Sermon Tone Analysis
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Genesis 18:1–15 (KJV 1900)
God, accompanied by two angels, pays Abraham a visit.
Abraham was not unaccustomed to visits with God.
In just the previous chapter, he had discoursed with God regarding the promises that god had made to him.
God had promised Abraham, many years earlier, that He would make a great nation out Abraham and his children.
Time had crept by and, as of yet, God had not fulfilled His promise.
This visit though, was different.
Abraham is sitting in the door of his tent when he sees the three visitors that seem to have come from out of no where.
Abraham rushes to the visitors and bows himself at their feet.
He refers to one of the visitors as “my Lord.”
The english word “Lord” appears several times in our passage.
You would be forgiven for thinking that all three words mean the same thing.
There are actually three Hebrew words being used in this passage, however.
In this instance, Abraham indicates an immediate recognition of who he is kneeling before.
Abraham refers to one of the visitors as “my adonai.”
Adonai is a Hebrew proper noun referring only to God.
Abraham understands that he is kneeling before God, Himself.
Now, we are concerned tonight with examining God doing impossible things, but let’s not miss a very common thing that we see God doing in this passage.
Abraham asks God ad His angels to stay at his home for awhile.
He offers them food and drink.
God agrees.
He sends Abraham to prepare the food and drink for them.
Imagine the thrill of preparing a meal for God and two angels!
Abraham gets to work preparing the meal.
He hastened in to tell Sarah to make some bread.
He runs to the field to pick out a calf.
He hasted to dress it.
Once all of the food is prepared, notice Abraham’s actions.
He places the food before his heavenly guests.
Then he stands by while they eat.
Abraham, one of the richest men on the planet, stands as a servant waiting on his Master.
This is all really cool to see.
Even more amazing is that God and the angels eat the food.
Think about this for a second.
God and two angels eating the food of earth.
God, in the flesh, eating food, who does that remind you of?
There is probably a lot that we could say about the theology of God eating, here.
But, we could also just look at it from a less scientific perspective and just appreciate that God would connect with Abraham in this way.
As the meal starts to wrap up, God moves the conversation into the business of His visit.
This divine visit is more than a social call.
God is the spokesperson for the three visitors.
He asks Abraham where Sarah is.
Abraham answers that she is in the tent.
Culturally, it would not have been appropriate for Sarah to be present as the men ate and conversed.
Sounds strange to us, but it was normal for them.
Something that was also normal for them was that the women would listen in on the men’s conversation if it was interesting.
I don’t know how many of you have ever stayed in a tent, they’re not exactly sound proof.
Now, if you’ve ever listened to a bunch of men, it may not surprise you to learn that a lot of male conversations aren’t all that interesting.
Sarah was listening, though, because these visitors were obviously important to get her aged husband so worked up.
When God speaks, He does so, fully intending for Sarah to hear.
God announces to Abraham and Sarah that the time has come for Him to fulfill His promise.
They will welcome a child into their home.
It will not be the child of a concubine, like Ishmael was.
This will be Abraham’s son by his wife Sarah.
A true and right heir, just as God had always promised.
When Sarah heard this from inside the tent she laughed within herself.
Even though Abraham and Sarah were given good health and long life, they were both well past the age of producing children.
How could she and her husband hope to have joy so late in life.
BTW, this is the second instance of the word “lord.”
When Sarah refers to Abraham as her “lord” it is not the same as the word that Abraham had used for God.
Though it is close, Adon vs. Adonai simply means leader.
God had reiterated His commitment to give Abraham a son in the previous chapter.
Abraham had laughed at this news as well.
Abraham’s laugh was the laugh of a man overjoyed and full of faith that he would receive what had been promised.
Sarah laughed out of disbelief.
You could almost say it was a sneer of doubt.
Considerable sympathy must be shown to Sarah, she had barren for decades.
She had not had the same interactions with God that Abraham had.
While he had been growing in his understanding of God’s plan for his life, it is not clear how much Sarah knew.
Even if Abraham had shared everything God had said, she was still getting it second-hand.
As Sarah laughed to herself at God’s promise, she assumed that she could do so unnoticed.
Sound may travel easily through the tents.
She laughed to herself and made no sound.
Someone had heard, though.
Sitting outside the tent, the Lord had heard Sarah.
He addressed Abraham, with full knowledge that Sarah was listening.
He asked why Sarah had laughed at what He had said.
If you think about this, it is incredibly insulting.
Sarah doubted what God had said.
When we doubt God, we are questioning His veracity and ability.
What is in doubt?
Does God keep His promises?
Can He keep His promises?
God graciously poses a question to the couple intended to challenge and strengthen their faith.
Sarah, you’ve asked whether or not I can give you a child at your age.
You doubt me.
Allow me to answer your question with another question.
Is anything too hard for the LORD?
Here is another use of the word “lord” this time in all caps.
The Hebrew word behind this word is nothing like the previous two instances.
This is the title of Yahweh/Jehovah.
Is anything too hard for YAHWEH?
Is there anything too hard for God to accomplish?
Too wonderful?
Too impossible?
God is powerful enough to do all that He wills.
He already expressed His will for them to have a child of their own.
Can the God who provides be trusted to provide your family with the promised son?
Without waiting for a response, God confirms what He will do.
He will visit their family.
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