Ten Camels = One Extra Mile

Hospitality was a huge thing for me in Turkey, and that’s probably why I continue to see it as a spiritual discipline. You see, in the Middle East, and in many parts of the world, you honour or befriend someone not by inviting them to your home, but rather by visiting them in theirs. Hospitality is, therefore, of great importance as it’s the appropriate response to being thus honoured. As well as having many visitors, there was also the small but growing church in the city that through the eighties was still reliant on foreigners and homes such as ours for gatherings.

Rebekah and the Camels

Rebekah from the old Testament became a challenging example for me. When asked for a drink by Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, she quite voluntarily offers to also water his 10 thirsty camels from the well. Then when asked if he can stay at their home, she volunteers to house and feed the camels too (Genesis 24). This willingness to go the extra mile was the sign chosen to mark Rebekah as a suitable bride for Abraham’s son, Isaac. Surely, nothing less would be a fitting bride for the Son of God. Before arriving in Turkey, I had often prayed, ‘I only want to serve you and the Turkish people,’ but I hadn’t expected God to take my words so literally. Yet, through the opening of our home and practical hospitality he was teaching me that for the bride of Christ, joy- filled service is the appropriate response to the tremendous visitation of Christ to our lives.

Little did Rebekah realise as she carried her water pot to and fro from the well – a thirsty camel can drink 100 litres and there were ten of them – that these beasts were laden with good things for her and her family. One camel would even carry her to her bridegroom. Her spontaneous giving of time, energy and resources was not some prosperity gospel ploy to get rich quick, but Rebekah had stumbled on the great harvest factor of sowing and reaping by which the Kingdom of God advances.

‘Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken, together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ (Luke 6:38)

And I was learning that I could only give out as I kept receiving his grace.

Angels Unaware

In the new Testament, the writer to the Hebrews urges us to be hospitable. ‘Don’t forget to entertain strangers for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews13:2).

Abraham’s three visitors in Genesis 18 really did prove to be two ‘angels unaware’ and the Lord, himself. In true Middle Eastern style a home visit and corresponding hospitality develop their relationship. It must have taken hours – water for their feet, freshly baked bread and a calf prepared and eaten, but no one was in a hurry. Abraham serves them his best, and the Lord reiterates his promise of a son. At last, as they are leaving, walking together, looking out over the land, the business of Sodom is discussed. The Lord says, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham, what I am about to do?’ In the context of trusted friendship God shares his plan and leads Abraham into intercession for the city.

Messengers from God

Living in Turkey where hospitality was not an added extra but a way of life, I decided to see all my visitors as ‘angels’ or at least messengers from God! Often, over the years, the right person has passed through our home with a timely word of encouragement or challenge, a prophetic word of direction, a kind deed or a much needed gift. My most recent visitor was truly a Godsend. Caleb was an expert in WordPress, the platform for this blog, and he fixed it so there’s now an index of titles – something I’d wanted done for years.

More important, I still hunger to be like Abraham with a deeper friendship of trust with the Lord in which he can walk with me, and talk with me about his business as well as mine. I know the only way that happens is through many a home visit when I’m willing to throw open the doors of my heart in welcome and appreciation of his presence.