Christ meets Abraham’s household

February 21, 2026

By Editorial Team

"Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day". Genesis 18:1

Lent has just begun. It is a time of repentance, coming back to the Lord and spending time with him. I strongly encourage you to pick up 2-3 Bible books that you haven’t read in a long time and study them. And read at least one gospel too. I am reading through Genesis, Isaiah, and Mark. Lent exposes our underbelly and all that needs to be dealt with

Here I want to show how Christ met Abraham’s family personally. To me it is exciting to see Christ in the Old Testament. It’s a person we know well, but to see the same Jesus in OT is a real delight to me.

In Genesis 18, three people come to meet Abraham on a hot summers day. As they are passing by, Abraham welcomes them in for a bite of food and shade. It is true Middle-eastern hospitality. As the conversation progresses, Abraham realises that this is Christ. Scripture tells us that one person is the LORD (18:13) and the other two are angels(19:1). Abe serves lunch to them, mutton curry, curds, butter milk, rotis and some dessert. The LORD promises a son to the old couple, same time next year. Everyone in the household sees Jesus, hears his voice, they even serve him a meal. Imagine the servants talking, God has come down to visit our master They are friends. Look how they are talking etc. A short revival meeting happened over a lunch!

Earlier in Genesis 17, Hagar is fleeing her mistress Sarah, and the Angel of the Lord meets her by a well. He says to her, return to your mistress and submit to her. You are with child and will bear a son Ishmael (meaning God hears). Hagar is wonderstruck, and says, Have I also seen Him who sees me? Therefore the well was called Beer-Lahai-Roi, “the well of one who Lives and sees me.” Jesus saved Hagar from death and gave her a son and lineage!

“The Father and the Holy Spirit are never said to appear in an human form, see John 5:37; or are ever called angels.” – John Gill

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:18 (See Jn 5:37, 6:46 also).

So, Isaac knew that he was born after Jesus came to heal his old mom and dad and give them children. Even his name was given by the Lord (Gen 17:19). His mom and dad and even aunty Hagar met him.

Isaac grows up and is a teenager. In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham and asks him to sacrifice Isaac. Abe goes ahead and ties up Isaac on the firewood. He takes a knife to slay him, that’s when the Angel of the Lord calls to him from Heaven saying stop. Don’t harm the child. Then he sees a ram caught in a bush and offers it (v11-13). Then the Angel of the Lord calls to him a second time from Heaven and says, “By myself have I sworn says the LORD, ..because you have done this thing, In blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you.” (22:16). Angels don’t swear by themselves, so it is Christ the Lord.

“Not a created angel, but the eternal one, the Son of God, who perhaps appeared in an human form, and spoke with an articulate voice, as he frequently did.” – John Gill commentary (Gen 22).

“The Angel of the Lord — That is, God himself, the eternal Word, the Angel of the covenant, who was to be the great Redeemer and Comforter.” – John Wesley’s explanatory notes (Gen 22)

Let us see briefly how Jesus met Jacob. The very name ISRAEL, came when a man came to wrestle with Jacob (Gen 32). Jesus came that night in answer to Jacobs prayers. He dealt with the old nature and blesses him. He changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Next day Jacob walks with a limp back into the family camp. He narrates how Christ met him that night. A family became a nation! Next time you read Israel in the news, remember this event!

Now we know that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob all met Jesus personally and had encounters with him. The patriarchs faith was in the Messiah, their Redeemer who was to come into the world to take away sin. He was their ladder to Heaven and Salvation (Gen 28:12). He was the SEED in whom all the nations will be Blessed.

Beloved take heart that Christ is visiting his people throughout time. He walks in the midst of the Church continually. I pray the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see more of Christ in the scriptures this Lenten season.

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