The Three Visitors

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and made his covenant with him — his forever promise. God gave him a new name. He said, “No longer will your name be Abram. Your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. Kings will come from you. And Sarai your wife — her name will now be Sarah. I will bless her and give you a son by her.” Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah have a child at ninety?”

One hot day at noon, Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent by the great oak of Mamre. He looked up — and there stood three men. Abraham ran to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass your servant by. Let water be brought to wash your feet. Rest under the tree, and I will bring bread, and you shall eat.” Then Abraham hurried! He ran to Sarah in the tent and said, “Quick — bake fresh loaves!” He ran to the herd and picked out a calf, tender and good. Soon there was a feast under the tree: warm bread, butter and milk, and good roasted food. The visitors ate while Abraham stood near to serve them.

Then one of them said, “Where is Sarah your wife?” “There — in the tent,” said Abraham. And the visitor said, “At this season next year I will come back to you — and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Abraham and Sarah were old, very old — long past the age for babies. And Sarah laughed quietly to herself. But the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything impossible with God? At this season, in due time, I will return — and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “No — you did laugh.” And the promise stood: in one year, a baby boy. They would have to wait and see.