Title: Rest Under the Tree
Text: Genesis 18:1 - 15
God appeared to Abraham near the oaks of Mamre. During the hottest hour of the day, Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent. He looked up and saw three men standing opposite him. The moment he saw them in Abraham, he immediately ran to them. When he met them, he fell face down on the ground and said: My lord, if I have found favor with you, do not leave your servant alone; I will bring you some water, so wash your room and rest under this tree. I will bring you something to eat. Now that you have come to your servant, please eat. Go after you gain strength. So don't just pass by.
I. Who was Abraham?
Three people appear here. One of them is God. He had something to say directly to Abraham. But there is something strange. Of course, people were also precious at the time. Still, it is. Someone you don't know at all. That passerby. It is when Abraham is resting. Abraham runs to them. Go and say lord. Saying this is the highest honour. He calls himself a servant. It lowers self and exalts others. Then, rest in the shade of a tree for a while and then go. Then they bring water and try to wash their feet. He mobilizes the whole family.
The Bible says that whatever you did for the least of them, you did for me. Truly, he is a man full of love. He is a man who truly knows how to give to others. He's not very educated. He is an ordinary country man. Truly, he is a man who truly loves God. And he was a man who loved people. I am a passing traveler, and I can do it all. However, there is no one to blame. Maybe you can't even do this to your own relatives. That is why he was a man of love.
If there were people like this in this world, the world would be a really good world. People of our faith should always be considerate of others. What a wonderful person to show such kindness to a market person. A cup of tea is also appreciated. But bread is made with the best wheat flour. He catches and cooks the most delicious heifer. We do this when there is a big feast in some house. Abraham does not yet know who this man is. However, this is such a gracious treat. This is the usual Abrahamic personality.
Abraham has always been like this. So he is always a loving person. He's always been like this. Even the rice cakes are not enough for a few people. According to some scholars, it is enough to feed several hundred people. And there were several men, and they killed a calf. He had a bountiful love, aren't we too stingy? Love is not cutting. It's not about envying. If someone like this existed today, they would probably be mistaken for a psychopath. I wish we could live with these thoughts.
II. new promise
Abraham still had no sons. But God told him that at this time next year, he would give birth to a son. Abraham was amazed. I heard something that didn't make any sense. Abraham is old. And his wife is already past menopause, so that's what Abraham said. We cannot have a son. It's not just my age. And the wife laughed alone when she heard this nonsense. To believe it, you have to say something quite reasonable. You probably laughed out loud. Why is God laughing at this? He said I didn't laugh.
It was God's permission, but he heard it as a ridiculous story. I believe in God's providence. However, it is difficult to believe that this will directly affect me or give me great blessings. This is the problem. speaks well. Also the sermons are good. But, as the author, I refuse to believe it. This is actually a disease. There is a sense of vanity in human beings that trembles in fear that others will become a laughing stock. Like Sarah, we often hide our desire to die with a smile. Despite Sarah's disbelief, God's permission was granted. So Sarah said, "God makes me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me."
We sometimes overlook what God is saying with laughter. Let us learn the faith of Abraham and his practice. Love is giving. is to give. A person who thinks that he has nothing to give to anyone is a happy person. Oh, there are people who think that if you give something like this, you will not be insulted or insulted. Even a little love makes life hot. Even a little love moves people. One loaf of bread, some candy. one stocking. Socks These are such insignificant gifts, but people really feel good. Wouldn't it be insulting to give someone else clothes we don't wear, shoes, shoes, etc.? do. And hesitating.
Foreigners give me clothes that I used to wear with really close friends. I think it was probably 1882. In Uiseong, the Gyeongjung Presbytery?셲 Bishop Teachers??Seminar was held at Uiseong Church. At that time, the clerk of the church will entertain the lecturer. Thank you for your kindness. When the meeting came to an end, I didn't have any gifts for him. So I looked around and didn't find much. At that time, I saw that I had an American-made ballpoint pen that I was using, and I gave it as a gift.
It's common now, but those ballpoint pens were very classy. Thank you so much. I did it with a sincere heart, but I don't know if I've misunderstood. He wouldn't have done it because he said that. However, Abraham is a really big guy. If what you are doing these days, you are a person of great scale. He tells the passerby to rest under the tree. I'll get some food in a hurry. Then I'll give you a great treat. It was hundreds of times more than that to return to him.
closing words
I would like to close my message today. One day he was resting in a tent. The weather is hotter than the summer days in Korea. Then a stranger passes by. He approaches and falls flat on his face. Guests, please take a break in the shade of a cool tree. In the meantime, I will prepare cool water and food worth eating. Then he told his wife to make bread from the best flour. He goes to the pen himself, picks the most delicious calf, and tells his servants to slaughter it and cook it. In the meantime, he talks to guests about this and that.
At this time, God told him that at this time next year, Abraham would have the son he so desperately wanted. Abraham was astounded. He becomes a grandfather. The wife has already lost all her functions as a woman. But hearing this is strange. Then Sarah, his wife, heard these words outside the tent and laughed. At that time, God asked Sarah, why are you smiling? He said he didn't laugh because he was shy. Here we learn about Abraham, who unwittingly received a great gift from hospitality. Let us always be like this. Love is not something to envy. is to give is to give. I hope that we too will always live like this and always have victory in the Lord.