Daily Scripture Reading Genesis 17:23 - 18:19

The Bible commands us to be patient (see 1Th 5:14). Most Christians acknowledge that fact and agree patience is a good thing. However, I don’t think many Christians stop to ponder God’s concept of patience. If we order food at a restaurant, are we impatient if we expect our food to arrive in 10 minutes? What if it takes an hour for our food to arrive? If we order food and 2 hours later we still have not received it, are we impatient if we complain to the manager?

Very few people in our culture would be willing to wait 2 hours for food, nor would they be considered impatient for thinking that is unacceptable. However, there is a story in the life of Abraham where three men waited even longer than that for some food. This story illustrates the extent to which modern technology has distorted our concept of patience.

When Abram was 99 years old, Yahweh made a covenant with Abram. Yahweh would make Abram the father of a multitude of nations, while Yahweh would be the God of Abram’s descendants. Furthermore, Abram’s descendants would possess the land of Canaan. All males in Abram’s house were to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant.

Gen. 17:23 ¶ Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had spoken with him.

Notice the phrase “in the very same day”. Abram obeyed immediately.

Gen. 17:24 Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Gen. 17:25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Gen. 17:26 In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

Gen. 17:27 Now all the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Gen. 18:1 ¶ Then Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.

This verse tells us Yahweh appeared to Abram.

Gen. 18:2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing nearby; he saw, and he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed himself to the earth,

Gen. 18:3 and he said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.

The pronoun “he” in verses 2 and 3 refers to Abram.

The word “Lord” is a translation of the Hebrew word “adon”. The word “adon” is often translated “master”. Adon can refer to God, but it can also refer to a human master (see Gen. 24:9).

Gen. 18:4 Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;

Gen. 18:5 and let me bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh your hearts; after that you may pass on, since in such a manner you have passed by your servant.” And they said, “So you shall do, as you have said.”

In 21st century western culture, if a host offers us some water and bread, we would expect to receive it in less than an hour. If it would take longer than that, we would get impatient.

Gen. 18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Hurry, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread cakes.”

Look at the word “hurry”, and then ponder what Sarah was supposed to do in a hurry. She was supposed to hurriedly grind grain into flour, knead it, and make some bread. There is nothing quick about that task. That is a process that takes hours not minutes. There was no way Abram’s guests would receive some bread in less than two hours. It was more likely it would be half a day or so.

Gen. 18:7 Abraham also ran to the herd and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to his young man, and he hurried to prepare it.

The words “ran” and “hurried” tell us Abram was trying to make things happen fast, but their concept of fast was very different than our concept of fast. First, Abram had to go to the herd and get a calf. That alone could have taken an hour. Then the servant had to build a fire, butcher the calf, and cook it. That was another couple hours. Contrast that with modern technology.

One time my wife and I went to buy a new microwave. The appliance salesman explained how we could put a beef roast in the microwave, push one button, and the microwave would figure out how long to cook the beef roast. In other words, between freezers and microwaves, modern technology gives us the ability to prepare food by pulling a roast out of the freezer, putting it in the microwave, and pushing one button. From the time a guest arrives at our house, we can place a fully cook beef roast in front of them in less than an hour.

Gen. 18:8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree, and they ate.

By this time the three men had to have been sitting under the tree for several hours. In our culture, if we had to wait for several hours before a host fed us, we would get impatient. We pack so many things into one day, that waiting half a day for food would make us late for something else. On the other hand, in 2,000 BC it was normal to wait hours for things to happen. They did not have the technology to expect life to happen faster than that.

The Bible commands us to be patient. We base our standard of patience on life in the 21st century. Perhaps we should ponder God’s definition of patience.

Gen. 18:9 ¶ Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”

Gen. 18:10 And He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door which was behind him.

Gen. 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

Gen. 18:12 And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Gen. 18:13 And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a son, when I am so old?’

Gen. 18:14 Is anything too difficult for Yahweh? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

The question in this verse is a great concept to grasp. Nothing is too difficult for Yahweh.

Gen. 18:15 Then Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Gen. 18:16 ¶ Then the men rose up from there and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.

Gen. 18:17 Now Yahweh said, “Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am about to do,

Gen. 18:18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?

Gen. 18:19 For I have known him, so that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of Yahweh to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

The Bible commands us to be patient (see 1Th 5:14). Most Christians acknowledge that fact and agree patience is a good thing. However, I don’t think many Christians stop to ponder God’s concept of patience.

Very few people in our culture would be willing to wait 2 hours for food, nor would they be considered impatient for thinking that is unacceptable. However, this story from the life of Abraham, where three men waited hours for food, illustrates the extent to which modern technology has distorted our concept of patience.

When we think about the command to be patient, we should spend some time pondering God’s definition of patience.

How patient are you compared to the three men who waited hours for Abraham to give them something to eat?

How should we define patience in the 21st century, in light of the fact that we have the technology to make things happen faster than ever before in human history?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”