Thursday, May 28
Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?
—Genesis 18:14a
One day three men stopped at their home, and Abraham and Sarah provided gracious hospitality. Scripture tells us that through these three men, “The Lord appeared to Abraham…” During their visit, the men promised that Sarah would soon bear a child. Sarah’s response, as she listened at the door of her tent, was laughter.
She said to herself, “After I have grown
old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” And the Lord, speaking
through one of the visitors, asked, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too
wonderful for the Lord?”
This is an inspiring story however you
look at it. If you believe things happened exactly as recorded (including the
aged Sarah actually giving birth), then this story is a wonderful example of
what God can do in your life, in my life, in the lives of all of us. If you do
not believe it to be literally true, you can take strength and comfort in the
story as a spiritual metaphor for all that the Lord can do in our lives.
There is
a good reason that a story or parable or any text is included in scripture.
Sometimes truth is more powerful than fact. For a story like this to be included
in the Old Testament and then survive to our day (a span of about three thousand
years), that’s pretty good evidence that it contains Truth about God and God’s
relationship with us.
God visits us all the time. God is present
with us and brings us good news. News of healing—healing of barren spirits,
barren relationships, barren lives. He promises all kinds of good surprises. I
would say that the only way we will be denied God’s good surprises for us, is if
we decide that they cannot happen. Even then, it’s possible.
Is
anything too wonderful for the Lord? No. God is with us and God seeks to give us
good things.
Lord, help me to expect you, to receive you, to believe in you. Amen.
This Signpost originally appeared on explorefaith in 2007.
