Men in the Bible: An Earnest and Extraordinary Host
Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. – Genesis 18:1-8
From the passage above, Abraham demonstrated to us through his earnestness how to be an extraordinary host. He was such a good example of hospitality.
When Abraham sighted God and the angels with Him afar off, he wasted no time in running to them to worship and invite them to come and be entertained in his tent. He was so persuasive that his potential guests had little resistance to accepting his invitation. So they obliged him.
See what followed next:
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
If this is not extraordinary hospitality, then nothing is. Recall Abraham was a 99-year-old man at this time. Although his guests were ageless and we cannot compare their ages in relation to Abraham, the fact that at age 99, he put on this earnest show of hospitality was impressive. He hurried, rallied his wife, ran, prepared a meal, served, and waited upon his guests all in one fell swoop. And he was a 99-year-old man doing all of these because He had VIPs visiting his abode.
With this, Abraham provided us with a template for being an extraordinary host. He did not settle for less. He did not just bark orders at his wife and servants to prepare the food. He was with them in the preparation, skedaddling and at his mobilization best. His own earnestness must have convinced members of his household that these were no ordinary guests. Also, he must have shown them by his own earnestness the importance of his guests and how those of his household must also comport themselves in attending to their needs.
God Himself was so impressed with Abraham’s attitude that He decided to answer his long-drawn prayer for a child there and then. Surely, we can learn from him.
Selah!
Also read:
- Men in the Bible: A Man of Considerable Goodwill
- The Myth of Omnipresence (1): The 5 Places God Always Is
- Overwhelmed
- The Centre of the Bible
- God Saved Me From What Would Have Been a Fatal Accident
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