Saturday, October 15, 2016

Eating with Strangers

1The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,a do not pass your servant by. 4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahsb of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he said.
10Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” (Genesis 18)

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)

Thoughts: Abraham may have thought he was entertaining three strangers, but these were special guests.  They predicted Sarah's pregnancy in a year and also the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for their immorality.  Ezekiel 16 comments on their immorality as consisting of "detestable practices (sexual immorality is often called "detestable practices") but also an unwillingness to help the poor and needy."  Abraham's faith, righteousness and generosity (he gave a tithe to Melchizedek) stand in sharp contrast to Sodom and Gomorrah's skepticism, immorality, and selfishness/lack of hospitality.   From this it is clear that God blesses kindness and hospitality but is unhappy with lack of hospitality.  We are called to welcome, eat with, encourage, and be generous toward others.  

Prayer: Lord, let me see the stranger who needs help and hospitality.  Then give me the grace to be kind to them.  Help me to remember you welcomed me in as a stranger when I could give you nothing in return.   


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