In Genesis
14, there is an interesting story about first impressions and acceptance. It involves Abram (Abraham), the emerging
father of the nation of Israel, and Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a
“priest of God Most High.”
As Abraham returned victorious from a battle, Melchizedek
brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham.
In response to this show of hospitality, Abraham gave him a tenth of the
spoils of the victory.
The story’s impact comes not only from the act of hospitality
on the part of Melchizedek, but the response of Abraham. The king of Salem was “the other.” He was neither part of Abraham’s family nor
one of his friends. He was, however, a
holy man and a”priest of God Most High.”
He welcomed Abraham, cared for him, and blessed him. Abraham responded with openness and
gratitude. Subsequently, this type of
hospitality was expected among the Hebrew people. In the Old Testament, they are repeatedly
directed to show hospitality for “the stranger within their gates.”
We often talk in the church about giving hospitality, but we
might consider how we receive hospitality. Sometimes in our self-sufficiency
and our pride, we fail to understand the blessing of the other, the stranger of
the one who is unlike us. The stranger
often comes bringing gifts that are both unexpected and needed.
In my personal life, I am thankful for those strangers who
have helped me from time to time.
Several years ago, my car slid off a snow-covered road and a “good
Samaritan” showed up with a pickup and a chain to help get it back on the road. Two years ago, I was biking with my grandson
at a park and ended up flat on my back after colliding with a tree (a small one,
thankfully). A couple came by on the
trail and stayed with us until a security man was summoned to take me out on a
golf cart! In both cases, these strangers
provided support in a time of need.
I am also grateful for those “strangers” and “outsiders” who
have given me new insights about my life and ministry. They have provided a perspective that I often
lacked. Brian McLaren has commented in A New Kind of Christianity, “And it’s the seekers who are welcome into a
faith community that often transform that community, just as a new infant or
adopted child can transform a family.” Fareed
Zakaria pointed out on CNN Sunday that very often it is the immigrant who
provides insights that change an organization or an industry. The outsider often sees things we cannot or
offers the key piece to complete the puzzle.
Accepting
these gifts requires a certain amount of humility on our part. If we lower our defenses, we can receive the
blessings that God will provide for us though the outsider and the stranger,
even as Abraham did.
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