The Rewards of Hospitality: A Case Study of Gen 18:1-16a

Abstract

Hospitality is a value ingrained in all human beings. Ghanaians love to practice hospitality and it is common to hear foreigners mention “Ghanaian Hospitality.” Unfortunately, this valuable gift seems to elude contemporary Ghanaians. The practice of hospitality has been taken advantage of by armed robbery, pretenders, and lazy people, so that a hospitable person becomes a victim of their attack. Instead of the rewards of hospitality, cheerful heart, smiles, joy, that perpetuates healthy life, sadness, grief, sorrow, sickness and sometimes death have become the result. Consequently, Ghanaians have become afraid and reluctant to practice this virtue. Engaging traditional Ewe wisdom with Gen 18:1-16a, the paper seeks to explore through exegetical and intercultural study the value of hospitality within the Ewe and the Hebrew cultures to propose a re-conversion towards ‘hospitality’ for contemporary Ghanaian Christians.