Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Genesis 18:9-15 (NIV)
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 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. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
In our text from Galatians this week (Gal 4:21-5.1), Paul references the account of Isaac and Ishmael, children of Abraham. Paul is making a point about living under law and living under grace. Ishmael was a product of human effort (the law), while Isaac was a child of the promise (grace). Today, let us reflect again on this Old Testament account, where we find Sarah, hearing God’s promise of a child for the first time. What does Sarah do? She laughs! Then, she lies about laughing out of embarrassment and fear. Then, what does God do? He honors his promise! This is our God. Even when our faith falters, God is faithful. Even though Sarah couldn’t fathom a child at her advanced age, God was faithful and Isaac was born. Has God ever done this for you? Think of a time when God responded with grace, even when you were struggling to believe. This is our God. Even in the face of doubt, God’s promise is sure.