Be Honest with God

Be Honest with God

“Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”” Genesis 18:15  

The “he” in today’s focal verse is the Lord, who along with two other visitors (angels) had come to see Abraham and reaffirm His promise to give Abraham a son from whom the Messiah would eventually descend. Despite this promise being repeated several times over a period of years, Abraham and his wife Sarah have trouble fully believing it because they are too old to have children. 

Here are the verses (9-14) leading up to Sarah’s exchange with the Lord: 

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he said.

Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘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.”

I love the Lord’s gentle rebuke of Sarah. He doesn’t punish her or rescind His promise; He just tells it like it is. He’s telling her to be honest with Him because he knows what she’s thinking and doing even when she feels like He can’t see or hear her. Moreover, it encourages her (and us) to trust Him for He is the Lord, and nothing is too hard for Him. It is fitting that when their son was born as God promised, they named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.” 

Are you honest with God about your doubts and fears? Do you trust in his promises? Is anything too hard for the Lord?