When Sarah Laughed at God

Two Attitudes Towards God’s Agenda

Bible Passage: Genesis 18:1-15

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Genesis 18:1–8 NASB95

Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.” Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate.

The first attitude towards God’s agenda that I want you to recognize is…

1. Abraham’s Hospitality

The Pentateuch A. Visitation (Gn 18:1–8)

Abraham knew nothing about these visitors. He was ignorant of their station, their nationality, their destination or mission. They had arrived unannounced and at the most inopportune time of day. Yet Abraham rolled out the proverbial red carpet for them. He ran to them, eager to extend a welcome. His courtesy was instinctive.

It was the hottest (and therefore worst) time of the day for visitors. Custom required Abraham to offer some water to wash with and some food to any guests who passed through, but Abraham bowed before the three visitors and offered them a full (and fancy) meal! He even watched as they ate to ensure that they were full before the food was taken away.

He practiced hospitality to the best of his ability BEFORE he knew it was the LORD!

Throughout history, Christians have been known to be hospitable people who love strangers and outcasts. The widows, the orphans, the travelers, the disabled people, the homeless people, and the prostitutes knew that the Church was a group of people who would welcome them, feed them, clothe them, and encourage them if they became members.

During our church yard sale I spoke for a while with a person who was shopping about their religious background. This person shared that they watched a local church from home because they had a child with a disability who would be a disruption in a church service.

If we want to be like Abraham - If we want God’s blessing on our church, then that family should feel like meeting with us is the safest and most welcoming place they could possibly be!

God have mercy on us if Jesus returns and corrects us as He did His own disciples in Luke 18:15-17!

Luke 18:15–17 NASB95

And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

He entertained angels.

Hebrews 13:2 NASB95

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

If you knew that someone in this room right now was secretly an angel or Jesus Himself, would you change anything about our church’s interaction with them from the sidewalk to the pew this morning?

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The second attitude towards God’s agenda that I want you to recognize is found in verses 9-15…

Genesis 18:9–15 NASB95

Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ “Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

2. Sarah’s Cynicism

Sarah heard God’s plan and laughed because her belief in her current circumstances and past failures was greater than her belief in God’s power to accomplish His purposes.

When God’s Word and His Spirit challenge you or our church, is your response to think or say things like “we tried that and it didn’t work” or “that will never happen” or “we don’t have what we need to do that” or is it to say “is anything too difficult for the LORD?”

If we want to see God do the impossible in our personal lives and the life of our church, our response to His Word and His Spirit must be prayerful and dependent on Him.

Isaiah 46:9–10 NASB95

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

Psalm 127:1–2 NASB95

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

Proverbs 16:9 NASB95

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 19:21 NASB95

Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

John 15:4–17 NASB95

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do what I command you. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. “This I command you, that you love one another.

BENEDICTION

Philippians 4:4–8 NASB95

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

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