Strangers at the Door

When people knock at our door we tend to be a little skeptical.  They may be there to sell us new windows or solar panels or offer us a free quote on a new roof.  Other visitors at the door may be representing a cult or collecting money for some cause.  I have to admit that I am not very welcoming to strangers at my door.

In the Old Testament Abraham lived in a hospitality culture.  It was natural to welcome visitors into your home and treat them well.  One day 3 strangers came to Abraham’s tent.  He welcomed them, had their feet washed, and let them rest a while.  He then hurried to prepare them a hearty meal.  Abraham had no idea at the time who these 3 strangers were.  It turned out that one of them was the LORD, and the other two were angels.  The messengers were there to tell Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son by this time next year.  Sarah couldn’t believe the news and laughed within herself.  After all she was 89 years old.  The Lord said: “Is anything too hard for the Lord” (Gen. 16:14).

Abraham’s strangers at the door can teach us some valuable lessons.  First, we learn that God desires to fellowship with His people.  Jesus told Zaccaeus that he was coming to his house for supper.  He also had a meal with the two Emmaus disciples after His resurrection.  God desires for us to be hospitable to others.  Hebrews 11:2 says: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels”.  Hospitality to others is a biblical responsibility for God’s people.  Hebrews mentions that we may never know like Abraham when we will be ministering to angels.  Another stranger lesson the passage teaches us is that God can do anything.  Nothing is impossible with Him.  If He can cause an 89-year-old barren woman to have a child, He can also do amazing and miraculous things in our life.

The next time a stranger shows up at your door be careful.  We may be entertaining angels unaware.