The Hospitality of Mentorship

 1Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2“I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ 3The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. 4And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. 5The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.  (Dt. 34:9). 

Thoughts: Part of hospitality is caring that others are equipped and cared for, nourished and grown in the right way.  Hospitality to the next generation involves mentoring them.  
      Exodus through Deuteronomy tells the story of Moses handing the reins of leadership over to Joshua.  Moses had been mentoring Joshua for many years.  God called Moses to commission Joshua to be the next leader and the spirit was on him.  Moses laid hands on him in a public ceremony to show that his spirit of leadership was transferred to him.   
Numbers 11:28 says that Joshua had been Moses' aid since his youth.  Joshua was one of the 12 spies who went into the promised land.  He and Caleb were the only ones who were brave enough to think they could conquer the land.  He was with Moses going up into Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, and heard the pagan sounds of the people when they made the golden calf.  He would go the Tent of meeting with Moses when Moses met with God- so he was prepared spiritually for leadership.  
     There are other instances of mentorship in the Bible- Deborah to Barak or Elijah to Elishah,  There were schools for the Levites, the prophets, and the gatekeepers and doorkeepers.  Of course, Jesus set the ultimate example by mentoring the disciples (the very word "disciple" means learner).  Paul said "The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who are able to teach others also."  (2 Tim. 2:2).  Lois and Eunice taught Timothy the faith, but Paul mentored him.  Even in the early church- post biblical we knew that John taught Ignatius and Polycarp.  Polycarp taught Irenaeus.  Discipleship depends on caring for the next teachers through mentoring.    
      Caring for the message of the gospel, and that the person(s) communicating it are trained properly is so important.  One pastor should help teach new pastors the skills of shepherding, preaching, teaching, administration, and evangelism. 

Prayer:  Lord, help me that I might help others.  Mentor me that I might mentor others in my time and way.  

Blessing Others Instead of Cursing Them

 3No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation. 4For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. 5However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you. (Deuteronomy 23:4-6; cf. Numbers 22-24)

Thoughts: Ammon and Moab were the children and grandchildren (at the same time) of Lot, who was Abraham's nephew.  They were related to the Israelites, but did not help them in their time of need.  Rather they hired a prophet, Baalam, to curse them.  But instead Baalam blessed them and even prophesied the coming of the Messiah ("a star will come out of Jacob a scepter will arise out of Israel." Nbrs 23:17).   This lack of hospitality- and even anti-hospitality in the time of the forming of a nation and in a time of deep vulnerability was not to be forgotten or taken lightly.  They were basically trying to use curses and witchcraft to protect them from God and the people of God.  The people of God were going around their territory anyway, but they still sought to curse them.   
     Hospitality is important.  It is not to be forgotten.  Nor is the hurting of the vulnerable (anti-hospitality) or those in need to be taken lightly or forgotten.  God does not think shallowly of those who try to hurt His children when they should try to help them.  We should seek to bless and not curse.  Romans 12:14 says, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."  Jesus said, "Bless those who curse you."  (Lk. 6:28).  We are not put here to protect ourselves.  God can (both in Balaam's case and Jesus case on the cross) turn curses into blessings.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to show hospitality to my distant relatives, and even go out of my way to help them instead of cursing them out of fear.  

Rembrandt Balaam
Balaam was on his way to "curse" the Israelites when an angel disrupted them. 

Going around the Inhospitable

 14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:

“This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us. 15Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors, 16but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. 17Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”18But Edom answered:“You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”19The Israelites replied:“We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”20Again they answered:“You may not pass through.”Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. 21Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

Thoughts: Moses could have fought his way through Edom.  Probably they had a more powerful army.  But perhaps he knew they were weary from being in the desert, and were not prepared.  He asked permission, was not given it- in fact was threatened.  But he did not respond back with anger, he just went around though it meant losing costly time.  
    We should sometimes ask for people to treat us with hospitality, and then expect that we will not receive it.  We should put our time and lives in God's hands and let Him lead us.  

Prayer: Give me grace, O Lord, when people are not hospitable toward me.  Let me have more patience than I have in and of myself.   

Water in the Desert = Hospitality

 But I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the deserts into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.  (Isaiah 41;18; 35:6-8)

He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.  (Ps. 107:35)

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron...and they said, "Why did you bring us to this terrible place... there is no water to drink!" The Lord said to Moses...speak to the rock and it will pour out its water...Moses said to them, "Listen you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?  Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.  Water gushed out and the community and the livestock drank.  (Numbers 20:3-11)

Thoughts:  There are 2 billion in the world without access to safe drinking water.  Yet many of us take it for granted.  When it is taken away, we are reminded how good we have it.  I remember once in an ice storm, when we were living in the country, the power went out for a week and the well had no water.  It was difficult and a mess.  Every day women and girls spend 200 million hours walking to collect water for their families.  The average developing world woman walks 3.7 miles a day to get cleaner water.  
     Part of our concern for others is that they receive water for life.  
     God still provided for His people in the desert even in the midst of their many complaints.  We are hospitable to others even if they are not truly appreciative.  Water is a symbol of life and hospitality.  

Prayer: Lord, help me be grateful for the gift of water.  Thank you that you provide a way when it seems there is no way.  

God is Hospitable Even When we Grumble

 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:3; cf, Ex. 16)

Thoughts: In Exodus 16 it records that the Israelites were complaining against God that He has led them out into the desert to die of starvation.  They grumbled against God that they had it better in Egypt where they had all the food they wanted (even though they were in slavery).  In response to their grumbling, God did not alienate them but showed them grace and hospitality.  He provided bread from heaven for them- that they called "manna."  He also provided quail for them in the evening.  God Himself is hospitable- even when we do not appreciate His care.  
    God teaches us we can depend on Him to provide for us- and to provide for us spiritually too.  

Prayer: Thank you for your gracious care for us- even when we do not appreciate it or when we complain.  

Hospitality to the elderly and foreigner

 Leviticus 19:32-33:  32You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.  33When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. 34You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God

Thoughts: Hospitality and respect go hand in hand.  Respect means you do n
ot harm another and even honor them as persons.  The fear of God (19:1- "be holy for I am holy") means we respect God more than anyone else.  It does not just mean be afraid of what God can do to you if you don't listen, but that you listen to Him out of revering Him.  
     Rising in honor and respect of the elderly  means we recognize that we would not be here without them, and that their experience and crystallized intelligence (wisdom) should be respected and listened to.  One of the great anti-wisdoms was when Rehoboam refused to listen to his wise father (Solomon's) advisers but instead went with the younger advisers who were his friends.  As more people live longer (despite covid), and as the elderly have much of the money and property of our day in America, we should expect more degrading of the elderly.  But the other side is that if the elderly hold onto all of their "stuff" and power, they will hurt instead of help the elderly as a whole.  My opinion is that the two over 75 candidates for president should humbly step out of the way for the good of the country and let someone else have a chance.  But, they should be respected as former presidents (sometimes despite their actions- the office deserves respect).  
       The touchy part of this passage is how we treat foreigners in our midst.  This makes no distinction between the foreigner who has gained citizenship and the one who has not.  But the other context of this is that those who break the laws of the land are not to be respected.  Those who come illegally should not be as respected as those who waited in line, paid the cost to become legal or even citizens.  But this passage does soften any super anger, fear, or prejudice toward the foreigner who is in our midst.  We are not called to be prejudiced against any human being.  All are made in the image of God.  The Israelites are reminded to be kind to foreigners for they were foreigners in Egypt for 400 years.  In their foreigner status- they were made slaves and treated poorly.  We are not to forget that.  

Prayer:  Lord, give me grace to respect and show kindness to others.  Let me look for ways to be kind to others as you have been kind to me.  

Hospitality is Part of Holiness and Justice

Thoughts:  Hospitality is a part of the holiness code of Leviticus.  It shows itself in respecting other people and considering their point of view.  Here is a sample of the holiness code of Leviticus (19) chock full of commands to be considerate of parents, the poor, the foreigners, workers (not holding back wages) and a sense of justice and fairness not just toward the poor but toward all people including the rich (who are also human beings).  Not lying but being honest is part of hospitality as hospitality is based on trust.  Not robbing or defrauding (we could also add scamming, phishing, kidnapping or holding people or companies for ransom) is a part of being a hospitable person.  This in no means is saying that we should not fight against injustice- but the way to fight against injustice is not by robbing, defrauding, or lying to those who have more in order that we may get more- or that the world would be a fairer place.  Respecting the Sabbath is also a respect for the worker- who needs rest (when they were slaves in Egypt there was no rest).  Respecting the Sabbath also is a respecter of God who gives us time and our time is in His hands.  This section ends with a warning not to show favoritism toward the rich.  This is a common thing in the world, but the rich do not deserve the best simply because they have the potential to give more.  But this also says that we should not always show partiality to the poor.  Why?  The poor need more help.  The reason why is all human beings are called to be fair and respectful to each other.  Even in this same chapter we are commanded to leave some grain for the poor.  All people should in general be treated as people deserving respect- but not worship.  Generosity to the poor is encouraged separately than the act of being respectful to all.  So, for example, we don't kick a middle class person out of our dinner or our lodging so the rich may eat or lodge with us- or that the poor may eat or lodge with us.  Fairness and justice are a part of true hospitality- and that is rooted in the holiness of God Himself (19:1).  

Leviticus 19:1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. 3“ ‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.4“ ‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.5“ ‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. 7If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.9“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.11“ ‘Do not steal.“ ‘Do not lie.“ ‘Do not deceive one another.12“ ‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.13“ ‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.“ ‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.14“ ‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.15“ ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to respect you and others.  Help me to have grace to respect all people as those made in your image who deserve fairness.  

Hospitality isn't Limited to Christians

 Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

7Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

8“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, ^b saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

Thoughts:  Life is a bit nebulous.  Sometimes believers do stupid and wrong things, and sometimes non-believers do really great things.  It seems even silly to say, but it should be said that good is not limited to Christians.  Yet it is also true that God is able to use the good and the bad we do to achieve His purposes.  
       Here a pagan, Pharaoh's daughter, felt sorry for the crying baby.  God puts this compassion for babies in many a woman's heart.  God used it to rescue Moses and to rescue the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. 
      In the New Testament, it says many times that Jesus "ate and drank with sinners."  The sinners invited him to eat and drink with them when the Pharisees would not.  But Jesus went with them.   Christians do not have a corner on hospitality.  But the other side of it is that when someone is hospitable toward you, you should let them be and try to answer their hospitality by being gracious and accepting their show of kindness.  So Moses' sister and mother did not hesitate to allow her brother to be raised in a pagan palace.  It not only was better than death, it was a place where Moses could get a good education, good food, and a healthy place to be.        We should rejoice in the hospitality shown to Moses and to Jesus by pagans and sinners.  We should rejoice when those who do not share our beliefs are kind to us.  Kindness does not just mean inviting others and welcoming others, it also means allowing yourself to be invited and welcomed.   When you are shown kindness, show kindness in return, and even outdo their kindness as a means to honor God.  

Prayer: Lord, give me a heart to welcome others' hospitality toward me and my family.   Let me also exceed in how I show hospitality toward others.  

Joseph and His brothers- Hate vs Grace

 14So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.  When Joseph arrived at Shechem...18But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.19“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20“Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” 21When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. (Genesis 37) 

Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.18His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50)

Thoughts: There was a lot of spiritual growth between Genesis 37 and Genesis 50.  Joseph's brothers were jealous because he had dreams (later to come true) of their bowing down to him.  They sought to kill him but the elder sons persuaded them not to and he was sold into slavery into Egypt.  This was horrible.  Yet God clearly uses the horrible sins of the brothers to in fact rescue the whole family.  Joseph says as much in Genesis 50- they meant it for harm, but God intended it for good.  Joseph at first tests them, but then forgives them and provides for the whole family during a horrible famine.  Joseph shows the grace of hospitality to his brothers. He showed grace to those who showed hate.  Perhaps he was able to do so because he saw how God lifted him up from the cistern, then slavery, then prison, to the highest office in the world.  Joseph sought to welcome and provide for his brothers.  Another name for that is hospitality.  

Prayer: Lord, when even family members are mean to me, help me to remember you are in control- not them.  I put myself in your hands.  

Laban and Jacob hospitality lessons

13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” (Gen. 29)  1Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” 2And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
  36Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged you that you hunt me down? ...38“I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. 39I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. 40This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. 41It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. 42If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.” 43Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”  48Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed. 49It was also called Mizpah, ^c because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”  So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. 54He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.  55Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home. (Gen. 31). 

Thoughts: Laban at first welcome Jacob.  He offered his daughter in marriage in return for his labor for seven years.  But he deceived him, tried to change his wages, and legally but unethically trick him time and again.  God blessed Jacob despite these tricks, and Jacob heard God's call to leave.  There was deception all around.  Rachel indeed stole her father's valuable idols- but Jacob would later bury these (it was not worth it).  In the end, Laban and Jacob reconciled- symbolized by a joint hospitality meal.  They made promises to each other with the Mizpah benediction, "May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from another."  It is asking God to protect but also keep us in line.  This is all a lesson to continually be hospitable to family members not just when they first arrive.  We should make efforts to preserve familial love.  

Prayer: Lord watch between me and those I love when I am with them or apart from them. 

                                           Jacob and Laban and the heap of witness- Holman Bible

Jacob and Esau and Lessons in Hospitality

 29Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom. )31Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”32“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”33But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.  So Esau despised his birthright. (Gen. 25) 
41Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”42When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. (Gen. 27)

[After Jacob came back to Palestine after exile] 9But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”10“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 11Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. (Gen. 33)

Thoughts: This is a tale of two brothers who competed with each other, one deceived the other- which led to a threat of murder- and self-imposed exile, but then in the end both brothers reconcile- realizing they both have enough. 
      Jacob and Esau were twins born in competition with Jacob grasping the heal of Esau.  Esau let his stomach rule over his birthright and Jacob was deceptive enough to ask for it in his brother's time of need.  Instead of helping his brother in his time of need, Jacob took advantage of Esau's need.  This is the opposite of hospitality, and fostered ill will between them.  
         Then, instead of apologizing and reconciling, Jacob (prompted by his mother who chose sides) disguised himself to his blind father to steal his blessing.  Again, stealing is the opposite of hospitality.  Of course, God can use human sin to achieve His will.  Jacob was the patriarch of Israel and Esau of Edom.  
         In the end, when Jacob came back to the Promised Land,  and they were reconciled because they both had enough and time healed their competition.   Sometimes, stepping away in time and space can bring healing. 
          Sibling rivalry is a strong force against kindness and hospitality.  But wanting the favor of one parent or another can take away the favor of our heavenly Father.  Look for ways to be hospitable toward those in your family today- not for yourself- but for the glory of God. 

Prayer: Lord, let me not elevate the desire for things over the desire for brotherly/sisterly love.  Let me also not let anything get in the way of love for your glory.  

Tissot 1896-1902 Jacob and Esau

The Hospitality of In-Laws

  “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.17The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”18“Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.”... And she added, "We have  plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night."  (Genesis 24)

Thoughts: Hospitality is attractive.  Here Abraham's servant was to go to his relatives to find a wife.  His prayer was to find someone who would be thoughtful, kind, welcoming- in short- hospitable.  Rebekah was not just attractive physically, she was attractive spiritually- and it showed in a generous kindness.  Laban, Isaac's uncle, was also kind to the man and welcome him.  If in-laws are kind and generous- it fosters and environment for a good, long-lasting relationship.  
    There is all these songs ("Mother-in-law") and stories of in laws not getting along with a new partner or spouse.  But kindness, welcoming, acceptance, hospitality go a long way to breaking the caricature of being an in-law.  

Prayer: Lord, may your hospitality toward me show in how I am hospitable toward others.  Break barriers down by your love and hospitality shining through me.