January 7, 2024 - Genesis 18-21

The promise to Abraham and Sarah is repeated (see yesterday’s thoughts), yet again, there at their tent:  “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. . . . and  Sarah laughed” (18:10-12) because she and Abraham were old in years.  But they should have thought, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (18:14).  No, nothing is too hard for the Lord!

The tragic story of Sodom and Gomorrah is then told.  It’s an important story and, in years past, I have dwelt on it for a bit.  Today, though, let’s simply acknowledge the danger of rebellion against God and keep our eyes on the prize:  “The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.  And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him” (21:1-2).  Should there ever have been any doubt?  This promise of a chosen son has its roots back in Genesis 3:15 where the Lord promised to send a redeemer who was promised to come from the line of Abraham and David.  And, so, the angel announced to the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11), the ultimate fulfillment of the promise!  It was a sure thing.  Of course it was!  God promised!  Daniel ben Judah, again:

The God who reigns on high

the great archangels sing,

and “Holy, holy, holy!” cry

“Almighty King!

Who was, and is, the same,

and evermore shall be:

Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM,

we worship thee!”   --Daniel ben Judah (14th century)