Wow! We are already in the seventh week of our series and
finally we come to a divine exposure that centers on a woman – Sarah, Abraham’s
wife.
If you are anything like me you’ve read this story many
times throughout your life and never really focused on Sarah. You’ve focused on
the three men who came walking near the tent of Abraham that was pitched about
a mile from the city of Hebron, in the country of Palestine. (Interestingly, in
future days the city of Hebron would become a city of refuge, to which those
accused of a crime could flee to receive safety and a fair hearing. And here,
years earlier, another person bounded by shame and discouragement finds freedom
and joy.) Instead of coming to Abraham as a whirlwind, a whisper, or a wrestler
in the night, the Lord Jesus Christ comes to Abraham in the heat of the day as
a threesome.
After focusing on the Lord’s identity, my attention would
always shift to Abraham and the promise of a child of his own. But the one I
never fully appreciated in this account is clearly the one God came for –
Sarah.
Think of it. Abraham is ninety-nine years old. It is
fourteen years after God has made His dramatic promise to Abraham a certainty
by cutting an unconditional, unilateral covenant (Genesis 15). Moreover, it’s
after chapter 17 where God comes and engages him in a full dialogue regarding
Sarah’s delivery of their firstborn – a son, Isaac. So why repeat all this at
the beginning of chapter 18? I never asked that question. But I guarantee we
will not only ask it this question on Sunday, we will answer it.
At a time in human history when women were seen to be of
little consequence, at a time when women could be bought and sold, at a time
when a woman’s value was measured by her ability to birth sons, God stops at
Sarah’s tent to expose her and expose Himself.
As an aside - just think how often Jesus did the unthinkable
and stopped to engage a woman in conversation. Think of the woman at the well.
Think of the woman with the eleven year bleeding issue. Think of His own mother
at the foot of the cross. The Gospel is replete with examples of Jesus bucking
His culture and raising the profile of women and their needs to the same level
as men; and here we see another perfect example of it.
For years I’ve heard some say, “Why don’t you ever preach
much on marriage?” And the answer is that I like to preach what the text gives
me. Instead of picking through the verses of Scripture and finding verses that
support a pre-determined proposition, I’d rather exposit what the text tells
us. Well, here is a golden text on marriage. Though I passed this way scores of
times over the last fifty years, I never saw the meaning of God’s exposure as
the laugh. My prayer is that you will see it with me on Sunday and marvel at
His compassion and His grace.
Before giving you some considerations in advance of Sunday’s
message, I’d like to remind you that when God exposes Himself to Job He centers
on Job’s greatest issue – his self-righteousness. Remember, he’s examined
himself and found nothing his friends accused him of. In his eyes he’s
completely innocent, and consequently he’s mad at God. He wants his day in
court. He wants to argue his case. So what does God do? He comes to him in a
whirlwind and lays him out. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the
earth? Who do you think you are?” And amazingly, Job is totally changed by it.
He says, “I have uttered what I did not understand. Things too wonderful for
me!”
When He exposes Himself to Elijah He finds him believing
himself to be a victim. He’s self-possessed. He thinks there’s only one true
prophet left and that’s him. He wants to die. But the Lord comes to him in a
whisper and says, “You’re wrong, Elijah. You’re not alone and it’s not all
about you.”
Think of Jacob. He thinks he’s been dealt a bad hand in
life. He’s got a biased father and an angry brother who’s his enemy. Therefore,
he reasons, “Whatever I get in life is up to me.” So he schemes and connives
until God comes and wrestles him out of the darkness and into the light.
Think of Joshua. He’s the commander of the army of Israel.
He’s the picture of strength and self-reliance until the Commander of the army
of the Lord shows up and says, “I’ve come to fight for you.”
You see, God knows every human emotion and He’s in the
business of exposing it. Are you feeling worthless? Are you feeling like you
don’t measure up? Are you feeling like no one understands you or cares? Even
your spouse? Especially your spouse? Well, I’ve got some good news for you. He
does! And He’ll come all the way to your tent to show you the wonder of His
grace.
In preparation for Sunday’s message, “The Laugh”, you may
wish to consider the following:
1.
What is the significance of the time of day
mentioned in verse 1?
2.
Why does Abraham run to meet these men?
3.
What do you make of his inquiry in verse 3?
4.
Why all this food and bother?
5.
When do you think Abraham first realizes the
identity of His guest?
6.
Why repeat Genesis 17:21 at 18:10?
7.
What is Sarah’s role in this story?
8.
Why does she laugh?
9.
What does she mean in verse 12 when she says,
“After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”
10. What
is the meaning of God’s question in verse 14?
11. Why
does God call her out in verse 15?
12. What
change is evident in Sarah after this exposure? See Genesis 21:6.
See you Sunday!
