Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Genesis 18:14 NASB

"Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" 

A son had been promised.  God had said it and He kept repeating it, but, if this were to happen through Sarah, both Abraham and Sarah were now way too old.  It seemed that, no matter how often God said it, humanly speaking, this was impossible.  The writer of Genesis puts it matter of fact:  "Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age;  Sarah was past childbearing" (18:11).   And when Sarah, listening at the tent door, heard some "heavenly" visitors say she would have son by that time next year, she laughed  (the laughter of "justified" cynicism) to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" (18:12).  Ah!  But this is God's territory and He counters with a dramatic question:  "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?"  Or, "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"  What a GRAND question!  One of the grandest in scripture, and the kind of question that inspires comfort courage and commitment in a God with whom all things are possible and nothing is impossible.  A year later, with Isaac in her arms, Sarah would proclaim, "God has made me laugh (the laughter of joyful surprise), and all who hear will laugh with me... Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?  For I have born him a son in his old age," (21:6-7).  The night can be long, but joy comes in the morning.  God surprises His people with the things that gladden the heart and cause Him, in your laughter, to laugh with joy. 

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