Is anything too hard for the Lord? “Sarah your wife shall have a son

(Genesis 18:10, 14).  The Lord appeared again to Abraham (Genesis 18:1), in the form of three “men” (verse 2), two of whom turned out to be angels (19:1) and the Lord (verse 13).  Abraham runs to greet them,  and in the manner of the Bedouin hospitality slays a calf and  prepare an elaborate  meal which he describes as 'morsel of bread.' And He (the Lord) said “Sarah your wife shall have a son.” Sarah,  in the tent listening “laughed within herself  saying, 'After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'” (verse 12).  The Lord asks why Sarah laughed  saying “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Sarah denies laughing but the Lord says “No, but you did Laugh.” (verses 10-14). The son to be born is called Isaac which means laughter (21:3).

Commentators see all this as the Lord bringing Sarah's faith to the same level as Abraham's, who had also laughed (17:17).   Sarah had laughed “within herself,” but the Lord knew.” We read that nothing is hidden from the Lord, not the thoughts and intents of the heart. And “all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12, 13).  Bringing Abraham and Sarah to the same level of faith would then mean the son to be born would be nurtured in a household of faith.  The Lord desires us that we raise godly children, and to do so  in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Malachi 2:15; Ephesians 6:4). God created family, and to me this passage stresses the importance of husbands and wives being on the same page,  especially with respect to family.

As mentioned earlier, the Lord intends the marriage relation to be a living parable of Christ's love for the church (Ephesians 5:28-33).  This is no small task in a culture that seems bent on tearing  marriages and families apart.  I have a tome written in 1992 entitled “The War against the Family,” and it has only gotten worse since then. Part of this war of course,  is aimed Biblical passages that instruct about marriage and the family.  Not surprisingly they are controversial to say the least.  I have the sense however, that if we really understood them and how to apply them in our culture, we would run to them. 

 It's not just in marriage of course,  but structure and hierarchies are inevitable. As also mentioned earlier, Sari wore the pants (see March 9). There are two errors that I see,  hierarchies without love, and love without truth or structure. To me the controversial passages are summed up well by Ephesians 5:33 which says “let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife respect her husband.” Of course the husband should  also respect the wife,  and  the wife love the husband.

Father, there have been and likely always will be,  imbalance in these things. Bringing them into balance seems impossible. But “Is anything to hard for the Lord” (Genesis 18:14)?  What You require from us Father is to first give ourselves to You in radical submission (Romans 12:1), and then also to each other (Ephesian 5:21).  When we come to the foot of the cross in this way, then all things are possible.  And we can to all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Help us Lord and we will give You the glory in Jesus Name Amen