This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-22:24). Read on Shabbat, November 8, 2025 / 17 Cheshvan 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.
“The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth” (Genesis 18:1-2).
In this passage, Abraham experiences one of the most personal encounters with God in all of Scripture. The Lord appears not through thunder or fire, but through three visitors who arrive at his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham does not hesitate. He runs to meet them, bows before them, and offers food, water, and rest. His hospitality turns an ordinary moment into a sacred encounter. God reveals Himself not in spectacle, but in simplicity.
Through this visit, God confirms His covenant promise. Sarah, though advanced in age, will bear a son. The same God who calls Abraham to intercede for Sodom and Gomorrah also shows compassion to Sarah’s laughter of disbelief. In these chapters we see both divine justice and mercy, judgment and grace. God appears as the One who sees, speaks, and fulfills His word, even when the promise seems delayed or impossible.
The story of Vayeira reminds us that God’s presence often enters the quiet spaces of life. He meets us not only in the grand events, but in the daily moments of service, prayer, and compassion. Abraham’s hospitality becomes an act of worship, teaching us that faith is not only believing in God’s promises but also welcoming His presence through kindness and obedience.
Many of us long for God to appear in dramatic ways, yet His most profound visits may come through the unnoticed details of daily life. He may show Himself through the needs of another person, through an opportunity to serve, or through a moment of prayer. When our hearts are open and our lives are attentive, we discover that He is nearer than we realized.
Take time this week to look for God’s presence in the ordinary. Be ready to welcome Him as Abraham did, through openhearted hospitality, through prayer, and through acts of compassion. Let each day become a place where divine promise and human response meet, reminding you that God still appears to those who watch for Him.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself in both great and simple ways. Help me to recognize Your presence, to serve others with joy, and to live with faith that welcomes You each day. Amen.
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