Abraham was sitting in the door of his tent in the plains of Mamre when the Lord appeared to him (Genesis 18:1). Abraham also had three men to visit who he met and bowed in greeting (Genesis 18:2). Abraham was hospitable in offering the visitors water to wash their feet, a place to rest and food to eat (Genesis 18:4,5). The visitors accepted Abraham's hospitality (Genesis 18:8).
Sarah, Abraham's wife, overheard talk to Abraham that she shall have a son (Genesis 18:10). Sarah laughed and said to herself, "After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also" (Genesis 18:12)?
"And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old" (Genesis 18:13)?
"Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son" (Genesis 18:14).
Time was nearing for the men's visit to be over. The Lord was determining whether to share with Abraham about His doings because "...Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him" said the Lord (Genesis 18:16-18) [.] The Lord knew that Abraham "will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him" (Genesis 18:19).
Sodom and Gomorrah had cried out unto the Lord "...because their sin is very grievous..." and the Lord is going to cast 'justice and judgment' upon them (Genesis 18:20,21). The men left for Sodom while Abraham stood before the Lord, drawing near to Him, asked, "Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked" (Genesis 18:22,23)? Abraham added, "That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right" (Genesis 18:25)? "And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, them I will spare all the place for their sakes" (Genesis 18:26). Abraham took it upon himself to speak to the Lord in seeking mercy for the people of Sodom (Genesis 18:26). At the end of their talk, God told Abraham that He will not destroy Sodom for ten people's sake (Genesis 18:32).
For your personal reference, turn to Genesis 18.
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