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Genesis 18:1-15: Nothing is too difficult for God

Every month we go to the Arthur Meighen Centre to lead a service for the senior citizens. Can you imagine if when we are at the retirement home next a ninety year-old lady gives birth? This is the miracle of Isaac’s birth. Nothing is too difficult for God.

An angel of the Lord tells Abraham that his 90 year-old wife will give birth.Sarah hears this and she laughs. The Angel calls her on it, saying, ‘why did you laugh when I said you were going to have a baby’? Sarah replies, ‘I didn't laugh’; The Angel says, ‘yes you did’; so God and the Angel call her child ‘Isaac’ which means ‘Laughter’ to remind her and us not to doubt the power and the providence of God. Nothing is too difficult for God.

Every time Abraham and Sarah would be tempted to doubt that in the future they simply had to laugh or recall their son Isaac’s name, and they would be reminded of his miraculous birth and that nothing is too difficult for God.

This is important. Nothing is too difficult for God. Sarah and Abraham had some really difficult challenges in their lives but nothing is too difficult for God. Twice Sarah said that she was Abraham`s sister instead of his wife so people wouldn’t kill her husband and take her away. And even though Abraham and Sarah messed things up by trying to solve the problem on their own, God took care of them. Nothing is too difficult for God.

Having a child was seen as being blessed by God; someone who did not have a child was thought to be cursed. This troubled Sarah and Abraham greatly. And even though Sarah messed things up a bit, God took care of them. He gave her a child and named him ‘Laughter’ to remind them that even though they laughed at the prospect of having this child, here he is because nothing is too difficult for God.

Before that Sarah even went so far as to force her slave girl to have relations with her husband so that she could have her child. And even though Abraham and Sarah messed things up by trying to do things without Him, God took care of them. He gave them this child and another child, named ‘Laughter’, who was begotten of them both to remind them that nothing is too difficult for God.

Every time after that someone laughed or every time after that they heard their son’s name, I’m sure they could laugh assuredly in the providence of God. Many times in their life Sarah and Abraham messed up but God took care of them; nothing is too difficult for God.

Many times in my life I have messed up, made serious mistakes, done bad things, but God takes care of me. Nothing is too difficult for God. God has been with me through my darkest hours, just like he was with Abraham and Sarah and later Isaac and his sons and their sons. Nothing is too difficult for God.  God took care of them and God can take care of us no matter what our challenges for we are invited to remember that nothing is too difficult for God.
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