Genesis 18:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant. 4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”

When three strangers appear near Abraham's tent in the heat of the day, Abraham does not receive them with mere polite civility; he welcomes them with eager, generous hospitality. He ran to meet them from the tent door, bowed himself to the earth, urged them not to pass by, offered water to wash their feet, rest under the tree, and bread to refresh them. His hospitality was eager, quick, generous; he ran to welcome them, pressed them to stay, hastened to serve them. And, unknown to him at first, he was welcoming the Lord himself. Abraham's eager, generous welcome of the strangers was hospitality at its best, offered readily and abundantly.

Notice the eagerness and generosity of Abraham's hospitality. He did not merely tolerate the visitors, or offer them the minimum; he ran to meet them, bowed low, urged them to stay, and hastened to provide water, rest, and food. His hospitality was quick and eager, generous and abundant; he was glad to welcome and serve them, and did so readily. And in welcoming these strangers, he was, unknown to him, entertaining the Lord. His eager, generous welcome of the stranger was hospitality at its finest, offered not grudgingly or minimally but readily and abundantly. He ran to serve; he pressed them to stay; he provided generously. The eagerness and generosity marked his hospitality.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to eager, generous hospitality, welcoming and serving others readily and abundantly. We can offer others mere polite civility, the minimum of welcome, grudging or reluctant hospitality; but Abraham ran to welcome the strangers, pressed them to stay, and served them generously, and in doing so welcomed the Lord. There is a hospitality that is eager and generous, glad to welcome and serve. Do not offer others mere minimal or grudging welcome; be eager and generous in your hospitality, as Abraham ran to welcome and serve his visitors. Offer eager, generous hospitality, welcoming and serving others readily and abundantly rather than grudgingly or minimally, as Abraham ran to meet the strangers and hastened to serve them, entertaining the Lord unawares; for there is a hospitality that is eager and generous, and to welcome and serve others readily and abundantly is a good and godly thing, sometimes welcoming more than we know.

Lord, when three strangers appear near Abraham's tent in the heat of the day, Abraham does not receive them with mere polite civility; he welcomes them with eager, generous hospitality. He ran to meet them from the tent door, bowed himself to the earth, urged them not to pass by, offered water to wash their feet, rest under the tree, and bread to refresh them. His hospitality was eager, quick, generous. And, unknown to him at first, he was welcoming you yourself. Show me the eagerness and generosity of Abraham's hospitality. He did not merely tolerate the visitors, or offer them the minimum; he ran to meet them, bowed low, urged them to stay, and hastened to provide water, rest, and food. His hospitality was quick and eager, generous and abundant; he was glad to welcome and serve them. And in welcoming these strangers, he was, unknown to him, entertaining you. His eager, generous welcome of the stranger was hospitality at its finest. Take that to my heart, for I am called to eager, generous hospitality, welcoming and serving others readily and abundantly. I can offer others mere polite civility, the minimum of welcome, grudging or reluctant hospitality; but Abraham ran to welcome the strangers and served them generously, and in doing so welcomed you. There is a hospitality that is eager and generous. Keep me from offering others mere minimal or grudging welcome; help me be eager and generous in my hospitality, Lord, as Abraham ran to welcome and serve his visitors, entertaining you unawares.