Don’t laugh at me!

Genesis 18:1–15 NRSV

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little 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.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 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. They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”

Intro:

I wonder how many times we have chuckled at a God given promise as if it were not possible......

Because......

......in most cases it is those challenges that we face that talk the longest....

..........look the biggest

..........sound the worst

And all God does is give a WORD.....

.......that’s all God does!

When Paul was struggling with his thorn in the flesh challenge God responded by saying.....

“My grace is sufficent for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness!”

(pause)

And when LIFE is LOUD and LONG

......its easy sometimes to LAUGH at God’s WORD of promise

But there is a lesson to be learned today....

.......when it comes to comparing a LOUD LIFE

.......to a GOD WORD

(pause, expound and shift)

Look at it now....

Genesis 18.1-2

Genesis 18:1–2 NRSV

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground.

According to the text.....

......Abraham at 99 years old starts running towards God and these other 2 men standing off in the distance.

......and when he arrives over to where they are he “bows to the ground” in this Ancient Near Eastern gesture of common hospitality,

....showing his respect for God by his submission.

(pause)

Look at it now.....

Genesis 18:3–5 NRSV

He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little 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.”

According to the text....

Abraham addresses God by saying “My Lord”

And I believe this to be extremely significant because.......

Abraham is acknowledging who he believes in!

(pause)

He did not say....

“The Lord........

but instead Abraham said,

“My Lord!”

(pause)

And I know that this may sound like a small point in the grand scheme of life.....

......but I would argue that this is a season where it needs to be made abundantly clear,

.......that we’re not just trusting in “The Lord.....”

But we need to make it clear that we are trusting in........

“MY Lord!”

(pause and expound)

And then Abraham says,

“Lord, I know you are on a mission somewhere,

…but please sir,

“Do NOT.......Pass me by!”

....and that phrase “Pass me by” of course means,

....to overstep or to step right on by me and keep going

(pause and expound)

Now watch this........

Abraham has servants of his own!

....which means that Abraham has somewhat of a respected status

But notice he does not refer to himself as someone who is requestiong God to stop because of his status.....

Because in his question towards God he says....

“Lord, do not pass by, this your servant!”

(pause)

In other words....

Abraham has a heart of sacrifice in this moment towards the Lord...

(pause)

....and with this attitude of sacrifice, Abraham invites them to

“Rest themselves under these sacred groves of Hebron called the......(Oaks of Mamre)”

.......and we are watching his sacrifice allow for both refreshing and resting.

(pause)

And as I noticed Abraham’s heart,

the first relevant question that came to my mind was this....

Baker.....

......what is the benefit for those who come into your presence?

Because Jesus says,

“When you have done it to the least of these you have done it unto me!”

And so,

I just believe that....

Our sacrifice should be noticeably effective in the lives of others.

(pause and expound)

Look at it now.....

Genesis 18:6–8 NRSV

And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 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.

The text begins to paint this picture of hospitality and sacrifice in action.......

And as Abraham is organizing everything for God it becomes clear that he is not holding back........

He asks for......

3 measures of flour

He goes out and gets.....

1 of his best calves

Pulls out the good drink.....

Curds and Milk

(pause)

And then once he gets everything prepared.......

......Just like any good hosts

......he just stands back and watches them enjoy the meal

.......and makes sure they don’t need anything else!

(pause)

Look at it now because here comes the shift.....

Genesis 18:9 NRSV

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”

Notice that in this second half of this context of scripture that the focus is shifting to Sarah.........

After they have finished eating....

.....these Holy visitors ask Abraham,

“Where is your wife?”

(pause)

And as this shift is taking place........

.....the entire time I was asking myself

“Self, what’s the reason for this shift!”

(pause)

And then in my spiritual imagination I begin to see the real reason why Abraham has visitors in the first place!

Because watch this.......

Abraham..........

.........they did not come to see you in particular

(slight pause)

Thank you for the hospitality.........

......we appreciate you Bruh

(pause)

But we came to drop a WORD in your house

......and we need to make the ANNOUNCEMENT!

(pause)

And Freedom family may I suggest to you that,

........there are some things in our lives that God is showing up specifically for

........ so that they can be addressed with an ANNOUNCEMENT!

(pause)

And yes Freedom.....our sacrifice is important......

.......because it positions us to even be able to get to this point

(slight pause)

But I’m just wondering if sometimes......

......our expectation is for God to respond graciously to our Faith

.....when in all actuality in this particular moment God is trying to change our mindsets with a PROPHETIC WORD!

(pause)

Because watch this.......

Out of the blue.....

Here comes this new question........

Abraham,

“Where is your WIFE?”

And so.....

Abraham your Faith welcomed us in..........

........but we showed up for Sarah

Because......

It’s time for the PROMISE to be announced!!

(pause)

And the text doesn’t tell us that Abraham is hesitant in sharing her location.......

But if it were me........

.....I’m not saying I would not have told........

(slight pause)

.....but what would have crossed my mind is......

(pause)

Lord......

.......why yall asking for her?

(Long exagerrated pause)

But what Abraham most likely understands is this,

When God is looking for something, or someone in our lives........

........there’s always a JUSTIFIABLE reason!

(pause)

And Abraham says,

“She’s right over there sitting in the tent!”

(pause)

Which in my spiritual imagination says,

“Oh, she’s over there close enough to hear everything yall saying!”

(pause)

Now watch this........

Because here is why my spiritual imagination is moving in this direction...

Becuase the next thing God says in verse 10 is a Word of Promise.......

Watch the text....

Genesis 18:10 NRSV

Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.

The text says.....

God tells Abraham what’s going to happen to Sarah,

“Abraham when I come back next spring to see you two again a little over nine months from now, Sarah is going to have a baby!”

(pause)

Now here’s what I need for you to see....

God is talking to Abraham who has this incredible amount of faith......

But........

Sarah is sitting over in the tent overhearing the conversation.

(pause)

And......

Sarah is representing something in particular that I want to point out....

Because......

.....what I need for us to see is that there are times in our lives when God is speaking to the Faith that is represented in our lives....

But......

.........the conversation is being overheard by the part of us that is married to our FAITH!

(pause and expound)

And in verse 11.....

......the Biblical writer paints a descriptive picture to give us what God is speaking against as it relates to the life of Abraham and Sarah

(pause)

Look at it......

Genesis 18:11 NRSV

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

In other words......

......The odds are stacked against them.

They are very old, and Abraham and Sarah’s body is not even in a position to produce children.

And so when Sarah overheard what she considered to be this ridiculous possibility she started laughing........

Genesis 18:12 NRSV

So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?”

And Freedom family.......

In most cases if we could choose which character we would play in the text today

.....many of us would choose Abraham

But if the truth were to be told........

........everyone of us has played Sarah at some point in our lives!

(pause)

Because.......

We have all overheard God say something

.....and then turned around and laughed because it did not fit what LIFE was saying!

(pause and expound)

And so just like Sarah.......

......We laughed and said,

“The thrill is gone!”

......and we manufactured logical reasons why what God is speaking for our lives is unreasonable

(pause)

And....

I don’t know what you’re laughing at right now......

.........but I know you have laughed at something that God has said

.......that did not match your Life requirements!

(pause and optional expound)

Watch the text now....

Genesis 18:13 NRSV

The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

God says....

Abraham,

“Why is she laughing at me.....

......saying she is too old to give birth?”

(pause)

And......

I like the way the Contemporary English Bible reads in this verse and in verse 14.....

…because it says....

“Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age?”

And then verse 14 says....

“I AM THE LORD........”

just in case there was any doubt about who I am.........

“I am the WAYMAKER!”

“I am the PROMISE KEEPER!”

“I am Light in the DARKNESS”

(pause)

And it don’t matter what language you put me in........

I still come out with POWER and PROMISE!!!!

(pause and expound)

Now let me say it again......

I’ll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son!”

(pause)

Freedom family.....

Sarah was so scared......

The bible says in verse 15 that she spoke up from inside the tent and lied and said....

“I didn’t laugh!”

(pause)

But God responds,

“YES YOU DID.........”

(pause)

And some of us today have been found guilty......

You heard what God said..........

......and you laughed.....

........and when you got caught you said

“I didn’t laugh.....”

(pause)

And in my spiritual imagination I hear God saying,

“Don’t laugh at me!”

(pause)

I’m trying to GIVE YOU a WORD!

I’m trying to GIVE you a PROMISE.........

I’m trying to get you to see my POWER.....

(pause)

And I don’t know about you Freedom.......

But I’m no longer laughing at the PROMISES of GOD!!!!

But instead.....

The crazier it sounds to me.......

The more CONFIDENT I become

.......that before my JESUS returns!!!!

In due season!!

(pause and cresendo)

And as the hymn writer penned.....

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art (REPEAT this stanza)

(pause)

And then if I can stand it.......

I would turn over to that other great hymn writer and say...

Tis so sweet to Trust in Jesus

Just to take him at his word

Just to rest upon His promise

Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust HIM!

How I proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him more! (Repeat this...... “Did you hear what I just said!?”)

(pause)

And this is the God i hear saying to us......

Don’t you laugh at me! (Emphasize!)

(pause......shift.............CLOSE)

I’m not concerend with how loud life is talking.....

I don’t care nothing about how much life has to say....

(pause)

Did I promise you I was going to do it for you!!!!!

That’s what you need to believe in......

.................I PROMISE you

.........what you been asking me for

.......is going to be yours

.......before I come back!!!