Genesis 18: 9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Abraham and Sara were senior citizens. Many years before God called them out of Ur to a land he would give them. He promised them a child from whom all nations of the world would be blessed. The Savior himself would come through their child. God reiterated the promise time after time over the years but it had not come to pass. God has given us precious promises. They will happen!
At the time of this scripture Abraham was about 100 and Sara 90. They were golden senior citizens in anybody’s book. By man’s standards we’d all say it was impossible for a child to come. At one point the Bible says Abraham was so old he was just about as good as dead. By faith the conception happened.
We like to give God a timeframe. It doesn’t work that way. Abraham and Sara had troubles in the world as we do: health problems, family problems. The land belonged to many at that time and they had trouble with the people and the rulers of the lands. Kings went against them. When kings of trouble and trials come against us, remember THE King is there. God kept reminding them of the promise. He’s still good at his word today as he was then.
Abraham looked out and saw three men coming toward his tent. He perceived they were more than mere men. When you think you can’t make it, look in the distance and you’ll see the Lord coming. This is an Old Testament appearance of God the Son with two angels. Their mission was to destroy Sodom. Abraham instructed Sara and servants to make preparations to serve the guests. Often we want God to serve us when we need to serve him first. Abraham didn’t yell out his needs and wants upon seeing them coming. He didn’t ask for anything for himself but began preparations to serve them. When we serve God first, he’ll take care of us.
Sara was just inside the tent listening and hiding out. We need to quit hiding behind the door and come out and serve the Lord. Again the Lord told Abraham the baby would come. He sent Gabriel many years later to speak with Mary. That message seemed impossible but the Holy Ghost would come upon her and she would conceive Jesus. It happened. Don’t doubt God. He’ll fulfill his word. Sara got to looking at things from an earthly standpoint and started laughing to herself. She was old. Abraham was old. A baby? It was laughable to her. God doesn’t joke around. He means what he says. The promise made at first many years before seemed doable then. At their age it had to be too late.
We laugh to ourselves wondering how the Lord will provide or meet a need. I can see the Lord turning just to make sure Sara could hear. He knew she was just behind the door. He asked Abraham why Sara was laughing but before he could answer he said is anything too hard for the Lord? He answered Sara’s question with a question. Then he said at the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
The Lord was saying “That’s it. Laugh all you want. Here’s what I said. It will come to pass. It’s not too late.” If God says it will happen, it will. Go with his answer. The Lord will answer. It may not come at a convenient time by our thinking. He’ll come in his time. He’ll have the last laugh. If we leave this world not having seen some of the promises, it will come in the next life. God provides in due season.
Abraham and Sara were instructed to call the son Isaac. They may have chosen something else but this was it. It means laughter. God will have the last laugh. If burdens and life itself are just laughing at you, ask yourself is anything too hard for the Lord. The devil has his limits. People have their limits. Age has limits. Believe God. In spite of their age and limits it happened. God is able. He is not limited.
God really cares about us. When we get to the point of giving up, God may ask us if our anything is too hard for him. Take hold of your anything and bring it to God. He makes all things possible. We’ll just wait and see that nothing is too hard for him.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 