Genesis 18:6-10: a reflection

6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” 7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. 8He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate. 9They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.” 10He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

When three visitors come to Abraham, he welcomes them with eager, generous hospitality, hurrying to prepare a rich meal and serve them, not knowing that in welcoming these strangers he was welcoming more than he knew. Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, the account says, and said, quickly prepare cakes; and he ran to the herd, and fetched a tender calf, and hurried to prepare it, and set it before them, and stood by them while they ate. Abraham did not receive his visitors grudgingly or with the bare minimum; he welcomed them eagerly and generously, hurrying, running, preparing a rich meal, giving his best, and personally serving them. And in this welcome, unknown to him at first, came a visit from the Lord himself and the promise of a son. This shows welcoming and serving others with eager, generous hospitality. Welcome and serve others eagerly and generously, as Abraham did his visitors. Give your best in hospitality, not the bare minimum. In welcoming strangers, we may welcome more than we know. Eager, generous hospitality honors both the guest and God.

Notice the eagerness and generosity of Abraham's hospitality. When the three visitors came, Abraham did not receive them coolly, grudgingly, or with the least he could offer. He sprang into action: he hurried into the tent to have cakes prepared, ran to the herd to fetch a good calf, hurried to have it dressed, set a generous meal before them, and stood by to serve them personally while they ate. His hospitality was eager, generous, and gave his best, extended warmly to those who came to him. And, as the account reveals, these were no ordinary visitors: in welcoming them, Abraham was welcoming the Lord himself, and received the promise of the son long awaited. This holds a lesson and an encouragement about hospitality. We are called to welcome and serve others, guests, strangers, those who come to us, not grudgingly or with the bare minimum, but eagerly and generously, giving our best, as Abraham did. Such hospitality honors those we welcome, and honors God. And there is a further truth: in welcoming others, we may be welcoming more than we know. Scripture reminds us that in showing hospitality, some have entertained more than they realized; and in serving others, we serve God. Eager, generous hospitality, then, is not a small thing, but a way of honoring both our guests and God, and of welcoming, sometimes, more than we know. We do well to welcome and serve others with eager, generous hospitality, giving our best, as Abraham did. Welcome and serve others eagerly and generously, giving your best. Do not offer hospitality grudgingly or with the bare minimum. In welcoming others, you may welcome more than you know. Eager hospitality honors your guests and honors God.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are to welcome and serve others with eager, generous hospitality, as Abraham welcomed his visitors and received more than he knew. We can offer hospitality grudgingly or minimally; but Abraham hurried, ran, and gave his best to welcome his visitors, and welcomed the Lord himself. Welcome generously. Do not offer others a grudging or minimal welcome; welcome and serve them eagerly and generously, giving your best, for in welcoming others you may welcome more than you know. Welcome and serve others with eager, generous hospitality, giving your best rather than the bare minimum, for in welcoming others you may welcome more than you know, as when three visitors came to Abraham he welcomed them with eager, generous hospitality, hurrying to prepare a rich meal and serve them, not knowing that in welcoming these strangers he was welcoming more than he knew, since he hurried into the tent to have cakes prepared, ran to the herd for a tender calf, hurried to prepare it, set it before them, and stood by while they ate; for Abraham did not receive his visitors grudgingly or with the bare minimum but welcomed them eagerly and generously, hurrying, running, giving his best, and personally serving them, and in this welcome, unknown to him at first, came a visit from the Lord himself and the promise of a son, which holds a lesson and encouragement about hospitality, that we are called to welcome and serve others not grudgingly or with the bare minimum but eagerly and generously and giving our best as Abraham did, such hospitality honoring those we welcome and honoring God, and there being a further truth that in welcoming others we may be welcoming more than we know, since Scripture reminds us that in showing hospitality some have entertained more than they realized and in serving others we serve God, so that eager, generous hospitality is not a small thing but a way of honoring both our guests and God, and we do well to welcome and serve others with it.

Lord, when three visitors come to Abraham, he welcomes them with eager, generous hospitality, hurrying to prepare a rich meal and serve them, not knowing that in welcoming these strangers he was welcoming more than he knew. Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, the account says, and said, quickly prepare cakes; and he ran to the herd, and fetched a tender calf, and hurried to prepare it, and set it before them, and stood by them while they ate. Abraham did not receive his visitors grudgingly or with the bare minimum; he welcomed them eagerly and generously, hurrying, running, preparing a rich meal, giving his best, and personally serving them. And in this welcome, unknown to him at first, came a visit from you yourself and the promise of a son. Show me the eagerness and generosity of Abraham's hospitality. When the three visitors came, Abraham did not receive them coolly, grudgingly, or with the least he could offer. He sprang into action: he hurried to have cakes prepared, ran to fetch a good calf, set a generous meal before them, and stood by to serve them personally. His hospitality was eager, generous, and gave his best. And, as the account reveals, these were no ordinary visitors: in welcoming them, Abraham was welcoming you, and received the promise of the son long awaited. This holds a lesson and an encouragement about hospitality. I am called to welcome and serve others, guests, strangers, those who come to me, not grudgingly or with the bare minimum, but eagerly and generously, giving my best, as Abraham did. Such hospitality honors those I welcome, and honors you. And there is a further truth: in welcoming others, I may be welcoming more than I know, for in serving others I serve you. Take that to my heart. Keep me from offering others a grudging or minimal welcome; help me welcome and serve them eagerly and generously, Lord, giving my best, honoring my guests and honoring you, and remembering that in welcoming others I may welcome more than I know.