Abraham stared at the heat waves rising from the plains. His head nodded. “A nap would be nice, but the tent’s too hot.”
A bead of sweat rolled down his side. He rubbed his arm across the area to stop the tickle. He swatted at a fly buzzing his right ear.
That’s when he noticed three men standing near the trees. He recognized the one immediately.
He ran over and fell at their feet. “Please, stay and refresh yourselves here. I’ll have some water brought out to wash your feet. I can have a meal ready quickly. Allow me this before you go.”
Jesus tipped His head. “As you wish.”
Abraham spun around and entered the tent. Sarah was talking with some servant girls.
He grabbed Sarah’s arm. “Get some flour and bake three servings of bread. Quickly!”
Sarah stepped back. “Why? What’s going on now?”
Abraham rushed to the back of the tent. “We have company…very important company.”
He snatched a rope off the tent peg and motioned for a servant boy to follow him into the herd.
A plump calf stood as he approached. Abraham wrapped the rope around its neck, then handed the rope to the boy. “Take this to the men to prepare as fast as possible. I need it for a meal.”
He pushed the boy’s back. “Quickly! When you’re done here take some water in a basin with a towel. Go to the three men under the trees. Wash their feet..and do a good job.”
The air was soon filled with the aroma of baking bread and roasting beef.
Abraham took a jug and milked the calf’s mother.
As Sarah balanced the three plates on Abraham’s arms the boy returned with the empty basin.
Abraham glanced at the boy. “Did you wash them well?”
The boy shrugged. “Their feet were clean before I got to them. The one man said he couldn’t have done a better job, when I was done.”
Abraham walked out and handed the plates to the men. He watched in silence as they ate.
Jesus swallowed His last bite and drank the last of the milk before He looked at Abraham. “Where’s Sarah?”
Abraham pointed over his shoulder. “She’s in the tent, resting.”
“I’ll be back in about a year to see her son.”
Abraham’s mouth dropped open. A woman’s sigh was heard by the men.
Jesus stood. “Why did Sarah laugh at that thought. Is anything too hard for God? I shall return to see Isaac, your son.”
Sarah stuck her head around the tent flap. “I didn’t laugh.”
Jesus stared at her. “We all heard you laugh.”
********
A ninety year old woman having a baby by a 100 year old man. What’s not to laugh about? It’s especially humorous when you realize they’ve been trying to start a family since their youth with no success.
That guy has definitely been out in the heat too long. That must have been the thought that went through Sarah’s head at that time.
She likely lost track of the last time she even had a monthly flow. She gave up on having a child decades ago, but God didn’t
Have you ever laughed at the impossible situation you find yourself in?
Don’t be afraid to let out a belly laugh when things appear most hopeless. That’s when God does His best work.
When you have as much unlimited power as God nothing is considered audacious. The word impossible isn’t even in your thoughts.
From our point of view impossible is the best word we can come up with.
Here’s a suggestion. Stop looking at things from your point of view. Get to know God so well that you see him in every circumstance in your life. Yes, even the horrendous things.
That job you lost based on a minor event. God has a plan for you that doesn’t include that company. Move on.
That accident you were in that nearly totaled your car. I hope you learned the lessons God brought to you then. Gain insight.
That relationship that went south after it seemed secure. God never promised us people would never leave. Rely on Him.
All things are working together for our good according to Romans 8:28.
It doesn’t say that all things are good at the time they happen.
Nobody eats a stew right after they place the ingredients in the slow cooker. They wait for the heat to soften the morsels and bring their flavor out. Time is needed for any good meal.
Time is also required in your life for it to make sense.
Don’t rush to judge the “good” in your situation. Take life one step at a time. God will lead you to someone else going through the same thing who needs to hear how you coped. By then you will be able to tell them your story. You will heal as you help them heal.
Romans 8:29 explains that the good God is designing is making us more like His Son Jesus.
Becoming like Jesus is impossible to achieve on our own efforts.
When God brings painful things in your life it means He thinks you’re worth the stress it takes to be more like His Son.
Anybody can coast into heaven after their salvation.
Some people are destined to make a mark by their example.
Sacrifice and suffering aren’t popular for a reason. They’re hard.
Sacrifice and suffering are exactly what Jesus endured while here on earth.
If you’re enduring it’s because God is building you into an image of His child.
He wants you experience a closeness to Him that not everybody can fathom.
When you enter God’s presence you’ll know in an instant that it was all worth it.
Everybody will see the family resemblance in your face and smile.
God kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah. Isaac was born right on time.
Tests were still coming, but faith was built strong.
We’re still learning from their trials and test.
Nothing is ever wasted.
I’ll see you later. Wade
