Guests before the Shechinah
On the third day after his bris, Hashem came to visit Avraham. Seeing three travellers, Avraham said, "My Master, please do not pass away from Your servant," asking the Shechinah, as it were, to wait while he ran to tend to his guests. From this Rav taught that welcoming guests is greater even than receiving the Divine Presence. Rebbi Elazar marvelled at Hashem's ways: among people, a lesser person cannot tell a greater one to wait for him, yet Avraham could ask this of Hashem for the sake of his guests.
Source: Shabbos 127a (on Bereishis 18:3)
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