Human Response 46: Hospitality to the Lord

Genesis 19:2-3 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you. into your servant’s house, and tarry all night and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

Two angels came to Sodom to see how great was the cry coming up from Sodom and Gomorrah, and to see how grievous was their sin. (They found out.) When Lot saw them he greeted them and bowed before them. The narrative does not tell us whether Lot knew they were angels or whether he was just extending customary Mideast hospitality. Hebrews 13:2: ”Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Either way, the only believing man in Sodom extended a warm welcome and showed generous hospitality to the strangers, who happened to be angels. Lot invited them to come in to his house and spend the night. He insisted, for he knew the sinful dangers of sleeping in the street. He baked bread and prepared a feast for them. As It turned out, Lot was right, and the cry was true: the Sodomites showed themselves to be as evil as the ”cry” purported them to be.

Lot responded to a visitation of the Lord by inviting and welcoming the strangers into his life. ”Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it to me.” The Lord may appear to us in the guise of a needy human.We respond with kindness. For the Lord has come to us in the word of the Gospel of Grace. We show hospitality to Him by believing the gospel. We invite Him into our life by faith and welcome Him every day. He responds to our hospitality by protecting and saving us, as the angels did for Lot.