Thursday, October 17, 2024

The Vision (9.27.24): Is any thing too hard for the LORD?


Image; Rembrandt, Abraham Entertaining the Angels, 1656, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.


Note: Devotion based on Sunday morning sermon on September 29, 2024.

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? (Genesis 18:14a).

In Genesis 18 the LORD repeats the promise to Sarah that she will have a son. Sarah laughed “within herself” as she contemplated the ridiculousness of their circumstances (v. 12). How could she have a child having already “waxed old” (v. 12)?

Laughter had also been the response of Abraham at this same prophecy (cf. 17:15-17). Both are guilty of not believing the promises of God given directly to them.

The LORD then asks a single question that gets to the heart of her unbelief: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” We might call this a one sentence sermon preached by the LORD himself (and those are the best kind of sermons). And it is just one question. As when:

The LORD said to Adam in the garden after the fall, “Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9).

Or when Christ said to the disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

Think of the question here: Is anything too hard for the LORD? This is the same God who made the whole world in the space of six days and all very good. As Christ said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

Nothing indeed is too hard for the LORD. He is all-powerful and all-mighty.

He WILL fulfill his promise to Abraham and Sarah.

He WILL save and sanctify dead sinners and make them come alive in Christ.

He WILL work all things to good to those that love him, the called according to His purpose.

He WILL come again in power and glory and make all things right and new.

He WILL be the one before whom every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.

One might doubt, deny, or laugh at these things, but their fulfillment does not depend on the “faith” of any man, but in the faithfulness of an all-holy, all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful God to do them.

To Him alone be praise, through Christ and by the Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

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