Faith Over PerfectionSample

Read: Genesis 18:1–15

SOAP: Genesis 18:14

Is anything impossible for the LORD? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son. 

Though it seems peculiar for the writer of Genesis to include such detail around Abraham preparing a meal for his three visitors, this event begins a discussion that parallels the story of God’s people throughout their history. We will see how closely hospitality is tied to God’s covenant, and how the moral state of God’s people (and other nations) is displayed through their treatment of the foreigner and stranger. 

When the visitors arrived at Abraham’s tent, he immediately began making preparations for a meal, and a very elaborate meal at that. The visitors are revealed to be divine. There is uncertainty over whether this was a threefold manifestation of God, or God and two angels. Regardless, God visited Abraham and enjoyed a meal with him. 

Throughout Scripture, communal meals were signs of fellowship and often ways of confirming a covenant. Jesus shared His final meal with His disciples, confirming the New Covenant He would usher in with His death and resurrection. We continue to share this covenantal meal today when we partake in communion. When Abraham shared this meal with God it signified a closeness in their relationship. The covenant God made with Abraham was again confirmed through this shared meal. 

This event occurred shortly after God confirmed the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17. In both instances, God promised that Sarah, Abraham’s barren and post-menopausal wife, would have a son. When Sarah laughed at the Lord’s confirmation of the promise, God reminded her Who it was making the promise. He alone is capable of doing the impossible.

The Hebrew word often translated as impossible in Genesis 18:14 also means wonderful, extraordinary, or amazing. If God could do this wonderful, extraordinary, impossible thing for Abraham and Sarah, what might He be willing to do for you? He is still the God who works miracles. He still does the impossible, even when we laugh. Nothing is too extraordinary for the Lord to do in your life. Are you willing to believe Him?

Prayer

Lord God, I know nothing is impossible for You. You can do wonderful, extraordinary, and amazing things in my life. I praise You for the way You have already done the impossible for me. God, continue to increase my faith as I believe in You, even for the impossible. For nothing is impossible, nothing is too wonderful for You. Amen.