going to have sex?"
13 The LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and think, "Am I really going to bear a child, since I'm so old?' 14 Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the time set for it, I will return to you about a year from now and Sarah will have a son."
15 But Sarah denied it. "I didn't laugh," she claimed, because she was afraid. The LORD replied, "No! You did laugh!"
16 After this, the men set out from there and looked out over Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them off. 17 "Should I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do," the LORD asked, 18 "since Abraham's descendants will become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him? 19 Indeed, I've made myself known to him in order that he may encourage his sons and his household that is born after him to keep the way of the LORD, and to do what is right and just, so that the LORD may bring about for Abraham what he has promised." 20 The LORD also said, "How great is the disapproval of Sodom and Gomorrah! Their sin is so very serious! 21 I'm going down to see whether they've acted according to the protests that have reached me. If not, I wish to know."