February 21, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Laughing, Lying And Trees

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord God, giver of life and love and grace, I thank You that You can fill my heart with joy each day.

Read Genesis 18:1–15

For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.

[1] The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. [2] Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. [3] He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. [4] Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. [5] Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way-now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” [6] So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” [7] Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. [8] He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. [9] “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. [10] Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. [11] Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. [12] So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” [13] Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ [14] Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” [15] Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14). See Luke 1:37.

The Bible doesn’t generally waste words, so we may well question why details are given here. Why the trees (1,4,8)? There are parallels to the Eden story and, potentially, an allusion to the tree of life, which may, in part, answer the question. Likewise, the itemized menu shows that Abraham was a good host, hospitality being important in that culture, but in it are foreshadows of the sacrifices: “fine flour” (6) is used only in cereal offerings and making the bread of the presence; and only animals without defects—“choice, tender calf” (7)—were allowed to be sacrificed. Gordon Wenham, in his commentary on Genesis, feels that there are also parallels with the flood story. Nevertheless, in a passage where the main point seems to be a reiteration of the promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah (and that Sarah laughed), one wonders why we need to know that Sarah was in the entrance of the tent that was behind the tree under which Abraham stood. Interpreting God’s Word is not always straightforward. We may over-read a text and draw out significances that are not intended, or we may miss nuances because we have deemed something to be unimportant. Which of our questions are good and which are bizarre, idiosyncratic or just basic? Thankfully, we have commentaries to help us, though there is no substitute for reading and re-reading God’s Word—slowly. Sarah struggled to interpret God’s words. Like her husband, she laughed inwardly at the idea of conceiving a child at their ages. Her fear on being discovered and her denying the laugh are understandable, but though it was an unnerving experience it was also, arguably, reassuring. If God could hear her inner, silent laugh, could he not also work with her inner body? Interestingly, though one or more of the strangers have spoken up to this point, it is the Lord who asks why Sarah laughs.

Apply

What does this story about Sarah teach you? Where in your life may God be telling you it’s never too late?

Closing prayer

Help me, Father, to believe that amidst the many questions in life and in the Scriptures, nothing is too hard for You.

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