Reason For Hospitality

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

REASON FOR HOSPITALITY

Gen 24:28-41

28 The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31 "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." 32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," [Laban] said. 34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.' 39 "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?' 40 "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you — you will be released from my oath.'

NIV

There is more to this narrative, but we cannot take it all for it is too much to handle in one devotion. However, there is something here that gives us pause to consider. When Rebekah ran home and told her mother’s household about what happened at the well, with this stranger it is interesting it was the mother’s household instead of her father’s household. Why would the author make that distinction? Perhaps this is how those families considered the households. The man was the warrior, hunter, and gatherer, and the wife ran the household, taking care of all matters around the home. However, it is Laban, Rabekah’s brother who offered hospitality to the servant of Abraham, but it was only after he saw the expensive gifts given to his sister. So far only Laban the brother is involved in offering this hospitality and we will not meet the father until the offer is considered. This is the same Laban we will meet later who deceived Jacob regarding his two daughters Leah and Rachel. We see him being impressed by the fine gifts given to his sister, and perhaps this was his motivation to offer hospitality to the servant, his men, and the camels. Maybe he thought more gifts were coming to his father’s household which he would inherit. At first, it appeared Laban was an upright man, offering such hospitality, and as only the brother or son, without his father’s approval, or at least we are not told Bethuel was the one offering the hospitality. We know later that Laban is not a righteous man in his dealings with Jacob, so we would think he is not that righteous in his dealings with the servant of Abraham, but only interested in the possible wealth he might get. It makes us wonder how we, the church, as well as personally judge who we might befriend, or invite into our midst. Are we over-eager to invite those who appear to have wealth, but are not so eager about having the poorer ones enter our arena, our church, or our homes. Would we rather spend the time, being more hospitable to those who could improve our standing or our church, than those who would require our assistance? Do we forget that we are told it is more blessed to give and receive because we like to receive more than we like giving? Just a thought and maybe a supposition regarding Laban. Nevertheless, let us consider how, whom and the reason we offer hospitality.