---

I. GOD APPEARS AS MAN,

II. GOD PASSES THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS MAN. The angel Jehovah performs human actions, and passes through human conditions.

1. He both speaks and listens to human words. This Divine visitor converses freely with Abraham, and listens to his offer of hospitality. So God manifest in our nature spoke with human lips, and heard through ears of flesh the voices of men.

2. He shares the common necessities of man. This Divine visitor has no real need for food and refreshment, and yet He partakes of them. Jesus, though He had no need of us in the greatness and independence of His majesty, yet took our infirmities and necessities upon Him. He lived amongst men, eating and drinking with them, and partaking of the shelter they offered.

3. As man He receives service from man. Jehovah, under the appearance of a man, partook of the food and of the hospitable services which Abraham offered. So Christ, in the days of His flesh, received the attentions of human kindness, shelter, food, comfort. He had special friends, such as those of the household of Bethany, which He loved so well. He was grateful for every act of kindness done to Him.

III. GOD MANIFEST IS RECOGNIZED ONLY BY THE SPIRITUAL MIND.

(T. H. Leale,)

---

---

KJV: And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

WEB: Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.