Genesis 18:8
And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Abraham himself had butter and milk and a dressed calf made ready and set before three unknown travelers resting under the trees at noon, standing respectfully nearby in the shade while they ate as passing human strangers who might never come his way again. Those guests in the garb and disguise of wayfarers were heavenly angels and their glorious Commander, the Son of God as Creator, Redeemer and Covenant Angel, come to commune with him. They talked with him as men talk together and ate the food set before them, sent on a mission of mercy with promises of blessing and succor in the great conflict between good and evil. His habitual courtesy, kindness and hospitality to strangers remains the finest example of true courtesy and unselfish care, showing what is due from one person to another and what it means to be a true Christian gentleman. The privilege granted to Abraham is not denied now, for by showing hospitality to God's children people may still receive His angels unawares into their dwellings and leave a blessing behind in the home. The record that the meal included meat is the teaching of those who held it to be read carefully in all its bearings, showing that meat eating should not yet be made a test question lest pressing it cause some to stumble.
Hospitality Under the Tree
Abraham himself chose the food for the three unknown travelers, Sarah made it ready, and he set butter and milk and the dressed calf before them under the tree in the cooling shade. He stood respectfully beside them while they ate, personally seeing to their needs with practical care and courteous hospitality. He served them simply as passing human wayfarers and strangers who might never come his way again, treating them courteously as men and not knowing their true character.
The visitors rested as if weary under the oaks at noon, accepting hospitality in an ordinary earthly setting. Their coming in the garb of wayfarers and resting under the shade shows that heaven may be near in everyday life. It shows that angels attend people in common occupations and take an active part in human affairs.
The record in Genesis 18:6-8 that Abraham prepared and set food including meat before his guests must be read carefully and given fair representation in all its bearings on the subject of meat eating. Meat eating should not yet be made a test question for the people, because they are not fully ready for that issue. Pressing it in a positive way would cause some to stumble.
Heavenly Visitors on Mercy
Abraham entertained his visitors unawares as men, yet they were heavenly angels and their glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer, and King. One of them was the Son of God, even the Covenant Angel who in time past had wrought for Israel, come with angels of God to commune with Abraham. When the entertainment was over the counsels of heaven were opened to him and he was called the friend of God. That tarrying to share his hospitality when entreated to remain as guest gave the pattern for Gideon entreating the divine Messenger to remain as his guest.
They came in human form in the garb and disguise of wayfarers. They talked with Abraham as men talk together and ate the food set before them.
They were sent on a mission of mercy to Abraham with promises of blessing. Their visit was one instance of how holy angels in all ages have ministered to God's children for their succor and deliverance. In this way celestial beings take an active part in the affairs of men in the great conflict that began before time and ends only when time shall cease. Their care and interposition will be fully understood only when providences are seen in the light of eternity, when the veil between the visible and the invisible world is drawn aside and wonderful things are revealed.
The same still happens since the proclamation of the third angel's message began, for when Satan brings complaints against God's servants angels are sent down to investigate their course. They talk with people without being known as angels, questioning those in error until they tell all that is in their hearts, then bearing back to heaven a report relating things just as they exist. As ministering spirits who visit this world and take an active part in human life, they speak in assemblies, open up human histories, do works impossible for human agencies, lead as generals of armies, and are sent to cleanse away pestilence. They eat food at the humble tables of families as real guests, and often appear as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night.
Courtesy and Hospitality Today
Abraham's habitual politeness, courtesy, kindness, love, and hospitality to strangers was part of his religion, and in welcoming three travelers he personally saw to their needs, setting food before them and standing nearby while they ate. That courteous welcome and entertainment of messengers of God remains the finest example of the power of true courtesy and unselfish care for others. It shows what is due from one person to another, what it means to be a true and Christian gentleman, and what it means to be a representative man.
Lot learned those lessons from Abraham's example and showed the same kindly attention by inviting the two strangers at Sodom to his home without knowing their true character as mighty heralds of divine judgment. Faithfulness in that small duty opened the door to life's richest blessings, for without a cultivated spirit of courtesy he might have been left to perish with Sodom. Little unpretending acts of daily self-denial for others test character, and closing the door against a stranger can shut out God's messenger who would have brought blessing and hope and peace.
God thought Abraham's kind act of courtesy to passing strangers, done in kindness as he set food before unknown travelers under a tree and stood by while they ate, important enough to record in His word. More than a thousand years later it was pointed to as entertaining angels unawares. The privilege granted to Abraham is not denied now, for by showing hospitality to God's children people may still receive His angels into their dwellings. Even now angels in human form enter the homes of men and are entertained by them, and where Christians living in the light of God's countenance are accompanied by unseen angels those holy beings leave a blessing behind in the home.
The verse calls hearers to seek the Lord most earnestly and to take a more decided stand to be obedient to all of God's requirements and not only professionally believers in the truth. It calls for bringing confession, softened and subdued hearts, and earnest prayer.