“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.â€
Hebrews 13:1-2/NIV
I believe there are times in life when humanity will meet angels and not know it. Strangers on the street, check-out lines at grocery stores, ballparks, the list goes on and on. In my younger days I could see how these encounters could be ignored, missed and not understood. The focal verse reminds us to demonstrate love and hospitality to humanity, to include strangers. In doing so we may be unaware of kindness potentially extended to angels! I don’t believe angels need humanity’s assistance, but when digging further in the Bible, I can see when they did.
“The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,†he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.†Genesis 19:1-2/NIV
Genesis 19 reflects a righteous man named “Lot†who lived in a town with very perverse and immoral groups of people. God sent two angels to rescue Lot and when he encountered the angels at the city gate, he knew they were in danger and invited them to his home for safety, food and refuge (v. 3). The wicked towns people surrounded Lot’s home and demanded the two strangers (angels) be released to them (v. 4-5). Eventually the crowd became so enraged the angels had to rescue themselves as well as Lot and his family from them by striking the hostile people blind (v. 11). Lot, his family and the angels were able to escape to safety.
As God was extremely angered with the citizens of Sodom and Gamora, He destroyed both cities, the people and vegetation with burning sulfur raining down from above (v. 24-25). So, who helped who? The angels were on a mission from God to rescue Lot and his family, but you can see how Lot intervened to help the angels as well. Clearly the angels and humanity (Lot) worked together for a greater good and a safe outcome. Though Lot was not expecting the angels’ arrival, he apparently knew who they were and wanted to protect them.
Important consideration: Lot knew of the danger the angels faced and sought to help. Likewise, the angels knew of God’s plan to destroy the two cities, and they were there to help Lot and his family escape. Angels and humanity worked together to help each other! As Lot demonstrated hospitality to angels, and they graciously reciprocated with life sustaining intervention, they all escaped to safety! In perilous times, go ahead and help strangers! They could be God’s rescue party! Good to consider!
James Reasor is an author and volunteer chaplain with Ballad Health.
James Reasor is an author and volunteer chaplain with Ballad Health.
