I woke this morning with a weariness of all the discussions and challenges, about the simple action of prayer. Our attempt to enter into the confusion, and conflict, of the world scene in some small way.
And my mind is weary of my life long passion for figuring out the truth of God’s amazing presence; and active activity in a world that wants to deny God’s possibility.
And then I thought of Abraham and Sarah and how they laughed at God’s messengers for telling them things that, to their human minds/logic, seemed absolutely ridiculous. Their story comes from Genesis 17 and 18.
I’ll paraphrase: It all begins when God appears to Abraham with the offer of a covenant — a promise/contact. He blesses Abraham. Then tells Abraham something that sound totally out of the question. God tells Abraham that his barren wife Sarah will give him a son.
What would be good for you to know is that both Sarah and Abraham are much too old to even dream of having children — way past the age of parenthood.
Now here is why my mind thought of this, this morning. They both "laughed" at the news. They laughed at the possibility God was offering them. God was speaking of impossible things to their logical minds. So they laughed!
This laughter came at two different times. God tells Abraham that at age one-hundred years old he was going to father a son with his ninety year old wife.
It says: He “fell on his face and laughed.”
The second laugh came in the next chapter when the three visitors told Abraham about the advent of his son. And Sarah, listening from inside the tent, laughed at the absurdity of such news.
9 They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 10 Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" 13 The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, "Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh.”(Gen. 18)
Now I invite you to imagine yourself in the story. And you are having ice tea on your deck, or patio, on a lovely Saturday afternoon. Life is simple and good.
Then three strangers come into you backyard.
What would you do?
What would you say?
And more to the point, how would you feel about being
intruded upon?
Abraham didn’t know the strangers were messengers — angels — of God’s. Yet he treated them with worshipful respect. No question asked. Regardless of their status, he just invites them to sit in the shade; and offers them fresh water and the best food possible.
Times have most certainly changed.
Strangers today, especially ones who invade our private space, might well be greeted with cautious suspicion.
We certainly wouldn’t order fresh bread made of the finest flour; nor bar-b-q the best, and most tender, meat from the Fridge.
But don’t stop imagining.
What if God did come and stand in your yard? As three men, angels, messengers bearing God’s personal message to you? They don’t identify themselves. They are just there.
But, lets say that they did identify themselves to you?
What if they told you that they were sent by God to speak to you?
Does that thought make you laugh at the possibility? Or at least do you feel a little snicker of doubt forming in your throat?
Do you think that is possible today?
It happened to Abraham several times.
It happened to a young girl named Mary as well.
Why not you?
How is it, do you think, that we face the very real possibility of God’s activity on our world today, let alone our private worlds?
Back to your quiet Saturday afternoon sitting quietly with no expectations or have-toos. And God comes to interrupts the calm. A bit of tension enters your peaceful day.
Clarification:
It wasn’t God’s presence before Abraham that caused the laughter. it was the promise of something that seemed impossible.
That is the glitch! Either now or in ancient time. When Abraham walked the earth God’s Angel visits were not so uncommon. It wasn’t something out of the question.
But not today! If someone were to tell you of a visit from one of God’s angels today. It would most probably send humor dancing up into your laughing area. You probably wouldn’t be so obvious about it. But the laugh would silently by there. Right?
Interruption:
In the Old Testament we are told of another promise that God made through the Prophet Isiah. A promise made in the middle of a not so pleasant time in history. Then God promised a Savior. One who would come and set the world straight. One who would come and bring people back to dead center — to God. And this Savior would be:
A wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6)
Who would bring wolf and lamb together. Where leopard and kid would lie together. In a world where neither human nor animal would hurt of destroy. (Is. 11)
A laughable promise?
No one laughed then!
Again, have you ever thought about God coming to your home? Sitting in your backyard, or in you living room? Making you impossible promise that will be kept?
Promises that would make you want to laugh at the thought.
Is it such an impossible thing, that God would come — or send on of his angels — to your house?
I actually don’t think so. I think that God not only come to us personally. But God keeps coming over and over and over again. God never stops trying to get us to sit with him and talk to him; so that we might see more clearly, and listen more carefully, and trust him more confidently.
Just for giggles, if God did come.
What would you want to talk about?
What would you like to know?
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