How does Exodus 2:20 connect to Hebrews 13:2 about entertaining strangers? “ ‘Where is he?’ Reuel asked his daughters. ‘Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.’ ” Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Connection in a Sentence Reuel’s quick invitation for a meal models the very hospitality Hebrews urges, illustrating that welcoming the unknown guest may usher in God’s chosen servant—and God’s blessing—without our realizing it. Setting the Scene: Moses the Stranger • Moses has just fled Egypt (Exodus 2:15) • Alone, unarmed, and exhausted, he helps Reuel’s daughters water their flocks (Exodus 2:17) • The women hurry home and recount the rescue (Exodus 2:18–19) • Reuel’s first impulse: “Bring him in. Feed him.” (Exodus 2:20) • Result: Moses finds family, provision, and the next stage of God’s plan (Exodus 2:21-22) Hospitality as a Biblical Priority • Patriarchal pattern: – Abraham welcomes three travelers—later revealed as the LORD and two angels (Genesis 18:1-8) – Lot shelters two strangers who also prove to be angels (Genesis 19:1-3) • Law of Moses: “You are to love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19) • Prophets: Caring for the sojourner marks true covenant faithfulness (Isaiah 58:6-7) • Gospels: Jesus identifies Himself with the stranger (Matthew 25:35) Reuel’s Invitation Foreshadows Hebrews 13:2 • Immediate, tangible welcome—no delay, no interrogation • Meal offered, not merely words: hospitality costs something • Reuel unknowingly hosts Israel’s future deliverer—parallel to “entertained angels without knowing it” • God uses ordinary kindness to advance redemptive history Theological Threads Tying the Texts Together • God values the outsider; He often works through them (Ruth 2:10-12; Acts 8:27-39) • Hospitality reflects God’s character—He “sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6) • Blessing flows to the host: Reuel gains a son-in-law and later spiritual insight (Exodus 18:10-12) • Hebrews roots Christian ethics in Old Testament examples, treating them as timeless (Hebrews 10:1; 11:4-40) Practical Takeaways for Today • View every stranger as a potential vessel of God’s purpose • Offer concrete acts—meals, shelter, conversation—not mere sentiments (James 2:15-16) • Expect hidden blessings: growth in faith, unexpected friendships, divine appointments • Practice hospitality gladly, “without complaining” (1 Peter 4:9) Additional Scripture Helps • Romans 12:13—“Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.” • Leviticus 19:34—“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love him as yourself.” • 3 John 5-8—Commendation for believers who welcome traveling servants of the gospel Reuel’s open table in Exodus 2:20 lives out the command Hebrews 13:2 later gives voice to: loving strangers is never wasted, for God hides His glory in the most unexpected guests. |
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