Sarah's Doubt

Bro Barney

Seth move in

Genesis 18:1–15 ESV

1 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Let’s see the difference in Abraham’s and Sarah’s laughter

Abraham laughed in wonder at the possibility of Sarah having a son

Sarah laughed in doubt

Sarah didnt doubt it was the Lord. Sometimes we struggle to know the difference. Ourselves or Him. Our desires or His. She knew His voice and presence. We need to...

We need to live by faith. If we only ever accept what we see that is living by sight or logic or common sense, but it is not faith.

She flat didnt believe Him. Our past filters our perspective. When God comes along and gives new direction we need to be able to see with a new one. His.

Maybe we should make this a part of our prayer for ourselves and each other. As He starts bringing into focus an outward turn toward our community let’s guard against scoffing at what He may be leading us to do.

The physical impossibility of the promise to come through Sarah

The Word uses the euphemism for menopause then Sarah raises the very pointed question about her and Abraham’s union producing a child. She knows her inability to produce her half of the DNA.

Death was arrested and her life began...

The physical impossibility was real, but God!

But God had made a promise.

But God breathed new life into Sarah.

The character of Abraham as a host

God does the impossible. If man does it without God, it wasnt impossible.

Natural/Supernatural - people love the supernatural! 4 Avengers movies, Black Panther and Harry Potter in the top 10 grossing movies the past 10 years.

God uses the unlikely

Just because man’s plan succeeds does not mean it was God’s perfect will: Ishmael.

Abraham: The Story of a Life The Covenant of Grace Abounding

During the 13 years that had passed since the birth of Ishmael, this firstborn of Abraham was accepted without challenge as Abraham’s heir designate. His status as Abraham’s heir was not intended as a temporary measure. Abraham’s own acceptance of this situation is apparent from his appeal, made even after the promise that Sarah would bear a child, that Ishmael might be the one to win God’s special favor (literally, “to live in God’s presence,” 17:18). He was, after all, his firstborn son, and Abraham’s great affection for him is apparent throughout the cycle. Nothing in this covenant of grace followed by the covenant of circumcision would have changed this situation; Ishmael is still the heir presumptive.

Genesis 17:19 ESV

19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

God uses the unlikely

God uses the unlikely

God uses the unlikely

The first born child was to receive 2 shares of an equally divided estate in Jewish culture. The genealogy was usually passed/recorded through the firstborn son. Great responsibility and privilege on the first born. But here we see God naming the SECOND born son as the son of promise.

Jacob/Esau

Joseph was the 2nd youngest

Joseph’s 2nd born received the paternal blessing

King David was the youngest

Do you see yourself as the unlikely? As one God loves but doesnt really have grand plans for?