Imagine the scene, thousands of years ago: the desert sun was relentless when Abraham, resting at the entrance of his tent at Mamre, looked up to see three men standing before him (Gen. 18). Curious, hurried to greet them. He bowed low, as was the tradition, and urged them to rest in the shade while he went to ask his wife, Sarah, to prepare a meal for the guests.

Together, Abraham and Sarah prepared a meal. Fresh-baked, tender steak from a freshly-slain calf, curds (similar to yogurt), and milk, it was a feast fit for a king. Granted, Abraham didn’t know exactly what was happening, but his intuition told him this was no ordinary visit.

As the three travelers feasted, Abraham realized somehow that he was hosting the Lord himself. God! The God who had called him out of Ur, who had promised a son and a future, had come to dinner. This visitation from God was not a vision in the sky or a distant voice in a dream. This was the living God, seated under a tree, sharing food prepared by human hands. 

For a moment, consider this scene from Abraham’s perspective. It is nothing short of astonishing. The Creator of heaven and earth had stepped into the dust of creation and was sharing a meal with his creature. 

Foreshadowing the Incarnation

Now consider the scene from our perspective, thousands of years later. In this humble gesture of fellowship, we see a glimpse of what God would one day do in full. The Lord who appeared at Abraham’s table would later take on flesh and dwell among us (Jn. 1:14). He would again sit at human tables full of tax collectors, sinners, and friends, breaking bread and revealing the grace of God. In other words, the meal at Mamre foreshadows the miracle of the incarnation—the God who comes near not to judge from afar, but to share our life and redeem it.

But not only does this story point us to the incarnation, Abraham’s table also foreshadows the Lord’s Table. As we take the bread and wine of communion, we are reminded that God not only visits his people temporarily but ultimately, he indwells us permanently. In Christ, we have fellowship with the living God, an intimate, personal, and nourishing relationship—the ultimate of friendships. What Abraham experienced for a moment, believers now experience forever: God with us, the Lord Jesus Christ, sitting at the table of grace.

We may sometimes be tempted to think of God as distant, as far removed from our daily lives and uninterested in our ordinary routines, but Genesis 18 tells a different story. The Lord delights to draw near. He sits where we sit. He eats what we offer. And he transforms a simple meal into a meeting place of divine grace.

So, let’s remember Abraham’s example whenever we open our home, welcome a guest, or share a meal. Hospitality is a holy calling because it reflects the heart of a God who loves to commune with his people. And when we approach the Lord’s Table on Sunday mornings, let’s remember: the same God who once sat under the oaks of Mamre now invites you to feast on his mercy.

Advent Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for drawing near to us. You left heaven’s glory to share our humanity, to sit at our tables, to invite us to yours, and reflect your heart. Teach us to see your presence in the ordinary and to offer our lives in joyful fellowship with you. May every meal remind us of your grace until we feast with you face to face. Amen.