Genesis 18.14 “Is
anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next
year, and Sarah will have a son.” – God
The ancient Book of Genesis is full of life and all that
comes with it; Abraham experienced that. One day while he was minding his own
business, three visitors showed up, and it spun Abraham into action. (Obviously
these three appeared different, and
Abraham was astute enough to see that these three weren’t the usual suspects he
ran across in his part of the world.) Abraham was hospitable and gracious. He
recognized difference when he saw it.
Now, the interesting part, is one of the visitors,
apparently the leader, said, “I will
surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a
son.” (V. 10) Abraham, who was used to talking with God, probably knew
these three were other-worldly. He probably realized that there was more to the
visit than the weather and who was going to win the NCAA National Championship
game. (By the way, the weather here is colder than blue blazes, and I think someone is going to win the game.)
Now, Sarah was listening from inside the tent and she
laughed, Yeah, right! Oft times our
attitude toward things is revealed in what
we say and how we act about those things. Sarah had been told she was going
to have a child and it hadn’t happened according to her timetable, and I
suspect she’d gotten a bit cynical about it. Her laugh was that of bitter cynicism.
Now, the other thing to remember, is that our attitude
toward things, is visible and audible to others. What we say and how we act
toward things is noticeable to others. I’m not really sure what Sarah’s
attitude was toward the visitors but it might’ve been along the line of “Now
what!?” And when one of them said she was going to have a baby the following
year, she laughed, but there was no humor…
How we act and what we say reveals a lot about how we
feel about God. In many ways, we are just like Sarah: God, You said, and lots of time has passed, and ain’t nuthin’s happ’nin!
What’s going on!? Our faith needs some adjusting. I always wonder just what
went through Sarah’s mind the day she discovered she was, heavy with child… I wonder what she thought every time she and
Abraham set out to make a baby… Is this
the one?
Our attitude toward God’s promises needs to be carefully
guarded against our limited timeline and expectation. Either God is going to
come through and He’s not in a hurry, therefore we needn’t be either; or He’s
not going to come through at all, and our faith is vanity toward an impotent,
uncaring God. We really need to be careful what we think and how we think…and
how we act.
I am asking God for a particular thing and He is asking
me to wait. The other day I reminded Him of what He did for the widow of Nain in
raising her boy from the dead; and I just happened to read that today I Luke’s gospel. God reminded me: Nothing is too
hard for the Lord. I just need to believe that, and say, and act,
accordingly…
Father God, You are
always faithful and nothing is too hard for You. I will say with my mouth and
believe in my heart that is true. And I will seek to help others believe that
as well. Thank You for what You are doing and how You are providing for me and
countless others, because You are God! Amen
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