Do Genesis 18 & 19 Prove the Trinity or Reveal Two YHWHs?

Do Genesis 18 and 19 suggest the idea of two YHWHs or prove the Trinity?

Let’s consider the texts.

According to verse 1, YHWH appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees.

Gen.18.1 – Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

According to verse 2, Abraham saw three men standing by him.

Gen.18.2 – So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground.

Is YHWH a man? Were these men YHWH Himself? Is YHWH a singular or multiple individual?

There are many similar questions that can arise in the heart of a true seeker of truth. One might even see contradictions because Scripture says God is not a man, yet He appeared to Abraham as a man? Was that YHWH in person, in flesh and blood, or an angel YHWH sent to Abraham?

When there seem to be such contradictions, I pray and trust God to help me rightly divide the word of truth. And once the Spirit does that, everything becomes clear, and the contradictions vanish.

God is not an angel, God is not a man, God is not a burning bush, God is not a dream/vision, God is not a cloud, etc., but these are the things people saw when God appeared to them.

What does that teach us?

God can appear (make Himself visible through any means), but never assume the apparition is the actual God. It’s only a manifestation. That’s why Jesus could say no one has ever seen the actual appearance of God at any time.

Back to Abraham, what did he see? Who were those three men that came to him? God? The Trinity?

As for Abraham, he saw three men. But as for God, He has appeared to Abraham.

Why is this so?

When God sends anyone His Word or His human or angelic servants – it is reckoned as though God Himself came to them. If they accept the person (human or angelic), they accept God; but when they reject the person, they reject God. Also, those sent by God like this—whether human or angel—can speak as and for God (speaking in the first person). This is a known principle throughout Scripture.

For example, it was God who personally came to set Israel free from slavery in Egypt, but He appeared or came as Moses (a man) and a spirit being known as the Angel of the Lord, the Angel of His presence (a deeper study will reveal that this spiritual being was Jesus Christ Himself before incarnation, but that’s not the focus now).

It was YHWH who sent those three. When God says “I have come down or let us go down”, He does that by sending His servants. The principal person who goes for/as YHWH, speaks for/as YHWH, and acts for/as YHWH is the one called the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament. It is the same person who still became flesh in the New Testament as Jesus Christ, not to appear as with Abraham, but to be born, grow up, and give His life.

Back to Abraham, the three men that appeared to him, I believe, were the Angel of the Lord and two accompanying angels. And when Abraham received the Angel of the Lord and the two angels that came with Him, he received YHWH. And because they came in the name of YHWH, the primary speaker, who I believe is the Angel of the Lord, spoke to Abraham as YHWH (in the first person). Or you could say YHWH spoke to Abraham through the Angel of YHWH.

When Abraham spoke, He spoke with one individual. And when the Lord spoke, it was one individual speaking, not three. In the last verse of chapter 18, it appears Abraham was speaking to one, not three.

Gen.18.33 – So the LORD went His (not their) way as soon as He (not they) had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

Where are the other 2?

Chapter 19 (a continuation of chapter 18) tells us they went to Sodom, the city Abraham pleaded with YHWH for, when He told Abraham He was going there.

Another interesting and controversial verse is the 24th verse, when the actual judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah began…

Gen.19.24 – Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.

What does this mean?

Many people call up this verse as a prove for the Trinity is true. I don’t believe the verse in any way portrays or proves the Trinity.

But before I explain this verse, let me rephrase it in a way we can relate to first:

“President Trump rained bombs and missiles on Nigeria and Ghana, from Trump out of Air Force One.”

This doesn’t imply two Trumps, but rather the same individual acting from a specific LOCATION or/and through a specific CHANNEL.

In the same way, the first mention of YHWH indicates the actor. The second YHWH indicates a reference to the origin or source of the fire. That’s why it says “from YHWH out of the heavens.”

Gen.19.24 – Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah (indicates what God is doing), from the LORD out of the heavens (indicates location and channel He’s doing it from).

“Out of the heavens” indicates both the sky (the channel) and the throne of God (His location). The sky, or physical heaven, is the place or channel from which the physical fire and brimstone fell. The fire and brimstone didn’t come from the ground or ocean; it came from above, out of the heaven or sky, and fell to earth, to Sodom and Gomorrah. The second indication of “heavens” would be where YHWH, the Father, is located and localized: the spiritual heaven, His throne, as the place from which the judgment is coming.

So, that verse doesn’t speak of two YHWHs or the Trinity.

God is not the author of confusion. If He says He is one, then He really is one.

Blessings.