Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.
Genesis 18:14 NIV
In Genesis 18, Abraham’s encounter with three divine visitors beautifully illustrates God’s limitless power to fulfil His promises, even in the face of human impossibilities. This story highlights that no circumstance is too great for God to overcome. Likewise, He always accomplishes His perfect plan according to His divine timeline. The events surrounding Sarah’s laughter and disbelief demonstrate how God’s limitless power transcends human limitations. It invites us to trust Him completely.
In verse 10, one of the visitors declared, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son”. Sarah, who was listening at the tent’s entrance, reacted with disbelief. The Bible explains in verse 11 that Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well beyond the age of childbearing.
Sarah’s reaction was understandable from a human perspective. She laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”. Her doubt reflected the impossibility of the situation as she saw it. While Abraham was still biologically capable of fathering a child, Sarah’s physical condition made conception seem humanly impossible.
However, the divine visitor redirected their focus from human limitations to God’s limitless power. He asked the profound question in verse 14: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”. This question shifts the perspective from what we see as impossible to the reality of God’s omnipotence.
From our viewpoint, many situations appear unattainable, but with God, nothing is beyond His ability to accomplish. Verse 14 also contains the assurance: “I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” This promise reminds us that God operates according to His perfect timeline, fulfilling His promises at the appointed time.
This passage teaches us to:
- Trust in God’s Power: God is not constrained by human rules, biology, or limitations. He specialises in making the impossible possible. As Ephesians 3:20 affirms, God is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
- Wait for God’s Timing: The fulfilment of God’s promises is not dependent on our abilities or efforts but on His divine plan. Trusting in His timing requires patience and faith.
- Rely on God’s Sovereignty: The miracle of Sarah’s conception was not based on merit but on God’s sovereign choice and grace. It demonstrates that God’s plans are perfect, and His power knows no bounds.
- God’s Faithfulness: Sarah’s story shows that no situation is too hopeless for God to transform. His promises are certain, and His faithfulness is unwavering.
In conclusion, this story reminds us to trust in God’s limitless power and faithfulness, even when faced with seemingly impossible situations. God’s question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” is a call to place our confidence in Him. We must never forget that His plans are perfect and His power is limitless. Let us learn to trust, wait, and depend on Him completely, so we may experience the fulfilment of His promises in our lives.
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust fully in Your power and timing. Teach me to wait on You and to depend on Your divine will. May I never seek shortcuts or make plans outside of Your purpose. Strengthen my faith, and let Your perfect will for my life be fulfilled as I walk in obedience to You. Amen.
