Laughing At God Series

We continue our series on Abraham this morning. If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Genesis 18, if you will.

As a part of today’s message, we have something special for you. At the end of today’s service, you will be invited to one of several locations in our worship center. Volunteers in our church have worked diligently to ensure you have something to take home with you today. They wanted to ensure the Lord spoke directly to you for your encouragement. Please wait for instructions at the end of today’s message.

Do you believe God can do the impossible? Pause and consider this more personal question: Do you believe God can do the impossible in your life?

Today’s Scripture

“And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:1–15).

Over 100,000 text messages sent around February 14 of this year were finally delivered on just a few weeks ago. The delayed texts caused some awkward moments. One young man said he just received this message from a young lady, “Yes, I’d love to go out for Valentine’s Day.” He now knows why they never dated. Barbara Coll, from California, received a message from her sister that said that their now deceased mother was doing well. The message talked about planning to visit her mom. The whole mess-up had to do with a server going down around Valentine’s Day and coming back online in early November, some 9 months later.

Sarah receives a visit from God Himself. But like the text messages, she feels His visit was way too late. Do you believe God can do the impossible in your life?

1. God Makes the Invisible, Visible

One day, three strangers come to the tent of Abraham. The three travelers are the Lord and two angels, though that is not immediately apparent. The reason we think the two are angels is because our story continues into the next chapter where we are told about 2 angels (Genesis 19:1). Then there’s a tornado of activity in the middle of the hottest part of the day for Abraham shows incredible hospitality to his guests. Whether Abraham and Sarah know it immediately or not, God appears to them. The Lord Himself shows up in this couple’s life.

1.1. Abraham’s Vision

Now, God had already come to Abraham. Abraham had heard God speak and Abraham had witnessed God’s presence back in Genesis 15. The presence of God showed up in Abraham’s vision. The Bible records Abraham’s mood when God appears: “And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him” (Genesis 15:12b). God is pictured as a smoking fie pot and a flaming torch. Plus, God shows up again in Abraham’s life in Genesis 17 where He changes his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many nations), showing just how many children Abraham will have. He had come for Abraham there but now God comes to show Himself to Sarah.