Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
On a hot summer noon under the oaks of Mamre, Abraham offered three passing wayfarers who asked for nothing a little water to wash the dust of travel from their feet and rest in the cooling shade while food was made ready. They came in the garb of weary travelers, talking and resting as men and eating at his humble board, yet they were holy angels with their glorious Commander, the Son of God, the Covenant Angel and Creator and Redeemer. Abraham did not know who they were but thought only to help tired strangers who might never pass again, and with his own hands he brought the water and stood respectfully beside them while they ate. His prompt, thoughtful kindness is the finest example of true courtesy and Christian benevolence, showing what is due from man to fellow man and opening hearts to receive the truth. God counted the simple act important enough to record in His word, for in ministering to unknown guests Abraham ministered to heaven, entertained angels unawares, was admitted to the counsels of heaven, and was called the friend of God.
Setting and Heavenly Visitors
At hot summer noontide under the oaks of Mamre three travelers were passing the tent door who asked for nothing, and they were offered a little water to wash the feet and rest under the tree with refreshments. This hospitality was given shortly before the destruction of Sodom for its great wickedness, when heavenly messengers were sent on their mission.
The guests were heavenly messengers and angels, and among them was more than angels, even their glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer, and King. One of the strangers was the Son of God, though this was not known at the time of the welcome. Those visitors included the Covenant Angel who wrought for Israel in time past.
They came as men in the garb of wayfarers, appearing in human form to men of God. They talked with him as men, rested as if weary under the oaks at noon, and accepted the hospitality of a human home. Disguised as weary travelers in need of shelter, ministering angels in this manner eat at the humble board of families.
Abraham thought he was only helping weary travelers, entertaining angels while supposing it a simple kindness to tired men. He did not know that one of his guests was the Son of God. Gideon's later asking the divine Messenger to remain as his guest follows Abraham's example of offering hospitality and tarrying to share it, and seeks proof that his visitor is that same Covenant Angel.
Angelic Ministry to People
The verse shows God working through holy angels for the succor and deliverance of His people as part of His providential care and interposition. In all ages angels have been sent on missions of mercy to God's people, coming to Abraham as to a child of God with promises of blessing. They appeared in human form to men of God as wayfarers in the garb of travelers, resting as if weary under the oaks at noon and accepting the hospitality of a human home with water for the feet and rest under the tree.
Heaven can be near in the common walks of life, for heavenly messengers meet people in ordinary earthly settings. Mighty celestial beings take an active part in the affairs of men and even in the work men call their own, coming disguised as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night and eating at the humble board of families. What is owed to such angelic care will not be fully understood until it is seen in the light of eternity.
The same unrecognized visitation still happens since the third angel's message began. When complaints are brought against God's servants, angels are sent down to investigate their course, coming in the form of human beings and talking with people as men without being recognized. They question those in error until they tell all that is in their hearts, then bear back to heaven a report relating things just as they exist.
Entertaining angels unawares is not denied now, for Abraham's courtesy to unknown passing strangers ministered to heavenly angels and God counted the act important enough to record. By showing hospitality to God's children believers may still receive God's angels into their dwellings, even angels in human form. The presence of unseen angels who accompany Christians leaves a blessing in the home.
Model of Hospitality
With his own hands he brought water to wash the dust of travel from their feet and gave them rest under the cooling shade while food he himself had selected was made ready, and then he stood respectfully beside them while they ate. The refreshment was offered simply to passing wayfarers who asked for nothing and who might never come again.
His prompt and thoughtful provision for human need was politeness and courtesy, benevolence and kindness, love and attentiveness of heart under the Lord's molding. It is the finest example of the power of true courtesy and of a Christian gentleman, showing what is due from man to fellow man. He did not know the identity of his guests in showing them this courtesy to fellow human beings.
God counted the act important enough to record in His word. Done for unknown passing strangers, this service ministered to heaven itself. It opened the counsels of heaven to him and led to his being called the friend of God.
The hospitality and courtesy he showed were learned by Lot and made part of his religious life. Welcoming strangers in this way can mean welcoming God's messengers and the blessing and hope and peace they bring. Such Bible courtesy can open hearts to receive the truth and bring glory to God.
On a hot summer noon under the oaks of Mamre, Abraham offered three passing wayfarers who asked for nothing a little water to wash the dust of travel from their feet and rest in the cooling shade while food was made ready. They came in the garb of weary travelers, talking and resting as men and eating at his humble board, yet they were holy angels with their glorious Commander, the Son of God, the Covenant Angel and Creator and Redeemer. Abraham did not know who they were but thought only to help tired strangers who might never pass again, and with his own hands he brought the water and stood respectfully beside them while they ate. His prompt, thoughtful kindness is the finest example of true courtesy and Christian benevolence, showing what is due from man to fellow man and opening hearts to receive the truth. God counted the simple act important enough to record in His word, for in ministering to unknown guests Abraham ministered to heaven, entertained angels unawares, was admitted to the counsels of heaven, and was called the friend of God.
Setting and Heavenly Visitors
At hot summer noontide under the oaks of Mamre three travelers were passing the tent door who asked for nothing, and they were offered a little water to wash the feet and rest under the tree with refreshments. This hospitality was given shortly before the destruction of Sodom for its great wickedness, when heavenly messengers were sent on their mission.
The guests were heavenly messengers and angels, and among them was more than angels, even their glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer, and King. One of the strangers was the Son of God, though this was not known at the time of the welcome. Those visitors included the Covenant Angel who wrought for Israel in time past.
They came as men in the garb of wayfarers, appearing in human form to men of God. They talked with him as men, rested as if weary under the oaks at noon, and accepted the hospitality of a human home. Disguised as weary travelers in need of shelter, ministering angels in this manner eat at the humble board of families.
Abraham thought he was only helping weary travelers, entertaining angels while supposing it a simple kindness to tired men. He did not know that one of his guests was the Son of God. Gideon's later asking the divine Messenger to remain as his guest follows Abraham's example of offering hospitality and tarrying to share it, and seeks proof that his visitor is that same Covenant Angel.
Angelic Ministry to People
The verse shows God working through holy angels for the succor and deliverance of His people as part of His providential care and interposition. In all ages angels have been sent on missions of mercy to God's people, coming to Abraham as to a child of God with promises of blessing. They appeared in human form to men of God as wayfarers in the garb of travelers, resting as if weary under the oaks at noon and accepting the hospitality of a human home with water for the feet and rest under the tree.
Heaven can be near in the common walks of life, for heavenly messengers meet people in ordinary earthly settings. Mighty celestial beings take an active part in the affairs of men and even in the work men call their own, coming disguised as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night and eating at the humble board of families. What is owed to such angelic care will not be fully understood until it is seen in the light of eternity.
The same unrecognized visitation still happens since the third angel's message began. When complaints are brought against God's servants, angels are sent down to investigate their course, coming in the form of human beings and talking with people as men without being recognized. They question those in error until they tell all that is in their hearts, then bear back to heaven a report relating things just as they exist.
Entertaining angels unawares is not denied now, for Abraham's courtesy to unknown passing strangers ministered to heavenly angels and God counted the act important enough to record. By showing hospitality to God's children believers may still receive God's angels into their dwellings, even angels in human form. The presence of unseen angels who accompany Christians leaves a blessing in the home.
Model of Hospitality
With his own hands he brought water to wash the dust of travel from their feet and gave them rest under the cooling shade while food he himself had selected was made ready, and then he stood respectfully beside them while they ate. The refreshment was offered simply to passing wayfarers who asked for nothing and who might never come again.
His prompt and thoughtful provision for human need was politeness and courtesy, benevolence and kindness, love and attentiveness of heart under the Lord's molding. It is the finest example of the power of true courtesy and of a Christian gentleman, showing what is due from man to fellow man. He did not know the identity of his guests in showing them this courtesy to fellow human beings.
God counted the act important enough to record in His word. Done for unknown passing strangers, this service ministered to heaven itself. It opened the counsels of heaven to him and led to his being called the friend of God.
The hospitality and courtesy he showed were learned by Lot and made part of his religious life. Welcoming strangers in this way can mean welcoming God's messengers and the blessing and hope and peace they bring. Such Bible courtesy can open hearts to receive the truth and bring glory to God.