Genesis 18:5
And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
At hot noontide Abraham rests in his tent door under the oaks of Mamre and sees three travelers passing near who make no appeal and ask no favor. He runs to meet them, bows to the ground, begs them to remain, and offers water to wash their feet, rest in cooling shade, and a morsel of bread to comfort their hearts before they pass on, serving with his own hands while Sarah makes ready and standing beside them as they eat. He thinks them only weary strangers who may never come again, but they are heavenly messengers with their glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer and King, on the way to destroy Sodom for its wickedness, entertained unawares. In accepting his hospitality they bring him promises of blessing, and when the entertainment is over the counsels of heaven are opened to him as the friend of God. His welcome stands as the finest example of true courtesy and the duty of hospitality, a small act to unknown travelers that still brings angels in human form into homes today with blessing left behind.
Abraham's Welcome at Mamre
It was hot summer noontide, in the heat of the day, as Abraham rested in his tent door under the oaks of Mamre and saw three travelers passing near who made no appeal and solicited no favor. He offered to fetch a morsel of bread with water, food, rest and refreshment to comfort his guests' hearts before they passed on, and they accepted his offer of human hospitality. Though a man full of years, of dignity and wealth, highly honored and accustomed to command, he served personally and humbly: he ran to meet them, bowed to the ground, begged them to remain, brought water with his own hands to wash the dust of travel from their feet, himself selected their food while Sarah made ready and they rested under cooling shade, and stood respectfully beside them while they ate.
He thought he was only showing courtesy to weary human travelers and passing strangers who might never come his way again, entertaining angels unawares without knowing that one was the Son of God. The visitors were heavenly messengers and angels with their glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer and King, sent on the way to destroy Sodom for its great wickedness. While accepting his hospitality the visitors brought Abraham promises of blessing, and when the entertainment was over the counsels of heaven were opened to him and he was called the friend of God.
Angelic Ministry Through Hospitality
Genesis 18:5 shows God working through holy angels for the succor and deliverance of His people. Celestial beings take an active part in the affairs of men by coming as men in the garb of wayfarers. They appear in human form to men of God, rest as if weary under the oaks at noon, and accept the hospitalities of human homes. The angels who came to Abraham were sent on a mission of mercy to him as ministers to the children of God. Heavenly ministering angels frequently disguise themselves in the form of human beings and take an active part in human life. They visit this world, eat at the humble board of families, and often appear as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night.
What is owed to such angelic care and interposition will not be fully understood until the providences of God are seen in the light of eternity. Then the veil between the visible and the invisible world will be drawn aside and wonderful things will be revealed. The same kind of appearing in the form of human beings and conversing with men as with Abraham has happened since the proclamation of the third angel's message began. When Satan brings accusation and complaint against God's servants, angels are sent down to investigate their course. Sometimes they converse with men without being known as angels, and sometimes they question those in error until they tell all that is in their hearts, and then bear back to heaven a report relating things just as they exist.
The angels of God who communed with Abraham once tarried to share his hospitality. Gideon followed that precedent when he entreated the divine Messenger to remain as his guest. He hastened to prepare a kid and unleavened cakes from his scanty store and set them before Him.
Courtesy and Hospitality Required
Abraham's welcome is the finest example of the power of true courtesy and of what is due from man to fellow man. It shows politeness, courtesy, benevolence, kindness and attentiveness, with freedom from selfishness in courteous, kind and loving conduct toward others. It is the conduct of a true gentleman and a Christian gentleman, wrought by the Lord's moulding and fashioning of mind and heart even without printed instruction. As Bible courtesy it can open hearts to receive the truth and glorify God.
Hospitality is a duty that brings blessing, and the offer of bread and refreshment to unknown travelers and passing strangers is a small act of practical kindness that can bring blessing. That courtesy to strangers was important enough for God to record in His word.
The privilege granted in ministering to angels is not denied now, for even in our day angels in human form enter homes and are entertained. By showing hospitality to God's children, homes may still receive angels into their dwellings. Christians who live in the light of God's countenance are always accompanied by unseen angels, who leave behind a blessing in the home. In its setting in Genesis 18-19 the verse calls for seeking the Lord most earnestly and taking a more decided stand for Him, being not only professed believers in the truth but obedient to all of God's requirements, with heartfelt confession of sin and earnest prayer, and with hearts softened and subdued by the Spirit of God.