Genesis 19:1-5: a reflection

1The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, 2and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” 3He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them.”

When two angels come to the city of Sodom in the evening, Lot, sitting at the gate, rises to meet them and urges them to come into his house rather than spend the night in the open square. He bows before them, presses his invitation, and when they come, he makes them a feast, showing them the hospitality due to travelers, welcoming and caring for the strangers who had come. His welcome and protection of the visitors stands in stark contrast to the cruelty of the city around him. Lot received the strangers with hospitality and sought to shelter and protect them, offering the goodness of welcome in a place marked by its absence.

Notice the goodness of Lot's hospitality. Travelers arriving in the evening were vulnerable, in need of shelter and welcome; and Lot rose to meet them, urged them into his house, and cared for them, offering the shelter and protection of hospitality. His welcome of the strangers, his insistence on taking them under his roof and seeing to their needs, was a good thing, especially in a city whose people would show the opposite. To welcome the stranger, to offer shelter and protection to the traveler, to care for those who arrive in need, is a goodness that Lot showed. His hospitality stood as a light of welcome against the darkness of the city's cruelty.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to the goodness of hospitality, welcoming and caring for the stranger and the guest. We can be indifferent to the stranger, the traveler, the one who arrives in need, leaving them to fend for themselves; but Lot rose to welcome the visitors, to bring them under his roof and care for them, showing the goodness of hospitality. To welcome and protect the guest, to care for those who come to us in need, is a good and godly thing. Do not be indifferent to the stranger and the guest in need; show the goodness of hospitality, welcoming and caring for them, as Lot received the travelers into his home. Show the goodness of hospitality, welcoming and caring for the stranger and the guest, offering shelter and protection to those who come in need, as Lot rose to receive the travelers into his home; for hospitality to the stranger is a good and godly thing, a light of welcome that shines the brighter against the world's indifference and cruelty.

Lord, when two angels come to the city of Sodom in the evening, Lot, sitting at the gate, rises to meet them and urges them to come into his house rather than spend the night in the open square. He bows before them, presses his invitation, and when they come, he makes them a feast, showing them the hospitality due to travelers, welcoming and caring for the strangers who had come. His welcome and protection of the visitors stands in stark contrast to the cruelty of the city around him. Show me the goodness of Lot's hospitality. Travelers arriving in the evening were vulnerable, in need of shelter and welcome; and Lot rose to meet them, urged them into his house, and cared for them. His welcome of the strangers, his insistence on taking them under his roof and seeing to their needs, was a good thing, especially in a city whose people would show the opposite. To welcome the stranger, to offer shelter and protection to the traveler, to care for those who arrive in need, is a goodness that Lot showed. Take that to my heart, for I am called to the goodness of hospitality, welcoming and caring for the stranger and the guest. I can be indifferent to the stranger, the traveler, the one who arrives in need, leaving them to fend for themselves; but Lot rose to welcome the visitors and care for them. To welcome and protect the guest, to care for those who come to me in need, is a good and godly thing. Keep me from being indifferent to the stranger and the guest in need; help me show the goodness of hospitality, Lord, welcoming and caring for them, as Lot received the travelers into his home.