8/8/2019 Abraham and the Stranger - Crumbs Off the Table. - No.22

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Crumbs Off The Table - 22Abraham And The Stranger

An old Persian parable tells how one day Abraham sat in the door of his tent, and saw an old

man coming from the desert, leaning on a staff. Abraham arose and met him, telling him,Come my friend, and wash your feet, and tarry all night; and you shall rise up early in the

morning, and continue on your way. And the man said, No, I will rest under this tree. But

Abraham pressed him, so he turned, and they went into the tent; and Abraham baked him some

bread, and they ate. And when Abraham saw that the man did not bless God for the food, he

said to him, Why do you not worship the Most Hig God, Creator of Heaven and earth? The

man answered, I do not worship your God; for I have a God at home, which abides with me

always and provides me with all things. Abrahams zeal and anger were kindled against this

man, and he arose, fell upon him, and drove him out into the wilderness with blows.

And God called Abraham, saying, Abraham, where is the stranger?

And Abraham answered, Lord, he would not worship You; therefore I have driven him out.

And God said, Have I not borne with him these ninety years, and nourished him and clothed

him, notwithstanding his rebellion against me; and you, who are a sinner yourself, were not

able to bear with him for one whole day!

And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for

him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked,Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?

But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

(Luke.9:52-55)

Now the above thoughts clearly speak to us about religious intolerance, so common among us

today. Who are we, that dare take into our hands the prerogative of God over conscience? Who

are we, that we should punish with blows and penalties those who differ from us, or because

they differ from us, in their religious worship?

Master, said John, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop

him, because he is not one of us. Do not stop him, Jesus said, for whoever is not against

you is for you.

(Luke 9:48-50)

Let us hope and pray that the time is hastening, when that religious zeal divorced from love,

which has produced, and is still producing, such incalculable misery on earth, shall be banished

from all human hearts, and its place forever supplied by the love of the true gospel.