Is anything too hard for the LORD? Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Heb. 11:6) God wants us to know Him, trust Him and to live by faith (in dependence on Him for His purposes in our lives) so He reveals himself to us in many ways – the accounts of people in the Bible, (e.g., Genesis), other Christians, past and present, our own personal experiences with the Lord, and many other ways. And although we can grow in greater and greater revelation of Who He is, we will never know Him in the fullness of His Glory. We are not called to obey God because we understand Him completely but because we trust Him more than we trust ourselves and others.
In Chap. 17 God appeared to Abraham and built his faith to trust him for a son through Sarah (not Hagar). From my teaching on Gen. 17 we saw Abraham's response of faith: "Abraham fell facedown; he laughed." Some believe he laughed in doubt but from the commentary from Scripture (Rom. 4:16-22) it seems he rejoiced in the power of God and the sure blessing of a child through Sarah (within the year, per God's promise- v. 21) who would bear the promised seed (Isaac) and through which the Messiah would come. In fact, every time he hears people call him by his new name, "Abraham, father of many nations", with only one son and him from a servant not his wife, it builds his faith in God's promise to him to have descendents as many as the stars in the heavens.
"Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." In this chapter God builds Sarah's faith to bear a child when she "was past the age of childbearing". Note the Lord and the angels asked, "Where is your wife Sarah?" Also note that they called her by her new name and her new calling from God to be "a mother of nations." (17:16) And finally the Lord repeated the promise again in response to Sarah's doubt: 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Maybe in hearing this for herself (versus Abraham telling her that God said she would have a son) it built her faith. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Rom. 10:17) Thus we need to read God's Word and hear for ourselves. It could be that her faith was also built by God's powerful destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that occurred before she conceived. But from Hebrews 11 we know she had the faith to believe that "nothing is too hard (wonderful) for the LORD." "Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word."(Heb.11:11 Amp.)
From this account with Sarah we see God's intimate involvement with His people (sharing a meal) to deliver good news. We see the meal motif (table fellowship) in many other accounts where the Lord is making covenant with His people, meeting intimately with His people etc., and especially the Lord's Supper. (Matt. 26:26-30; Also see Ex. 24; Lev. 3; 7:11; 21; Judges 6:14) "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." "Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb and his bride has prepared herself."(Rev. 3:20 ;19:7 NLT) "Those that would have communion with God must earnestly desire it and pray for it. God is a guest worth entertaining." (Matthew Henry)
"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" As we grow in our revelation of Who God is we must be careful not to over emphasize one aspect of His character over other aspects of His character. The text here goes from God's loving and intimate involvement with Abraham and Sarah to announcing impending doom and severe judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. "Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off." (Rom. 11:22 NLT) Some people never see God's kindness and consider Him a tyrant and others ignore His severity (justice and discipline) and consider Him a Sugar Daddy.
"Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" Because of Abraham's faithful obedience (not perfect but a growing obedience) he became a "friend of God". (James 2:23; 2 Chron. 20:7) Note what the Psalmist says about God's friends. "The Lord is a friend (or confides in) to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant." (Psalm 25:14 NLT) "Those who by faith live a life of communion with God cannot but know more of his mind than other people. They have a better insight than others into what is present (Hos. 14:9; Ps. 107:43), and a better foresight of what is to come, at least so much as suffices for their guidance and for their comfort." (Matthew Henry) Note Abraham's attitude in his prayer to the Lord – it is both reverent but intimate and bold. "Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing-to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty?" As we will see later in Chapter 19 God heard Abraham's plea and it saved Lot and his family's life. "But God had listened to Abraham's request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain." (Gen 19:29)
"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" In every trial we or our loved ones suffer in this earthly pilgrimage we must know the answer to this question and answer it with a resounding, YES!
"Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment." (Isa. 50:10-11 NLT) We are not called to obey God because we understand Him completely but because we trust Him more than we trust ourselves and others.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Heb. 11:6) We cannot trust (have faith in) someone we do not know. Is knowing God your greatest desire and highest pursuit? Heed Jer. 9:23-24.
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Rom. 10:17) God increased Abraham's faith in chap. 17 and Sarah's in this chap. through speaking His truth and purposes to them. How do you "hear" God's truth and purposes for your life to increase your faith?
"Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off." (Rom. 11:22 NLT) Some people never see God's kindness and consider Him a tyrant and others ignore His severity (justice and discipline) and consider Him a Sugar Daddy. If you err in your perception of God which side would you err on? Seeing Him as a tyrant or a Sugar Daddy? What can you do to correct your misperception?
"Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment." (Isa. 50:10-11 NLT) We are not called to obey God because we understand Him completely but because we trust Him more than we trust ourselves and others. Where have you "lived in your own light" (tried to solve your problems your own way in disobedience to God)? How can you repent and trust and obey the Lord?
Scripture memory verse: "Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off." (Rom. 11:22 NLT)