God said, “I will certainly return to you around this same time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son.” Sarah was listening from the entrance of the tent. Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing, so Sarah laughed to herself.
At this point in Abraham’s life, God had appeared to him numerous times to give him promises and instructions. In this instance, however, God appeared in a way that both Abraham and Sarah could experience.
The LORD appeared to Abraham, and when Abraham saw three men standing before him, he rushed to make them comfortable and prepare a meal for them. Quickly, he ran inside the tent to tell Sarah to make cakes of fine flour for their visitors while he went and slaughtered a calf. Although Sarah remained in the tent, she could hear the conversation among the men outside.
Sitting beneath a tree eating their meal, the men who had arrived unexpectedly to Abraham’s home inquired of him, "Where is Sarah your wife?” (Genesis 18:9). Abraham responded that she was in the tent. Then, the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Genesis 18:10).
What marvelous news! The couple had been waiting for so many years for the fulfillment of God’s promise. But in that moment, Sarah could hear with her own ears the voice of God making this promise to her and her husband.
What marvelous news! The couple had been waiting for so many years for the fulfillment of God’s promise.
However, Sarah did not rejoice in that moment. Instead of accepting the words that the Lord had spoken to them in that moment, Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12). Her reaction was the same as Abraham’s reaction when God spoke to him about the promise last: laughter (see Genesis 17:17).
We live every day with an intimate knowledge of our own constraints, and Sarah was no different. Her immediate reaction was to think about her own age and how impossible this promise from the mouth of God seemed. From her human perspective, she thought she knew how her body would work and what it could and could not do.
But the Lord responded, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Sarah and Abraham had already experienced God’s faithfulness firsthand. They had traveled to the land promised to their offspring. They had faced certain danger in Egypt, and again during the war of the nine kings. And yet, Sarah still needed to be reminded in that moment that God was and is indeed more powerful than she could imagine.
And the Lord then reiterated His promise: “At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son” (Genesis 18:14). This repeated promise was an offer of comfort, of reassurance, directly from God Himself. He would return and He would keep His promise.
Our Response
God has given us incredible knowledge and skill to understand how the human body works. In fact, He regularly uses doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to help treat, care for, and heal those who are ailing.
But just when we think we have a complete understanding of how something works in the body, like how a disease progresses, or how impossible it is for someone to get pregnant who is believed to be infertile, God sometimes steps in and subverts our expectations with His miracles.
This is likely how Sarah felt hearing that she would certainly have a child within a year. She knew how human bodies worked, and she knew that pregnancy was impossible at her age.
How often do we get stuck in the mindset that God can’t do something? How often do we see people in our own lives suffering from disease, mental health issues, chronic illness, broken relationships, and all other challenges of living in a sinful world and think “there is no hope,” or “God can’t possibly fix this”?
But God Himself said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” We can rest in this encouragement, as Sarah did: “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11). Sarah trusted in God’s faithfulness. She knew that because it was God Who had promised this, it would indeed come to pass. We too should place our hope in God, Who has made His faithfulness clear.
Although we cannot come before God and demand miracles, we can expect that, because of God’s character, He is able and willing to provide for us in our times of need. That provision may indeed be miraculous—a healed body, a restored relationship, a converted heart—or it may simply be the incomprehensible peace given in a time of need. Let us be bold in going before the Lord in prayer, trusting in Who He is: our faithful Father Who hears our prayers.
Prayer for This Week
Faithful Father in Heaven, thank You that we can read Your Word and see Your promises come to pass. It is amazing to see how faithful and caring You have been in not only making promises, but also keeping them perfectly. We pray for all who need physical deliverance in our lives. Bring them healing and peace according to Your will. We pray for all who doubt. Please provide them with the hope that only You can bring. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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