“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.” (Genesis 18:10, NIV).
The LORD God appeared to Abraham again. This time in the form of three men. Abraham probably did not know it was God but he did view the three men as very important. He received them with the best middle east hospitality. After they ate they asked about his wife. Abraham said that Sarah was in the tent. When Sarah heard the news about having a son, in a year, she laughed.
“Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”” (Genesis 18:11–12, NIV).
"Given her personal circumstances, Sarah laughs in disbelief at the idea of bearing a son to Abraham. Her reaction mirrors her husband’s in 17:17." [1]
Her laughter though does not go unnoticed. "“Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”” (Genesis 18:13–14, NIV).
This is an important question to ask ourselves in our walk of faith. Is anything too hard for God? When we think of God's power we think of strength, but the Bible gives a broader definition to God's omnipotence. For example:
A. Nothing is too hard for God. Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV) 17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
B. No word from God will fail. Luke 1:37 (NIV) 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
C. No one can stop Him. Job 42:2 (NIV) 2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
D. Everything serves His purposes. Psalm 119:91 (NIV) 91 Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.
E. He does whatever he pleases. Psalm 115:3 (NIV) 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
Your all, forever -- no stopping power is both scary and comforting.To be the one to try to stop You is a very foolish act. For those that want to be free of Your influence, You simply laugh at them -- like a mouse challenging an elephant to a fight. But, Oh Lord, to have Your power expressed toward the good and the care of those who love You, is the ultimate of encouragement. It means You will come through. It means You will not fail. It means that every bump in the road and twist in the path serves Your purpose.This gives us Your People great joy and confidence. What grace that You would call us to Yourself? What mercy that You would take us to be Your own? Grant to me continued faith and hope in You today. Prone to wander Lord I feel, prone to leave the One I love. Here's my heart, Oh take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above. Amen.
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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (81). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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