Day 26: Read Genesis 18:1 – 15
And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on- since you have come to your servant.” (18:1–5)
These fifteen verses are packed with so many notable things!
Hospitality: I love the way that Abraham asks that they rest under the tree while he brings a “morsel of bread” – then he runs and tells Sarah to make three cakes, runs to the herd, chooses a calf, gives it to a servant to prepare. That’s a lot of fuss and took a lot of time! But that’s the hospitality of that region.
It says “the Lord” appeared to Abraham, but it describes three men – one is God in human form, and the two others, angels. Abraham doesn’t realize right away to whom he is showing hospitality (it says in Hebrew 13:2 that “some have entertained angels unaware”) but in the next section it seems he understands to some extent.
Finally, here is yet another time when the Lord promised that Sarah will have a son. This time he was specific: “this time next year.” Sarah, past child-bearing age, and barren, laughed. When the Lord asked Abraham why Sarah laughed, Sarah denied it, for she was afraid. She, too, seemed to know at this point that something special was going on – someone special was making this promise.
I do love to bless others by hospitality. And while I have not always had “a fattened calf” on hand, or in other words, an elaborate dinner, I have found that what people are blessed by is simply being warmly welcomed into our home.
Prayer: Grant me the hospitality of Abraham, that I may be generous with whatever you have provided for me and my family. Grant me also, the patience to wait for You to do Your will in Your timing and the faith to not lose heart, but to believe. “May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen!
