Genesis 18:1-15

And the LORD appeared to him near the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.

² He lifted up his eyes and looked, and see, 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 ground

³ and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not disregard your servant.

⁴ Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,

⁵ while I bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on- since you have visited your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

⁶ And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Now! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.”

⁷ And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and exceptional, 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 beside 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, by many 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 this pleasure?”

¹³ The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I really bear a child, now that I am old?’

¹⁴ Is anything too tough for the LORD? At the appointed time I will revisit you – about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

¹⁵ But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, you really did laugh.”

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Honor and trust

It was not difficult for Abraham and his household to honor his visitors. They recognized the LORD. It was more difficult to believe the LORD’s message. He promised that Sarah would have a child in a year. Sarah was long reconciled to the fact that the way of women had passed her by. She was willing to bounce Ishmael on her old knees. She had given up on giving birth to a child of her own.

Before we condemn Sarah, we need to take a good long look at our lives, because we are guilty of the same kind of thinking. The LORD promises us a new birth too. No matter how old we are, our tendency is to inwardly laugh. We might be respectful of God when he visits us with the promise of new birth, but the real proof of faith is when we trust him to create something new inside us.

Sarah said she was worn out, an expression used for old, tattered clothing.[1] We struggle inside because we feel that way about our souls. The new birth is not distasteful to us, but it does feel impossible. Nevertheless, the LORD is going to do what he promises to do. Like Sarah and Abraham, we will have to get over ourselves and trust him as well as honor him.

LORD, we believe in the new birth you have promised. Help our unbelief. Help us to trust you for the ridiculously miraculous future you have planned.

[1] Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:4; Joshua 9:4-5,13.