The Promise

 

In modern times, we would not invite strangers strolling through our neighborhood over for a meal.  In some ways, hospitality is a lost art in most cultures.  Obviously the earth was not as populated three thousand years ago and people enjoyed every opportunity to converse with strangers from a different place.  In our current world of social media and high speed technology we can converse in a variety of ways.            

Stranger or Angels

            Camping in tents with family can be an adventurous experience!  In this era, tents were the main place of habitation. Like any other day, Abraham was enjoying as he rested near the entrance of his tent, as three strangers waltz past.  Abraham leaped up to greet the men an invited them to stay for a meal.  A custom during these times was to offer dining for travelers and lodging when needed. 

            Abraham convinced these men to postpone their journey to feast at Abraham’s home.  They cleaned the feet of the men as the roads were rather dusty.  Abraham in his excitement begins running through his manor instructing his servants to get flour to make bread for their guests.  Abraham then selects from his herd the finest calf for his servant to prepare. It’s nothing like giving guests our best!  In order to prepare that meal it would take a few hours, cleaning and cooking the calf, as well as baking the bread.  Entertaining these guests and welcoming them was a privilege during these times. Abraham had no idea what was next or did he?

            These strangers were not ordinary strangers.  As Abraham brought the curds and milk, the man said, were is Sarah?  Now, this would be eerie and alarming if a perfect stranger suddenly stated a loved one we had not introduced to them.  Abraham calmly and unsuspecting replied, in the tent. Let’s place a pen there….

Ishmael

Around, twenty-five years beforehand, when Abraham left Ur, he was given a promise that his seed would be as numerous as the sands on the beach.  Abram left his family with Lot and everything he knew to follow a promise given to him.  They journeyed through the land known to us as Mesopotamia encountering various cultures.  There were times on this journey Abraham was quite unsure like most of us.  Have you ever wondered did you really hear God?  Abram introducing Sarai as his half-sister, at times, and going the opposite direction he was originally led.  In those instances, he would find himself and his family in precarious situations.  Sometimes as people, we can feel like a nomad wandering not only through the desert but life. 

Again, did we really hear God?  The promise didn’t seem so apparent twelve years later so Sarai had a brilliant idea, so she thought.  We get not so brilliant ideas when we become impatient don’t we?  Sarai was barren and told Abram that Hagar, her handmaiden could be a surrogate in her place.  Yeah that sure sounds like an AWEsome plan, more like AWEful!  So Hagar has a child, named Ishmael, but Abram learns Ishmael is not the child of promise.  Wow, when we labor without God it is truly in vain.  It’s like God promises us a business, but we start the wrong business.  Then we realize all the labor, finances, time was invested wrong.  That’s Ishmael.  So let’s pick the pen up…

Hope

Twenty-five years after Abram’s excursion from Ur, these strangers dining at his home remind him of the promise.  Have you ever given up on a dream, desire, or hope after decades of expectation?  The hospitality of Abraham welcomed these special Guests, One being The Lord Himself, and said you will have a child this time next year.  When God reminds you, you will see the promise this time next year. Wow!  Yes Sarah laughed, but we all would in disbelief if it had been twenty-five years and we were in our nineties.  Scientifically, she was past the child-bearing age. 

Souls Matter

What happens when Love enters the room?  Love, God, begins to supply everything that is absent according to His promises.  There is no sickness, poverty, hunger, thirst, there is no lack.  Love never fails, is never empty, but overwhelming and overflowing.  Love not only overwhelmed Abram at Mamre, but overflowed to his nephew, Lot, in Sodom and Gommorah.  We will finish this story another time, but we see what happens when God enters the room. 

The love of God is overwhelming, everlasting, and continuously flows like the water system from our rivers to the oceans.  God cares for His creation especially those He sent His Son to die for, all.  Jesus gave His life for people, not parrots, possums, or plums but those with a soul.  Our seeds of kindness to friends or strangers can conquer deficient situations in our lives and will produce a harvest of blessings.  As the strangers revealed they were Angels the conversation continued revealing the purpose of their journey.  Who knows our kindness to strangers may prevent harm to our loved ones?

    Abraham’s obedience released blessings beyond his household.  God is always strategically gathering souls to His kingdom, His family.  His love is so grandiose, vast, and endless to restore ALL, we discovery that there is no situation that is not Drippin’ with Love! So Download the GOD APP!

This is an excerpt from the book the God App.

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