PATHS In Bible Chapters

Genesis 18
Theme: Nothing Is Too Hard For God
Key Text: Verse 14

 

            The chapter before us is filled with many questions. Some are asked by the Lord, others by Sarah and Abraham. Perhaps the greatest of them all is the Lord’s question to Abraham, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” (18:14). We know, of course, that the answer is “No!” There is nothing too hard for Him! It isn’t necessary, however, to pilfer through the Scriptures and compile a list of things that are not too difficult for Him to do. As is often the case in Bible study, there are applications in the story at hand - - in the context itself - - that wonderfully illustrate the message of the outstanding text.

 

1. No Place Is Too Hard For Him To Appear
            The scene was that of a desert; the dwelling was a humble tent; the bedouin couple was old and alone; the weather was terrible. Yet, in this desolate situation, the God of eternity and two angels came and visited Abraham and Sarah “in the plains of Mamre” while Abraham “sat in the tent door in the heat of the day” (18:1). Showing gratitude and respect for the unexpected visitors, he “hastened” (18:6) to “set” his best “before them” (18:8). Oh, may we see afresh that our God will come where we are, and with Abraham, may we learn to quickly welcome the divine Guest with our best sacrifice of love!

 

2. No Procedure Is Too Hard To Accomplish
            Apparently, Abraham had not explained the details of the covenant with his wife. And, when she, standing behind her husband “in the tent door” (18:10), overheard that she was to have a son, “Sarah laughed within herself, saying ‘After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’” (18:12). Certainly, it was no laughing matter with the Lord! He not only asked Abraham, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh?” (18:13), but followed it with our key-text, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (18:14). We must remember, as Jesus said, that “with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26).

 

3. No Prayer Is Too Hard For Him To Answer
            Before the Lord departed, He spoke to His servant about the “very grievous” sin of “Sodom and Gomorrah” (18:20). The possibilities of judgment seemed to arouse Abraham to intercede for the cities. He “drew near” (18:23) and questioned God about destroying “the righteous with the wicked” (18:23). In an incomparable manner, He humbly pled with the Almighty to save the cities for the sake of the righteous. And whether there were “fifty” (18:24), or “ten” (18:32) righteous people in the place, God promised, “I will not destroy it” (18:32). What an encouragement for true intercession in these days!

 

Illustration
            When I was a boy, the expression “a man in the moon” was used to speak of something virtually impossible. But, time and human ingenuity has made such phraseology extinct. Certainly, if man can go to the moon and make the seemingly impossible very possible, we can trust God’s ability in any area of life.

"Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?
God specializes in things tho’t impossible!
And He can do what no other pow’r can do.” ~Oscar C. Eliason