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Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. The itinerant prophet Elisha often traveled through the Jezreel Valley also called the Plain of Megiddo in the Northern Kingdom. A prominent childless woman from the village of Shunem noticed the that this oftentimes wonderer was a prophet of God, so her and her husband who were part of a small remnant who had not gone the way of Jeroboam decided to offer him hospitality whenever he passed through. They added an extra bedroom on the roof of their house which they equipped with a bed, a chair, a table, and an oil lamp. (The first Hebrew letters of each of these elements in the room spell the word: Mishkan which is the term used for the area where the Ark of the Covenant used to rest. This teaches us the very important principle that he who practices hospitably transforms his house into a Sanctuary for the Divine Presence to dwell in.) Our Master relates to this Shunamite woman when He said, The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward (Matthew10:41) . Against the woman’s protests, knowing how God rewards those who care for His saints without personal motives but just because they are God’s people, Elisha desired to reward the woman for her kindness. When Elisha’s servant pointed out to him that she was barren, the prophet proceeded to tell her that by next year, at the time of life (same Hebraic expression used by the angel who spoke to Abraham about Sarah in Genesis 18:10) she will embrace a son, a son which Elisha later raises form the dead. These carry an uncanny resemblance with those told in the Book of Genesis about Sarah after Abraham practiced hospitality to strangers (Genesis 18), but they also follow closely those that Elijah, Elisha’s master performed in that very same area. These local stories were still recounted in those towns of Israel when the Master arrived on the scene. They were still fresh and people encouraged each other with them as they waited for the final Messiah who would deliver them. They knew that He would do the same miracles and even more. What a surprised then it must have been for the people of Nain when this new prophet who was born not too far from them in Nazareth crashed one of their funeral procession and being moved with compassion brought a young man back to life (Luke 7:11-15). If you want Hashem’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven; if you desire to make a Sanctuary of your heart and of your house for the Presence of God to dwell in; if you want to see the life-giving blessings of the Almighty fill your life: practice hospitality, especially on the Sabbath!
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Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. It is very common in hot countries for people to take a break from work around noon. Due to the heat, they break at twelve and sometimes do not work again until mid-afternoon. In the case of Genesis 18, Abraham was not taking a mid-day nap due to the heat of the day, he was convalescing from undergoing circumcision (Genesis 17). The fever lasted three days, the third day incurring the highest fever (Genesis 34:25); the first verse therefore of Genesis eighteen could infer that this was the third and highest day of Abraham’s fever. While Abraham was convalescing, the Torah tells us that Adonai came to visit him (Genesis 18:1). The Master Himself came to check on Abraham. This notion of Hashem's personal visit to Abraham to check up on him is the true origins of the apostle’s injunctions to visit the sick (Hebrews 13:2). Discipleship is to want to be like your Master. If the Master therefore took the time to visit Abraham when he was sick, we should also practice the visiting of the ill. This visit resulted in several tests. 1:Hospitality: The hospitality of Abraham was legendary. His table was like no other. To be at the table of Abraham was like being at the table of the Lord. When we receive brethren in our home’s to share with us, we should also do our best to honor them. The meal that Abraham served was composed of dairy and meat; a full meal worthy of a King. Did Abraham know who he was serving? All the text tells us after the verse’s beginning narrative is that Abraham saw three men, strangers in the plain of Mamreh. Even the Book of Hebrew seems to indicate that Abraham didn’t have a clue at first (Hebrews 13:2). We should always share our best with stranger and consider it a high honor to host the Saints, those for whom our Master died. 2: Belief: Adonai had a message for Abraham. When Sarah (89 years old) heard that she would give birth, she laughed a cynical laugh for which the angel reproved her. Abraham did not as he had already gone through that a few days before (Genesis 17). Similarly we should learn not to laugh at the impossible doings of God. The Talmud compares Sarah to Jerusalem. If He is able to take an old woman, rejuvenate her and make her fruitful throughout generations, Adonai is also able a broken down seemingly barren city such as Jerusalem and resurrect her to be a blessing to all forever after. 3: Motives: How was Abraham going to use his new standing with God? Since Adonai and him were now covenanted together, Abraham right away used his new assets as a blessing towards the incredulous world around him, not without motive though. He pleaded for the sparing of Sodom and Gomorrah just for the sake of saving Lot his wayward nephew. How do we use our covenanted standing with the Master. Are our prayers a repetition of ‘gimme’s’, or are our eyes turned toward those in need. I think Abraham passed the test. Would we? Revelations 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. As we read into Moses’ Tabernacle assignments, we must never forget that he was told to make an earthly replica of what he saw on the Mount (Exodus 26:30). Looking at the tabernacle tells us what God’s throne room looks like. It actually does correspond to the throne room vision of all the prophets including that of John in the Book of Revelation. We read in the Text of Aaron being in charge of the seven lights shining before the Almighty (Numbers 8:2; Exodus 25:37; 37:18-19, 23; 40:25). We are not directly told very much about the function and property of these lights, but studying Scriptures in a thematic manner sheds some lights (pun unintended) on the matter. These lamps are to burn continually before God (Leviticus 24:1-2) so In the Tabernacle, they are placed in the ante-room before the Holy of Holies. The apocryphal Book of Tobit tells us of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One (Tobit 12:15). In Enoch, another apocryphal book early believers were familiar with, we are even given the names and functions of these angels (Enoch 20:1-8). These go in and go out Tobit says just like the seven eyes in Zechariah’s vision which run to and fro through the whole earth (Zechariah 4;10). In the Book of Hebrews it is revealed to us that He (The Creator) makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire (Hebrews 1:7). Finally, Zechariah tells us that these were like seven eyes in a stone (Zechariah 3:9). The stone, is Yeshua (Psalms 118:22), the heavenly High-Priest who tends to (has authority over) those light, function shadowed by Aaron in Leviticus (Hebrews 8-9; Leviticus 8:2). These angels/spirits/lights do roam the earth and bring our prayers to God. An ancient traditions tells us that on Friday evenings, angels enter the home of God’s people and see how much priority they have given to the Sabbath, thereby we sing the famous Sabbath song ‘Shalom Aleichem’ welcoming these angels. Whether that really happen or not I do not know, but I do know that these seven angels go in and out before the glory of the Holy One roaming the earth. They are like God’s little ‘spies’. They come and look upon us and tell God what they saw, how we react to each other, how we carry our responsibilities as members of His Kingdom, as husbands, and wives, and parents. They also report to Him on the priority that we give to the Study of His Word. Does this scare you? It shouldn’t unless you know in your heart that you have failed to prioritize your life according to God’s commandments. Maybe it is time to take stock of things and start living a life God can brag about even to the devil like He did Job (Job 1:8). We all could be older than we think; anyone of us could die tomorrow and miss a good chance at repentance in this realm! |
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