Pancakes for angels
Norah Summers
July 23, 2025
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Genesis 18: 1-10 (NIVUK)
1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, ‘If I have found favour in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way – now that you have come to your servant.’
‘Very well,’ they answered, ‘do as you say.’
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.’
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9 ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him.
‘There, in the tent,’ he said.
10 Then one of them said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.
I think I have usually read these verses as a preamble, a scene-setting, to the message to Sarah – who just laughs at it!
Did it bring her joy?
Eventually yes, of course, but in the moment it sounds more like ‘Aye, right!’
But back to the beginning.
Abraham is relaxing at his door. Visitors arrive and are to be looked after.
I am a Manse bairn, and well I remember that you never knew who might appear on the doorstep - a ‘gentleman of the road’ for a bowl of soup, a parishioner with a problem, friends on holiday passing that way. There wouldn’t be a fatted calf, but the kettle was always on the Raeburn. My husband still laughs at an occasion when he found me and my Mother in the kitchen working out what to give 17 people for afternoon tea. The family were all at home and two or three sets of unexpected visitors had arrived. Sunday afternoon in the country, no freezers in those days, no convenience store . . . they got tea and fresh pancakes and a good time was enjoyed by all!
Hospitality is a huge source of enjoyment. It is lovely to be welcomed into someone’s home, it is lovely to be able to welcome others. Abraham is following the ancient tradition we read of so often in the Bible of welcoming and caring for strangers. It is very sad now to see so much suspicion and fear of strangers — who may or may not be angels in disguise.
And what joy it is when we obey the invitation of Jesus to share around his table!
Prayer:
Loving God,
welcoming God,
God whose arms are open to embrace all –
forgive us our insularity,
our suspicion,
our missed opportunities to connect with new people in our community.
What enjoyment we may be denying ourselves,
when we might be making new friends!
What moment of connection may we be letting pass,
when we might be sparking a change in someone’s life!
Give us grace and open hearts to show your welcoming love to all.
Read also Genesis 21: 6-8, Hebrews 13:2.
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