Allow me to share a personal experience: We arrived at our destination in the far northwestern part of Zambia at 2 am after a grueling trip over some of the worst gravel roads, a ferry over a river, and more bad roads. What awaited us at that hour? A group of about 20 people, singing and dancing with expectation, and a fully cooked meal. After a few hours of rest, breakfast was served by the same ladies. And in this way, they cared for us three times a day for three days – always with excitement to serve us. 

The kindness and hospitality we have always experienced in Africa still amazes me. A number of times I could not help but wonder what the family would eat for the next month since I feel they have exhausted their food supply to feed us.

If I think about the examples of hospitality we read about in Scripture, I am always amazed at the abundance of food that is prepared for one person. 

In our culture, if it takes too long to serve a meal, we will probably move on. 

In Judges 6:19 we read how Gideon treats his angelic guest: “So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah (about 20 pounds) of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them.” Not only did it take a long time to prepare all that food, but it was also a lot of food and the guests waited patiently. We know that in this case, it became a sacrifice, miraculously ignited by a fire from the rock as confirmation that it was God Himself who was sending Gideon to bring freedom for Israel. 

Similarly, in Genesis 18 Abram had a calf and bread from about 12 pounds of flour prepared and he took it to the three men sent to him, together with yogurt and milk. In this case, we know they ate it while Abraham waited in the shade of the trees, near his tent 

In our culture, if it takes too long to serve a meal, we will probably move on. 

Two aspects of hospitality in Scripture are the food itself and the time spent together in fellowship. In those cultures, you must “break bread together” before any business can take place or even a message brought, whether casual or Spiritual. They often tell us: “You Westerners have watches, we have time.” 

The writer to the Hebrews exhorts them in the 13th chapter to really care for one another: “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.” 

This is an interesting progression of generosity shown: love others, being hospitable, caring for those in prison, caring for the mistreated “neighbor”.

All of this is rooted in the knowledge of us being loved by the Lord. If I doubt that I am loved, how could I show any care or love to another? With all the focus on myself and my circumstances and my own needs, I might not even take notice of another, let alone experience the privilege of lending a helping, caring hand. 

Prayer: Lord, may I know the privilege to show love, generous hospitality, and loving care to others and in this way honor You.