Genesis 18:1-14 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 18:1-14 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 18The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. Verse 2He 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. Verse 3He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Verse 4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Verse 5Let 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." Verse 6And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." Verse 7Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Verse 8Then 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.
Verse 9They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Verse 10Then 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. Verse 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Verse 12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" Verse 13The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Verse 14Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son."
Devotion
Something of both Mary and Martha coexisted in Abraham’s life. Like Mary, he rested in the God’s promises (Genesis 12:1-4). Now in Genesis 18 we see him at work arranging meals for strangers.
Sarah laughed in disbelief when told that she would have a son. She needed to be reminded, “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” When God’s promises seem beyond belief, we too need a reminder that God “is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3: 20). And when we wonder if our works of love count for anything we need to recall the “therefore” that concludes the Apostle Paul’s great chapter on the resurrection -- “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Prayer
Almighty God, remind us daily that your love and power far exceed our ability to understand or imagine. Sustain our trust and assure us again that our deeds of love count for time and eternity. In Jesus' name, Amen.