(Genesis 18:9-15) Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
There was nothing really wrong with laughing, except that the cause of the laughter was more about having doubt, thinking that what the Lord had said was so very absurd and absolutely impossible. Abraham had also laughed when the Lord told him they would still have a son in their old age. The only difference here is that Abraham chose to believe what the Lord told him, while Sarah lied about laughing, which was trying to disguise her doubt.
This is probably not a spoil alert, but Sarah did get pregnant, and they did have a son, Isaac! Naturally, Sarah would have become a believer at least at that point. And as they passed along this true story down through the generations, it would have then helped the people believe the prophecy from Isaiah... (in Isaiah 7:14) "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel."
The virgin birth was critical. The Lord Jesus needed to be 100% man while still being 100% God in order to accomplish His work on the cross. And when the virgin Mary was told that she was pregnant, the angel also told her that her relative, Elizabeth, was also pregnant in her very old age, reminding Mary, "For nothing will be impossible with God.”
We all have this same opportunity to either believe in or laugh at the things the Lord tells us. Now, none of us will be 99 years old and be told that we are going to get pregnant or have a virgin birth, but the Lord tells us that He was born in flesh through a virgin birth. I know so many people who will say that these are only myths. "Laughable." But - do you believe that nothing is impossible with God?
How is this about "relationships", even if it is regarding our relationship with the Lord? Well, how would you feel if you offered to do something for someone, but they laughed it off, not thinking you were up to the task? It is very insulting. And it would probably be tempting to just walk away, saying, "Okay, I offered to help you, but it sounds like you don't want my help." So we have to know that God loves us and wants to help us in all things!
(Mark 9:20-24) And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
It also helps us to know that the Lord is all-knowing and all-powerful. In this way we can be confident in our relationship with Him, knowing that when we ask Him for help, He will answer us in His perfect timing and in His perfect way. So in that moment, Sarah could have and should have admitted that she did laugh, and that she did have doubts. Then, she could have asked the Lord to help her trust Him in what He was saying. I absolutely love the response from the sick boy's father - and I have used this same prayer a few times in my life when asking the Lord for help and guidance...
(Mark 9:20-24) And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
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