Genesis 18: God's multitasking

When God visits, he isn't focused on one task. God can multitask like nobody's business. Now, you might think, "Duh." But let's admit it: sometimes all we can see if what God is doing in our immediate circumstance, forgetting that he loves everyone around us. And he is working in their lives even as he is working in our life. Genesis 18 gives me a glimpse into this.

First, notice the three visitors or travelers. Who are they? They are angelic messengers of God come to proclaim witness against Sodom and Gomorrah. They are dealing with the fate of cities and even states, kings and authorities.

Yet, they take time to affirm God's covenant with Abraham.

They take time to affirm God's promise to Sarah: You will have a child by this time next year. (By then, she will be 91)

They take time to sit with Abraham, and Abraham humbly recognizes their authority, even if he is not truly aware of their full identity.

By the way, Abraham has this spiritual awareness that is amazing--to sense God's voice, to hear him, to go as he leads, and to recognize his authority wherever he appears (oaks of Mamre, Melchizedek, the three visitors). Wow. I want to be spiritually sensitive like that.

Why all this fuss over Abraham when the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah are at hand?

I think God is merciful like this all the time. Yes, he is active in the big things: nations, countries, universes, mega-churches, etc.

But he is also at work in individual lives who simply trust God with eyes and ears attuned to his work. And he touches us all in a divinely multitasking way as he moves in this world.