Read Genesis 18:1-21
Ever notice how God comes to your side in encouraging you as you take a large step forward in faith? God is the kind of God that encourages us as we pursue a deeper relationship with him. This whole bit starts off with God visiting Abraham to encourage him and give him news as he is recovering from covenant circumcision, which is a huge step for him at the age of 99. Some of the news is great and long awaited, and some is terrible news that involves Abrahams loved ones; and though this is only a momentary glimpse into Abraham’s life we get to see how a man of God accepts and responds to both kinds of news.
Observe how Abraham’s first reaction is generous hospitality. Without, I think, even fully grasping who the three visitors are at first he invites them to stay, serves them up a feast, and -like a hospitable middle-easterner for his day- stands by and waits on them even though it’s the heat of the day. Now having been on the giving and receiving end of Asian hospitality on a number of occasions I’d definitely say Asian hospitality is on a level above western concepts of hospitality for sure; but when comparing it to Abraham’s hospitality towards those who are so obviously strangers to him, I’d have to say he definitely one-upped us. This should give us pause; how are we treating strangers? The writer of Hebrews was recalling this when he wrote: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
And now for the good news . . . Sarah’s going to have a baby . . . at the age of 90. Sure Sarah expresses a little bitterness at first hearing the news, but maybe that’s just her hormones kicking back on. No, seriously though, Sarah has had to wait a long time for this. God promised her she was going to have a baby over ten years before, and at that time she was already post-menopausal; and all this with people looking on her with judgment for years because she can’t have a kid. Sometimes I think that we need to put this in a little perspective for our own lives. Sometimes God does give us a word or promise for our own futures that can be years in coming. How will we react when he finally works them out? Sarah was a little bitter, not the best way to react, but she kept faith that God could do what he says and she was later commended for that faith. How are we keeping faithful to the work that God is doing long-term in our own lives?
Wait! There’s still the bad news! The Bible for a moment shows us this dialogue God has about what to say to Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah. You may recall that Abraham personally knows people in these cities other than his nephew Lot when he went to rescue his nephew and return the goods of the people of those cities previously. What I notice though, is how God speaks of Abraham and his descendants as a blessing to the earth, of how they will follow and keep his ways doing what is just and right and bringing forth God’s promises right before he speaks to Abraham about the evil legacy of both of these nations. God knows from the outcry against them what they are both doing, God even knew before people started crying out against these nations, and yet he goes down to have a personal look. Why? God confronts us in our sin. There is a significant difference from Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah and yet God pays a visit to both. Yet one receives a promise of redemption- Abraham in walking in faith with God- and the other foreshadowed judgment. Likewise for the believer, there is a difference in how we live and how we respond to God, and it should be a blessing to everyone with whom we come in contact.
Pray for a generous spirit in showing hospitality to others, and pray for discernment for how you can walk faithfully and be a blessing to others by the power of the Holy Spirit.Amen.
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