Daily Devotions – Was Abraham’s service voluntary or culturally expected? Does it matter?

Daily Devotions – Was Abraham’s service voluntary or culturally expected? Does it matter?

Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Genesis 18:1-16 (NIV)
The Three Visitors
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. 9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” 16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.

 

Choose one or two key verses from the Scripture reading today and do at least one of the following for your chosen verse(s).
A –  Ask questions of the text (Who, what, why, where, when)
E  – Emphasize certain words as you read the text over & over
I  –  In your own words (paraphrase one or more verses)
O  – Other verses in the Bible that say the same or opposite
U  – Use it; apply the truth from the text in your life

 

Lord, help me to treat others with kindness and to show hospitality. You have blessed me abundantly. Help me to recognize ways to share what You have You have so graciously provided me; my time, abilities, as well as my material and financial means to bless others. Sometimes, the world does not look kindly on those who care for others these days and I may look foolish to the world to do so. Help me to not care about what the culture does, but to care about what needs You help me to see around me and to follow Your Word in loving my neighbor. Thank you for loving me and continue to teach me to serve in Your name. Amen.