Verses 1-33

Messengers from God (18:1-33)

A short time later three men visited Abraham (who was still living at Hebron; see 13:18; 14:13; 18:1.) Abraham welcomed them, not realizing at first that they were God's special representatives. This was another appearance of the angel of the Lord (18:1-8; see also v. 22; 19:1; Hebrews 13:2). Apparently Abraham had not been able to convince Sarah that she would have a child, so God sent his messenger to her direct. She had to share Abraham's faith (9-15).

Because Abraham had an important part in God's plan, not only for the nation Israel but for the whole world, God decided to tell Abraham what he intended to do to the wicked city of Sodom (16-21). Therefore, while two of the messengers went on to Sodom, the third stayed behind with Abraham. Abraham's plea to God not to destroy Sodom showed a good understanding of the righteousness and mercy of God, but it showed also that Abraham did not realize how bad Sodom was (22-33).