Badenoch Free Church

Sunday Morning 1st July 2007

 

Intro: Gen 18v14 “"Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."” NKJV

 

Who is asking?

V1 - the LORD appeared to Abraham! Yahweh is asking the question.

Thus It’s a divine question. (2^nd question of the day.)

 

Why is he asking?

V2-8 a meal has been prepared. Typical Bedouin style. Abraham prepares a lavish meal. then stands as they eat.

And then comes the first question!

V9 - where is Sarah.

Physically she was there in the tent.

Spiritually where was she?

V10 - she hears the conversation and laughs at the promise!

She is thinking at the purely human level of the pleasure of having a child. Not about the covenant promise of salvation.

In the context the question is asked - Because Sarah laughed.

Yahweh wanted to make her think! Because she doubted the power of God.

 

What is the point of it?

The main point is nothing is impossible for God. He is omnipotent.

This would have come as a reassurance to Abraham who had already been given the promise in chap17.

And as a rebuke to Sarah who, it would seem, doubts Gods power to do the impossible.

Application for today’s world.

Today God is still all powerful. He has not changed. He is omnipotent!

Now we see the principle fully worked out in Christ - who is declared as having all authority in heaven and on earth.

God has the power to do the impossible and with that power commissions us to make disciples! Empowers the church for service. Thus Gods omnipotence is very relevant for today!

Relevant for you who are struggling, Who are weak, Who’s faith is failing.

For those who recognise their need of help.

Who maybe have a specific problem - addiction, illness.

For those who are burdened with the thought of tomorrow.

For those who have responsibilities - children, work, etc.

Is anything too hard for Yahweh?

What do you think?

You need to answer this for yourself!

Is God all powerful or not?

Is God, God or not?

For God to be God, there must be nothing that is too hard!

What kind of God do we worship if not thee One who is all-powerful?

This question is one that is echoed again and again throughout scripture.

Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Jerusalem was under siege from the Babylonians and Jeremiah was kept in prison at the palace of the king, because of his preaching!

He had been given a word that God would in due time turn around the situation.

Thus he prayed! Reminding himself of how God had acted in the past -

creating the world and the redemption of Israel.

Noting that indeed nothing was to hard for God!

What do you think? This is a matter of trust. Is anything to hard for God?

What are you facing today? What trial and trouble awaits? Is anything to hard for God?

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God."

This is the word of reassurance that the angel brings to the frightened young Mary.

How can this miraculous birth possible be, she asks.

The answer. Nothing is impossible with God!

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Rich young man. Goes home sad. Disciples amazed? Who then can be saved?

Only God can save!

What do you think? Can God save you today? Put him to the test. See if he will not!

What do you think? What kind of God do you worship and serve?

A limited one? One who can do most things but not all things.

Many modern rewriters of the life of Jesus simply strip out all the miraculous!

We are left with a man who was certainly good but, not all powerful!

We are left then, with no God to worship!

Who wants to worship a powerless God?

Someone who can no more help us now, than water can power a car!

Read rom4v18-21

Romans 4:21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

This is what it comes down to in the end! Is God, God or not!

Can he fulfil his promises? Can he work miracles? Can he save your soul?

Abraham believed! No nothing is to hard for the LORD!

It is a question we must ask our own faith again and again.

What do you think?

Can God save you?

Is God worth worshiping ?

Conclusion for Sarah: see 21v1-7. Laughter and joy at the power of God!