Today the LORD asks the question: Is anything
too hard for the LORD?
The answer is always: No.
As we walk through, Genesis and John, we see Him
tackle hard issues like; adultery; sodomy; incest. One after the other.
To be sure the men are paying attention he drops
circumcision right smack dab in the middle.
He loops in the ladies by having a 90-year-old
lady have a baby.
For the ultimate victory, He performs His
specialty, tackles the toughest enemy, and brings Life from death.
Is anything too hard for the LORD?
NO!
Genesis 18:1
Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees
of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
Then the LORD…
Yahweh; the proper name of God
given to Moses at the burning bush meaning I AM.
Appeared to him… The LORD
appeared to Abraham. We’re not even half way through the first book of the
Bible and we already see a pattern.
The Lord shows up.
He came looking for Adam and Eve.
He walked with Enoch.
He showed up and spoke with Noah.
He dropped down to check out Babel.
He even slipped in a chat with Hagar.
To Abraham He appears again and again.
Showing up, being with us, is who He is…
Immanuel; God with us.
One day soon, He will come again, for those ready and waiting
to be with Him, forever.
LOCATION:
By the terebinth trees of Mamre…
This is in Hebron. 20 miles south of Jerusalem. 10 miles west
of the Dead Sea (Sodom & Gomorrah—under Dead Sea). 20 miles east of Gaza
Strip.
According to God, Hebron belongs to Israel.
However, according to Israel’s ongoing property for peace
appeasement program it belongs to Palestinians in the West Bank; 800k population.
Genesis
13:18; After Lot chose Sodom; Abraham moved his tent to Hebron and there built
an altar to the LORD.
Famous:
One of the trees is famous. It’s called, The Oak of Mamre, or,
The Oak of Abraham, and it’s said to be the very tree under which the LORD met
with Abraham.
Some say the tree is 5,000 years old. It has a 32’ diameter.
It was dying, and then a shoot sprouted from its root and in
2016 botanists began a project to save the tree. However, in 2019, the tree
collapsed.
Today shoots from the roots are growing.
Interesting note: There’s a long-standing tradition (not
Scripture) that says the Oak of Abraham will die before the appearance of the
antichrist.
TIMING:
As he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of
the day…
Abraham was 99 when he and all his household were circumcised.
Abraham is 100 when Isaac is born, Genesis 21:5.
Here, Sarah is not yet pregnant.
So, this visit appears to be somewhere in a 3-month period
between, circumcision and conception.
Old Abe is sitting in the shade, in the heat of the
day—perhaps still sore from circumcision. At 99 you don’t heal so fast.
2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men
were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent
door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
Behold, three men…
According to this text they appeared as men.
However, Abraham must notice something special about them; he
runs to them, and bows to them.
At 99 and recently circumcised, that’s a big deal.
Lord, give us the heart of Abraham, to run toward
You without hesitation. Not for want, but to bow, but to serve.
3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do
not pass on by Your servant.
My Lord…
The Hebrew word for “Lord” here is: adon. Small “l” lord, as in master, or land lord; not:
LORD, Yahweh.
So, Abraham might not be totally sure Who he’s talking
to, yet.
But he’s on the right track and says, “if I have now found
favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.”
HOSPITATLITY:
However, back then, and even today, the nomadic people are
extremely hospitable. It’s an investment. When you travel; you want to be
treated kindly as well.
CHRISTOPHANY:
We already know One of the three men is the
LORD. A Christophany. Christ preincarnate. Before being born of a virgin in a
manger.
SERVE:
Abraham, doesn’t know it, but he’s laying a foundation of
faith, by serving the One, who will one day, come not to be served, but to
serve; Matthew 20:28.
4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your
feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
This was customary kindness, even to strangers.
Abraham washes the feet of his LORD, unwittingly foreshadowing
the day, the LORD will come and wash the feet of His disciples.
LORD, help us to have a heart like Abraham, ready
and willing to humbly serve.
5 And I
will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that
you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”
Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for
thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
They said, “Do as you have said.”
Abraham,
You have found favor. We will stay. Do as you have said.
This was a compliment to Abraham; and an honor that went both
ways.
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said,
“Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make
cakes.”
Notice the expediency and the excellency in the
next few verses.
Fine meal, not just any old meal,
but fine meal, the best meal.
GIVE GOD YOUR VERY BEST.
Notice the amount; three measures, or, three seahs.
A seah is 1/3 ephah. Does that clear it up?
No.
A seah is 7.3 liters. Does that help?
Not much.
Okay, a seah is 6.7 dry quarts.
That’s better.
6.7 quarts X 3 = 20.1 quarts = 5.025 dry gallons of fine meal.
That’ll make a LOT of bread.
But Chef Abe’s not done.
7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf,
gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it.
At 99 years old and recently circumcised, he sure is doing a
lot of running.
Tender and good calf… not just
any old calf, but the tender and good calf, the best calf.
He ran, he hurried, quickly he told Sarah,
he hastened to prepare…
GIVE GOD YOUR VERY BEST WITHOUT HESITATION.
8 So he
took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and
set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
Butter and milk... He brought the best with all the fixins.
As they ate… Notice they ate.
This is worth noting, because (spoiler alert) these three aren’t just your
average Joes. From the opening verse we already know, One of them is the
LORD; the other two are angels.
This gives a glimpse (and other verses clarify) when we get to
heaven and have glorified bodies—we’ll still be able to eat. Hallelujah.
Notice after all the hustle and bustle; Abraham stands by
them; he does not sit with them as an equal, he stands by them as a
servant. He waits.
Sometimes serving is running, other times, it’s patiently
waiting. Sometimes Martha, sometimes Mary.
LORD, we pray for the wisdom to know the
difference.
9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your
wife?”
So he said, “Here, in the
tent.”
Abraham doesn’t freak out and say, “How do you know my wife’s
name?”
He simply answers, “Here, in the tent.”
10 And He said, “I will certainly return to
you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall
have a son.”
(Sarah was listening in the tent
door which was behind him.)
If Abe had any doubts; now he knows for sure, this is the LORD.
I will return, Sarah shall have a son (The wonderful
wills & shalls of our LORD).
The original text literally says: I’ll return again at time wife Sarah will have
son.
This is the Great Physician, making a house call.
Your obstetrician may let you know if you’re pregnant or not.
Your Great Obstetrician can let you know; nope you’re not
pregnant—but you will be soon, and by this time next year you’ll have a little
boy named Isaac.
Congratulations!
Now, picture the scene. They’re talking outside. Sarah is inside behind the door flap, hand cupped by her ear—eavesdropping.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in
age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Even in Florida, 99 and 89 is old, well advanced in years; definitely
passed the age of childbearing.
Remember, Sarah wasn’t only past the age of
childbearing she had always been barren; even when she was young enough
to be bearing.
Those are the facts…
BUT…
Make a note…
FACTS ARE NO MATCH FOR THE TRUTH.
FACTS CHANGE
TRUTH NEVER DOES
John 8:32; And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.
John 17:17; God’s Word is Truth.
John 14:6; I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life…
Fact is Sarah was barren.
Truth is God knew that.
Abraham wasn’t shooting blanks, (I got in trouble for
saying that—but I don’t know Christianese for that phrase). Abe got
Hagar pregnant. After Sarah dies, he will have a half dozen kids with another
wife; Keturah.
God chose the barren Sarah. He chose the virgin Mary. He chose
(and chooses) those who have the facts stacked against them, but the facts
are no match for The Truth!
Fact is, you may not be fine right now; life may not be,
tender and good.
Truth is, you can be. In Christ you will be— better than fine;
tender and good.
Is anything too hard for the LORD?
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself,
saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being
old also?”
The LORD said Sarah’s going to have a baby.
Sarah laughed.
Maybe for a moment Sarah didn’t understand that FACTS ARE NO
MATCH FOR THE TRUTH.
But we know she caught on quickly because, Hebrews 11:11 says:
By faith Sarah, even though
she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a
child, because she considered Him (The Truth) faithful who had
promised.
She considered Him, and conceived.
Lord, help us to do the same, to consider You, The
Truth, above the facts.
Notice: “Sarah laughed within herself.”
That means she laughed and spoke silently, inside the tent (we’ll come back to
this in a moment).
Oh, one more thing for the ladies, notice she calls Abraham…
“lord.”
On second thought, never mind. I’ve already gotten myself into
enough trouble.
13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah
laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’
Make a note:
God knows the thoughts and intents of my heart. He discerns
what I’m thinking; how I’m feeling.
Remember, Abraham also laughed within himself—but was not
rebuked. (Genesis 17:17). His was a laugh of delight, not doubt.
God can tell the difference in the attitude of the heart.
The LORD said to Abraham… He held
Abraham accountable. Why didn’t you talk to Sarah? Prepare her? Why did your
wife laugh?
Men, you are accountable and responsible, to lead by example, direction
and teaching, so that those God has given you may walk in the ways of the LORD.
Now, just to be clear, their response, is not your
responsibility. Each one individually is accountable to God.
Your job is to plant and water Good Seed—which is God’s Word,
in living color.
14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the
appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah
shall have a son.”
Is anything too, hard for the LORD?
I will return and Sarah shall have a son.
NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD
In the original text the word for “hard” is defined as:
surpassing or extraordinary; it comes from the same root for, wonderful,
in Isaiah 9:6.
For unto
us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His
shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Nothing is too hard, (surpassing or extraordinary, wonderful
or marvelous) for the LORD!
He said He will return and Sarah shall have a
son.
He did.
She did.
And that son, led to, The Son of God, Surpassingly
Extraordinary, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.
He says to us, He will return.
He will.
Soon.
And of the increase of His government and peace
there will be no end, forever and ever, hallelujah, amen. Isaiah 9:7.
15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for
she was afraid.
And He said, “No, but you did
laugh!”
Picture the scene again.
The men are outside the tent, talking.
Sarah is hiding behind the tent door, eavesdropping. She laughs,
within herself (silently).
But the LORD hears even what’s said in silence. So, He asks Abraham,
“Why did Sarah laugh?”
Before Abraham can speak they hear a voice coming from inside
the tent:
DID NOT!
Then, the Lord says to the tent: “No, but you did laugh”
Then, (I think) they all laughed.
16 Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and
Abraham went with them to send them on the way.
After the laughter died down, the men got up, and their smiles
dropped to serious as they looked toward Sodom.
As was and is the custom Abraham walked with them; like we
walk our guest to the door, or to the car.
Sarah is still back in the tent, perhaps looking at her belly
in the mirror— giggling; singing a lullaby.
17 And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18
since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?
To answer that question, go to Amos 3:7:
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing
His plan to His servants the prophets.
Jesus expands that line of thinking in John 16:13:
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has
come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His
own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will
tell you things to come.
Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?
No.
Shall He hide what He is doing from His child, His bride?
No.
John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant
does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends,
because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children
and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do
righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has
spoken to him.”
For I have known him…
I know Abraham will be accountable
and responsible, in his household, to lead by example, and direction and teaching;
so those I have given him may walk in the ways of the LORD.
Abraham will plant and water and walk out My Word, in living
color.
He will be faithful in the little stuff; thus, he can be
trusted with the big stuff.
Let’s pray.
Lord, thank You for Your Word, that’s just as relevant
today as it was the day You spoke to Abraham.
Help us walk with You, in the secret place, behind
the tent door, in the silence of our heart; so that serving You openly, will
come naturally.
Help us settle the Truth with You privately; so we’re
able to face the cold hard facts, with faith, wisdom and grace.
Mostly we pray we’ll run toward You, and humbly
serve You, so others will see You, and be drawn to You.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
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Too Hard for the LORD? Genesis 18:1-19
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This was feed for you to read.
Now it’s Seed for you to
sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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