Read Genesis 18:1-15
Questions from the Scripture text: Who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18:1? By where? What was Abraham doing? Where? What time of day was it? What did Abraham lift in Genesis 18:2? What did he see? What did he do when he saw them? What did he do when he met them? What does he call the three men in Genesis 18:3? What does he ask Him/Them not to do? What does Abraham call himself? What does he propose to bring in Genesis 18:4? So they can do what? What does Abraham propose to bring in Genesis 18:5? To do what? What does he call himself again? In what manner did Abraham go to Sarah in Genesis 18:6? In what manner does he tell her to make cakes? In what manner did Abraham go to the herd in Genesis 18:7? What does he take? In what manner does he prepare it? What else does Abraham take in Genesis 18:8? What does he do as they eat? Who is speaking to him in Genesis 18:9? What do they ask? What does he answer? Who is speaking in Genesis 18:10? What does He say He will do? What does He say Sarah will have, when He returns? What was Sarah doing and where? What does Genesis 18:11 comment about Abraham and Sarah’s age? What point does it make about Sarah’s physical condition? What does Sarah do in Genesis 18:12? Where does she laugh? What does she ask? Who is speaking in Genesis 18:13? What does He ask? What further question does He ask in Genesis 18:14? What does He then repeat? Who answers in Genesis 18:15? Against Whom does she now argue? What does He do/say?After thirteen years between the previous two recorded appearances to Abraham, Yahweh appears to him again after just three months. Interestingly—at least until the issue of Sodom’s destruction arises—Sarah seems to be the focus of this visit. Half of our text is spent on Abraham’s earnestness to receive and serve the Lord.
But when the Lord Himself finally brings up His own subject of conversation, it is all about “Sarah your wife” (Genesis 18:9, Genesis 18:10). And the comments in the narrative are primarily about Sarah—her activity (listening), her location ( tent door), her medical status (passed the age of childbearing), and even her inner attitude (laughed within herself) and thoughts (after I have grown old, etc.).
Of course, Sarah doesn’t do very well for herself. Her laughter does not occur on her face before the Lord, worshiping in the Romans-4-affirmed, non-wavering faith. It is a laughter to be ashamed of (for she was afraid), and comes from the same dysfunctional heart that proceeds to start an argument with Yahweh (I did not laugh)!
The effect of this is to answer the question that Genesis 18:14 puts before us (is anything too hard for Yahweh?) with a resounding, “No!” Not only is He strong enough to give Sarah’s dead body the ability to bear a child, but He is strong enough to give sinners’ dead hearts the ability to believe in THE child who would eventually come from her, Jesus Christ!
What difficult circumstance are you in? In it, how is your own heart a greater difficulty?Suggested Songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH429 “Come Thou Fount”
No comments:
Post a Comment