Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we gather together in this sacred space, bathed in the soft morning light, we are reminded of the warmth and comfort of our Heavenly Father's love. We are here to share in fellowship, to lift our voices in praise, and to seek wisdom from the Word of God. Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds towards a question that has echoed through the ages, a question that is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. This question is found in the book of Genesis, chapter 18, verse 14. The question is, "Is anything too hard for God?"

Before we delve into this question, let us first invite the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and open our hearts. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful morning, for the gift of life, and for the opportunity to gather in Your name. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to Your Word today. Help us to understand Your message and apply it in our daily lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Now, let us turn to the scripture. If you have your Bibles with you, please open them to Genesis 18:14. If not, please listen attentively as I read the verse for us. "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son." This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

This verse comes from a conversation between God and Abraham. Abraham's wife, Sarah, was barren and well past childbearing age. Yet, God promised that she would have a son. This seemed impossible to Abraham and Sarah. But God, in His infinite wisdom and power, asked, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" This question is not just for Abraham and Sarah. It is a question for all of us.

Imagine, if you will, a mountain. This mountain is not just any mountain. It is the tallest, steepest, and most intimidating mountain you have ever seen. This mountain represents the impossible in our lives. It could be a chronic illness, a broken relationship, a difficult job situation, or a dream that seems out of reach. We stand at the foot of this mountain, feeling small and insignificant, wondering how we could possibly overcome it.

But then, we remember the question from Genesis 18:14. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Suddenly, the mountain doesn't seem so big. Because we serve a God who moves mountains. We serve a God who made the heavens and the earth, who parted the Red Sea, who raised Lazarus from the dead. We serve a God for whom nothing is impossible.

So, as we stand before our mountains today, let us remember the promise of Genesis 18:14. Let us remember that we serve a God for whom nothing is too hard. Let us hold onto this promise as we face the impossible in our lives. And let us believe, truly believe, that with God, all things are possible.

May the Lord bless the reading and understanding of His Word. Amen.

Believe The Impossible: Genesis 18:14

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

This question, posed in Genesis 18:14, is a rhetorical one. The implied answer is a resounding "No!". Nothing is too hard for God. But let's not just skim over this. Let's really sit with it. Let's marinate in this truth.

God's Limitless Power

First, let's consider the limitless power of God. The God we serve isn't confined by our human limitations. He isn't restricted by our narrow understanding of what's possible. He's the God who created the universe, who set the stars in the sky, who knows the number of hairs on our head. He's the God who parted the Red Sea, who brought down the walls of Jericho, who raised Lazarus from the dead. He's the God who took a couple well past childbearing years and promised them a son.

Now, let's look at the word "hard" in the original Hebrew. The word used here is "pala," which means to be marvelous, to be extraordinary, to be beyond one's power or ability. So when the question is asked, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" it's really asking, "Is anything too marvelous, too extraordinary, too beyond the power or ability of the Lord?" And again, the answer is a resounding "No!"

As A.W. Tozer, a well-known Christian theologian, once said, "With God, nothing is impossible. He is God of the impossible."

God's Faithfulness to His Promises

Secondly, let's consider God's faithfulness to His promises. When God made this promise to Abraham and Sarah, they were old. Very old. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for them to have a child. But God had made a promise, and God is always faithful to His promises.

God didn't just make this promise on a whim. He didn't make it without knowing exactly how old Abraham and Sarah were. He knew their circumstances. He knew their limitations. But He made the promise anyway. Why? Because God's promises aren't dependent on our circumstances. They're dependent on His faithfulness. And God is always faithful.

God's Desire for Our Trust

Finally, let's consider God's desire for our trust. When God asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" He wasn't looking for information. He was looking for faith. He was looking for Abraham to trust Him, to believe in His power, to believe in His promises.

And that's what God is looking for from us, too. He's looking for us to trust Him, to believe in His power, to believe in His promises. He's looking for us to believe that nothing is too hard for Him.

So let's believe. Let's trust. Let's have faith. Because with God, nothing is impossible. He is the God of the impossible. And He is always faithful to His promises."

Believing the Impossible

In the heart of Genesis 18:14, we find a question that echoes through the ages, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" This question, posed by God Himself, is not just a rhetorical device. It's a challenge. It's an invitation. It's a reminder of who God is and what He can do.

When God asked Abraham this question, He was challenging his limited human perspective. Abraham and Sarah were old, well past the age of childbearing. The idea of having a child seemed impossible. But God was saying, "Don't limit me. Don't put me in a box. I am the God of the impossible."

This question is also an invitation. God was inviting Abraham to believe in the impossible. To trust in His power and His promises, even when they seemed unbelievable. God was saying, "Step out in faith. Believe in me. Believe in the impossible."

Finally, this question is a reminder. A reminder of who God is and what He can do. God was reminding Abraham of His power, His sovereignty, His ability to do far more than we can ask or imagine. He was saying, "Remember who I am. Remember what I've done. Remember what I can do."

In the New Testament, we find a similar theme in Luke 1:37, "For nothing will be impossible with God." This was the angel Gabriel's message to Mary when he announced that she would conceive Jesus, the Son of God, even though she was a virgin. Just like Abraham and Sarah, Mary was faced with a seemingly impossible situation. But the message was the same: Nothing is too hard for God.

Abraham and Sarah had every reason to doubt. They were old. They were tired. They had been waiting for a child for so long. But God's question challenged them to look beyond their circumstances, to believe in the impossible, to trust in His power and His promises.

Even when doubts crept in, even when Sarah laughed at the idea of having a child, God's question was there, reminding them of who He is and what He can do. Doubts may come, but they don't have to define us. We can choose to believe, to trust in God, to hold on to His promises.

God's promise to Abraham and Sarah was not fulfilled immediately. There was a delay. There was a waiting period. But God's question encouraged them to persevere, to keep believing, to keep trusting, even in the midst of delay. God's timing is not our timing, but His timing is always perfect.

So, let's take this question to heart. Let's accept God's challenge, embrace His invitation, and remember His power. Let's believe in the impossible, because with God, nothing is too hard.

The Fulfillment of God's Promise

In the grand tapestry of biblical narratives, the story of Abraham and Sarah stands as a beacon of hope, a testament to the boundless capabilities of God. It's a story that prompts us to ask ourselves, "Is anything too hard for God?" This question, simple in its construction, yet profound in its implications, serves as a reminder of the omnipotence of God, a divine attribute that underscores His ability to accomplish anything, no matter how impossible it may seem to our human understanding.

The first point we need to consider is the context in which this question is asked. In Genesis 18:14, God posed this question to Abraham, not as a challenge to Abraham's faith, but as an affirmation of His divine power. Abraham and Sarah were advanced in years, well beyond the age of childbearing. Yet, God had promised them a son, a promise that seemed impossible to fulfill given their circumstances. But God, in His infinite wisdom and power, was not deterred by the apparent impossibility of this situation. He was not limited by the biological constraints that bound Abraham and Sarah. He was, and is, the God of the impossible, the One who calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

This brings us to the second point, which is the actual fulfillment of God's promise. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son, Isaac. This miraculous event served as a tangible demonstration of God's power, a power that transcends human understanding and defies the laws of nature. It was a divine intervention, a clear testament to the fact that nothing is too hard for God. This miracle was not just about the birth of a child; it was a declaration of God's faithfulness, a proclamation of His ability to fulfill His promises, regardless of the circumstances.

In the words of A.W. Tozer, "A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils. But a person with a high view of God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems." This quote, while not directly related to the story of Abraham and Sarah, encapsulates the essence of their experience. They had a high view of God. They believed in His promises, even when their situation seemed hopeless. They understood that God was not bound by human limitations, that He was fully capable of doing the impossible.

Finally, we need to consider the implications of this story for our own lives. Just like Abraham and Sarah, we too are faced with situations that seem impossible to overcome. We too have dreams and desires that seem unattainable. But the story of Abraham and Sarah reminds us that we serve a God who specializes in the impossible. He is not deterred by our limitations or intimidated by our circumstances. He is the God who brings life out of death, hope out of despair, and fulfillment out of barrenness. So, whatever impossible situation you're facing today, remember that nothing is too hard for God. He is more than capable of turning your impossibilities into possibilities.

Conclusion

As we draw to a close on our time together, let's take a moment to reflect on the journey we've taken today. We've journeyed through the pages of Genesis, to the lives of Abraham and Sarah, two individuals who dared to believe in the impossible because they knew the God they served. They knew that with God, nothing is too hard.

Genesis 18:14 asks us, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" The answer is a resounding no. Nothing is too hard for our God. He is the God of the impossible. He is the God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. He is the God who turns our doubts into faith, our fears into courage, and our barrenness into abundance.

Abraham and Sarah's story is a testament to this truth. They were old, well past the age of childbearing. Yet, God had promised them a son. It seemed impossible, but they chose to believe God. They chose to hold on to His promise, even when it seemed unlikely. And God, in His faithfulness, fulfilled His promise.

Their story is not just a story of the past. It is a story for us today. It is a reminder that our God is still the God of the impossible. He is still in the business of fulfilling His promises. He is still turning doubts into faith, fears into courage, and barrenness into abundance.

So, as we go into this coming week, let's be more like Jesus. Let's be people of faith, people who believe in the impossible because we know the God we serve. Let's be people who hold on to God's promises, even when they seem unlikely. Let's be people who trust in the power of our Almighty God.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for the story of Abraham and Sarah, which reminds us of Your faithfulness and power. Help us to be more like Jesus in the coming week. Help us to be people of faith, people who believe in the impossible because we know You. Help us to hold on to Your promises, even when they seem unlikely. Strengthen our faith and fill us with courage to face any challenges that come our way. May Your Holy Spirit guide us and empower us to live lives that bring glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, may the Lord bless you and keep you; may His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He turn His face toward you and give you peace. As you go forth from this place, remember that nothing is too hard for our God. Believe in the impossible, hold on to His promises, and trust in His power. Go in the peace and the power of our Almighty God. Amen.

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