Devotional Hours with the Bible, Volume 1: Chapter 9 - Abraham's Intercession for Sodom
By J.R. Miller
Genesis 18
Three travelers came one day to Abraham's tent door. They were strangers--he did not know them. Yet he treated them with warm-hearted hospitality. That was the custom of the East. Kindness was always shown to the stranger. No man's tent was his own alone--it was his and God's, and its shelter and comfort must be shared with any other who were passing through.
Abraham rose eagerly when he saw the three men approaching, ran to meet them, bowed himself to the earth before them, and welcomed them into his tent, showed them the most gracious hospitality, and provided for them an abundant meal. At length Abraham learns that one of the men whom he had thus entertained was God Himself, and that the other two were angels from heaven. But at the time he had no thought that they were other than ordinary men. In the Epistle to the Hebrews this beautiful incident is used to teach the duty of entertaining strangers, reminding us that in doing so--some have entertained angels unawares.
It is not likely that we shall have such visitors as Abraham had, that heavenly angels shall come to our doors unawares in the guise of book agents, peddlers, or strangers of any kind. Yet the lesson remains, teaching the duty that we should so treat all who come to our door as friends, neighbors or strangers, in whatever garb they come, that if it should turn out that they are angels--we shall not be ashamed to remember how we received them and treated them.
William Bryant said that his rule was to treat every person who came to him in any way--as if he were an angel in disguise. It may not always be easy to do this--but this would seem to be the Christian rule.
Jesus taught the lesson very clearly in His description of the Last Judgment, when He said that those who will be welcomed to the King's right hand will hear the words: "I was a stranger--and you took Me in;" while those on the King's left will hear, "I was a stranger--and you did not take Me in." If we knew that the stranger at our door needing welcome, love, shelter, and kindness were Christ Himself--how would we treat Him? Yet He says, "Inasmuch as you receive one of the least of these My brethren--you receive Me."
Times have changed since Abraham's day, and we are not expected to entertain everyone who comes along--as this good old patriarch entertained these men. Yet there is a courtesy which we may show to all who cross our path, a kindly spirit and manner which will at least not give pain, and may give pleasure and help. We should not treat even a beggar or a tramp--in a way the remembrance of which will condemn us should we learn that he is really an angel in disguise.
"Then the LORD said--I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." These strangers brought to Abraham a promise that in a short time, a son should be born to him. Thus the patriarch's faith received another assurance to strengthen it. The time of waiting was now almost at an end. The messengers then rose up to depart, and Abraham accompanied them on the way.
