A little water
The phrase "a little water" appears in three prominent Old and New Testament stories involving Abraham. It refers to either Abraham's hospitality, the meager survival supplies he gave Hagar, or the New Testament parable where a rich man begs Abraham for a single drop of water.
Today's Old Testament reading was on the first, Abraham's Hospitality (Genesis 18:4). When three heavenly visitors appear at Abraham’s tent, he offers them customary Middle Eastern hospitality. He famously says, "Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest under this tree," before preparing a meal for them.
It's also near to when Sarah who remained inside the tent laughed hearing that she'll have a son (Genesis 18:12-14). The Lord said then to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old? ' Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
Sarah comes again to attention when at her insistence Abraham sent his Egyptian concubine Hagar and their son Ishmael away. He provided basic rations, putting bread and a skin of water on Hagar's shoulders before they wandered into the Desert of Beersheba.
The harsh desert conditions quickly depleted their supply. When the water was entirely gone, a despairing Hagar placed her son under a bush and sat a bowshot's distance away so she wouldn't have to watch him die of thirst. God, however, opened Hagar’s eyes, revealing a well of water she hadn't seen before.
Hagar filled her waterskin, gave Ishmael a drink, and he went on to survive and thrive in the wilderness. The area of Havilah where Ishmael’s descendants lived is in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula; Shur is a wilderness area between Beersheba in the Negev Desert and Egypt.
Finally, the third story is the famous parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in the New Testament (Luke 16:19-31). In it, the rich man living in agony in Hades begs "Father Abraham" to send Lazarus, a beggar he used to ignore on Earth, across the great chasm just to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue.
Abraham denies the request, reminding the rich man that he received his good things on Earth, while Lazarus suffered. The rich man then begs Abraham to send Lazarus back to Earth to warn his five living brothers. Abraham refuses, stating that the brothers already have the teachings of Moses and the prophets to guide them.
The message is clear. Trust God's word, don't hate nor stimagize the other, and keep yourself to the guidelines.
Today's Old Testament reading was on the first, Abraham's Hospitality (Genesis 18:4). When three heavenly visitors appear at Abraham’s tent, he offers them customary Middle Eastern hospitality. He famously says, "Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest under this tree," before preparing a meal for them.
It's also near to when Sarah who remained inside the tent laughed hearing that she'll have a son (Genesis 18:12-14). The Lord said then to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old? ' Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
Sarah comes again to attention when at her insistence Abraham sent his Egyptian concubine Hagar and their son Ishmael away. He provided basic rations, putting bread and a skin of water on Hagar's shoulders before they wandered into the Desert of Beersheba.
The harsh desert conditions quickly depleted their supply. When the water was entirely gone, a despairing Hagar placed her son under a bush and sat a bowshot's distance away so she wouldn't have to watch him die of thirst. God, however, opened Hagar’s eyes, revealing a well of water she hadn't seen before.
Hagar filled her waterskin, gave Ishmael a drink, and he went on to survive and thrive in the wilderness. The area of Havilah where Ishmael’s descendants lived is in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula; Shur is a wilderness area between Beersheba in the Negev Desert and Egypt.
Finally, the third story is the famous parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in the New Testament (Luke 16:19-31). In it, the rich man living in agony in Hades begs "Father Abraham" to send Lazarus, a beggar he used to ignore on Earth, across the great chasm just to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue.
Abraham denies the request, reminding the rich man that he received his good things on Earth, while Lazarus suffered. The rich man then begs Abraham to send Lazarus back to Earth to warn his five living brothers. Abraham refuses, stating that the brothers already have the teachings of Moses and the prophets to guide them.
The message is clear. Trust God's word, don't hate nor stimagize the other, and keep yourself to the guidelines.
