Saturday 17 November 2012

Background

Today is story time, a dramatic narrative where Sarah, at theage of 90, hears she is to have a child. Three men, messengers fromGod, are welcomed and offered hospitality by Abraham who calls upon Sarah to do the baking and provide a meal.

We can clearly picture the situation with Abraham and his familycamped by the "oaks of Mamre" (v. 1), going about their everydaybusiness when three strangers turn up. Abraham offers them awelcome and Sarah busies herself preparing a meal. The sharing ofthe food becomes a time of revelation. At this time Abraham isstill an 'alien' living in a foreign land and yet he offershospitality to the stranger. Hospitality, and care for the strangeris a theme that is picked up time and time again through the Bible.The nation that God has chosen will need to be one that blessesothers and looks after those in their midst.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Is anything impossible forthe Lord? This challenging question is not given an answer bySarah. We are left with the picture of Sarah doubting the news thatshe has been given by the Lord. "I am old" (v. 13) was her cry.Once more a question of faith and trust in the promises of God isleft hanging and we are told no more until Isaac is born: "The Lorddealt with Sarah as he had said ... Sarah conceived and boreAbraham a son in his old age" (Genesis 21:1-2).

Everything seems to depend on the answer, but we are not toldwhat the answer was, just that Sarah was afraid (verse 15). Sarahand Abraham just seem to get on with their lives and God keepsGod's own promise. Faith and doubt combine as the mystery that isGod works God's own purposes out. The initiative remains withGod.

To Ponder

• How would you answer the question: "Is anything too wonderfulfor the Lord?"

• Have you ever been in a difficult situation where the outcomeseemed impossible? What happened?

• Faith and doubt seem to be intertwined in the lives of Abrahamand Sarah as they learn to walk in God's ways. What space is therein your life for doubt as a good thing?