Read Gen. 18:1-15
Abraham is sitting just inside his tent trying to keep cool from the heat of the day when all of a sudden he is surrounded by 3 men. He immediately recognizes them as angels and bows to the ground. He offers to wash their feet and sit them down for something to eat. They allow him to do this. He runs and tells Sarah to prepare 3 cakes then runs to the herd and selects the best calf to cook. He brings butter and milk and sets it all before his guests to eat. He doesn’t eat with them but waits on them as they eat. What a host! He gave of his very best before he knew if they were coming to bless him or not. I wonder if he recognized them from previous visits. They asked for Sarah to make sure she could hear what they had to say. When they found out she was just inside the tent they spoke on. They gave her the promise once again that she would have a son. She laughed to herself wondering how this was going to happen since she was way past having children. The Lord, who knows everything, asked her why she laughed. Then he said a profound statement, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord.” Sarah tried to deny laughing but he wouldn’t cut her any slack.
Several things stick out to me about this passage. 1) When you have an encounter with the Lord, everything takes a new perspective. Abraham didn’t think twice about preparing an elaborate, expensive meal for the Lord. 2) Even though the custom was to have the women out-of-sight, God wanted to include her in the experience. We may sometimes feel insignificant in the eyes of people, but we are never insignificant to God. 3) Sarah’s laughing did not change the promise. Our lack of faith won’t change what God has determined to do. God is patient toward us and merciful.
Lord, give us a new perspective of our earthly possessions that we give you the very best of all we have. Thank you that your mercy endures forever!
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