Service and Hospitality

Intro:

God visits Abraham

God showed up.

This was apparently unexpected.

Yet Abraham ran to meet them and welcome them.

Abraham offers a morsel of bread, and water to wash their feet.

It turned into a full meal.

Abraham was quick to serve.

He hurried.

He told Sarah to quickly make cakes.

Abraham ran.

The young man hastened to prepare the calf.

Genesis & Exodus Commentary

Why did the Lord approach Abram in this manner? Could not the word have been given from heaven or in a dream? Yes it could, but the manner of this communication was probably meant to underscore that Abraham had a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord through the covenant. In the ancient world, and especially in Israel, to eat together was important for the making of treaties or confirming covenants. Thus, when the Lord was ready to specify the fulfillment of the promise of a son, he came in person and ate a meal in Abraham’s tent. Nothing could have communicated the close relationship of the covenant better than this. Likewise, down through the ages in worship, fellowship with God has been signified by a communal meal, first the Israelites eating the peace offering in the presence of God (cf. Lev 3; 7), and then later the church celebrating Holy Communion at the Lord’s Table.

Justin Martyr in his dialog with Trypho argues that this had to be Jesus and not God the Father. He was using this to confirm the divinity of Jesus. He says: “Therefore neither Abraham nor Isaac nor Jacob, nor any other man, saw the Father and ineffable Lord of All, and also of Christ, but saw Him who was according to His will His Son being God…

John 1:1-3

Colossians 1:15-20

Hebrews 1:1-3

The Word of God became flesh. The Word of God proceeded from God.

The Message is delivered. Gen. 18:9-15

Now a time is given.

It is no longer sometime in the future.

This is too much for Sarah to believe.

She laughs, then denies it.

But she is corrected that she indeed did.

Somewhere she still did believe.

Possibly later, but Hebrews 11:11 says Hebrews 11:11–12 (NKJV)

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

God Let’s Abraham in on the Plan for Sodom Gen. 18:16-33

God showed His relationship with Abraham by coming and eating with him.

Now He is even letting Abraham in on an important plan.

Abraham takes the route of an advocate.

This is another way of expressing compassion and servanthood.

He doesn’t say Oh let them deal with it, they are still there.

Abraham appealed to God’s goodness.

Verse 25. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right”?

Abraham was also Humble.

Verse 27. “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:”

What are the lessons for us in relating to God in prayer?

Boldness, Intercession, Humility in who we are.

Luke 18:1-8

God will judge wickedness. Example of the robber who had in the words of Pablo Yoder “stuck his finger in the apple of God’s eye too many times”

God cares for the righteous few.

Society can even be protected on account of them.

Matt. 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

The early Christians said they were doing more good for the empire than if they were actually fighting for it.

This is a challenge to me. I can’t really say this if I am not really doing something for the betterment of society, but only taking the good life for myself.

Example of the Bishop who saved many Jews by directly refusing to obey the Nazis.

Lot also serves

Gen. 19:1-3

He invites guests into his home.

Heb. 13:1,2 Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Matt. 25:31-40 A stranger and you took me in.

Gal. 6:9,10. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Abraham and Lot examples of service and Hospitality.

Abraham ran and quickly prepared a meal for his guests.

Abraham and Lot did not see themselves as too important for menial or lowly tasks.

Even though Abraham knew of all God’s promises about making a great nation etc.

Rather they served and blessed others.

There is something about opening our homes and sharing even that with people.

I Tim. 5:9-10

This was a requirement for widows to be accepted into some of the duties of ministering in the church.

This is a blessing that is hard to overstate.

Often we feel foolish or maybe people don’t really want to come but are because they feel they have to, but it normally forms bonds that are hard to otherwise.

Hospitality is not easy.

It incurs cost.

Lack of privacy.

Making conversation with people.

It does not always come at convenient times.

We never outgrow being a servant in the Christian faith.

Romans 12:13 NKJV

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

1 Timothy 3:2–3 NKJV

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

1 Peter 4:9 NKJV

9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Luke 14:12–14 NKJV

12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

As with any type of service there is cost and inconvenience.

But there is often unexpected blessings in return.