Genesis 17:15-18:15 and Genesis 21:1-7
God got the last laugh. Sarah is our amazing woman of the day. Now if you're not too familiar with Sarah (actually Sarai until Genesis 17:15), she was the wife of Abraham. Both Abraham and Sarah were getting up there in age (Sarah was 90) and then God makes them a huge promise, that they would have descendants that would become nations. There was only one problem, the absence of a baby and Sarah was barren.
Did you notice both Sarah and Abraham laughed when God told them they would have a son? And Sarah's comments revealed doubt mixed with sarcasm. But as we'll see when we get to Genesis 21, nothing is too large for God. I love verse 1 where we're told that God was gracious to Sarah and that He kept His promise to her.
I can really relate to this story. You see, I've been right where Sarah was a few times in my life. How about you? Have you ever found yourself wondering and thinking God, what are doing here, I'm following You yet my life doesn't seem to make sense, or my life isn't going where I thought it would, or my life seems a little out of control? While I don't necessarily enjoy when I'm in one of those times, I love it when I can look back and see exactly how God was in control and how He orchestrated my life perfectly.
So what did you get out of Sarah's story today? Any "aha" moments concerning God's character or dealing with our doubts? Tami W.
Quick question .... how many children did Sarah & Abraham have?
"Then Abraham took Ishmael his son"
My aha moment was when she laughed and the Lord said "is there any thing to hard for the lord"..
To trust God should be very easy because we have faith and hope in him but it can be very difficult at times because God's time is not our time and his timing is always perfect not sometimes nor most of the time always and anyone who has experienced any kind of blessing breakthrough from Christ can say that....We (I) have to learn how to wait on God and not be to hasty. Sarah was doubtful but in the end she blessed ...She laughed to herself then in the end she said the Lord has brought me laughter in whatever way she meant isn't it funny not Ha Ha funny but isn't funny how God works in us through us and for us ....
Sarah and Abraham had only one child, Isaac. Abraham had another son, however, with Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar. That child was called Ishmael.
Allen, Biblical Correspondent at Back to the Bible
Yes, this has happened to me several times in my life. My aha moment is Gen. 18:4 Is anything to hard for the Lord. We must remember that our Lord has a plan for us all. His children is very dear to his heart. I've seen children afraid of me because of my race. The Lord told me to just hold on. Those same children who were afraid are no longer afraid they love me. So yes the Lord has kept his promise.
Praise Be To God.
Foe me, I see that God is not limited by our doubts. In fact He knows our doubts but is gracious to keep His promise.Like Sarah there have been times when I wondered but how can this be possible. But that is because I'm trying to use my limited knowledge to understand how God will do the promise. But that's not faith. the beeter response is from Abraham, even though he doubted and couldn't see how it was possible he remained obedient.
My other aha moment is when God confronted Sarah about her doubts she was afraid. Once again God was gentle. Not the response you would expect. makes me rethink how I handle those who don't believe in you or your dreams.