God Is Serious

January 6, 2021

And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord ? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

~Genesis 18:13‭-‬15~

It is very easy for us to assume that everything is logical and works a way we will understand it. As humans we have a hard time believing in miracles in general. Even after many biblical stories of God performing miracles throughout history, I have personally witnessed churches preaching that those times are just over and done with. The word of God is never failing, never changing. When we can wrap our minds around the power God truely holds on to we can believe in things much bigger then what we see or know about how things are "supposed to work." For we know that nothing is impossible with God, Jesus reminded us of this when He walked the earth; " But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)

If we take a look at Abraham and Sarah's story we can see how even then as they trusted in God and lived in faith they still reacted in such a way when the Lord told them they would have a son at such a time in their life of old age. Sarah's immediate response to God's warning of a coming son, Isaac, was to laugh to herself and question the ability for God to do such a thing as she was so old in age. God's immediate response to this? He questioned why she laughed. We see how it is almost as though God gets frustrated in her doubting, in her questioning and most of all in her reaction to laugh at the idea of it. God is taking this serious. Sarah became scared after the Lord questioned her laughter. Could you blame her? It's almost as if a child who is told by their parent to do something and they laugh, then when the parent snaps back at them for laughing they deny it in fear of punishment. We know Isaac was a very important man for God's plan to lead to the birth of Christ. This was no laughing matter for the Father, yet He was merciful and no punishment was really done. Remember, however, the same reaction by the angel Gabriel as he approached Zacharias with the announcement of the birth of John? Gabriel spoke of the importance to the birth of John and Zacharias' reaction was to question him; "And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18)

So here we are again, an important miracle taking place in the womb of a woman who is older and someone is still questioning God. This time Gabriel does not take this lightly at all, even more so he is highly offended as he came to bring good news and Zacharias doubts him. What happens next? Gabriel mutes him for quite sometime. This time punishment did occur. "But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” (Luke 1:20)

The Lord's plans are no laughing matter. The very idea that in the old testament we see God's reaction to Sarah's laughter and in the new testament Gabriel's reaction to Zacharias' laughter, in a sense, represents His sovereignty and His seriousness for His plans. If He gives good news, do not doubt in His ability to follow through. It also shows that no matter what things may seem, nothing is too much for God to perform. If He has a plan, He will do it as He wishes. It is not our place to determine if it is possible or acceptable. It amazes me how Sarah wanted a baby for so long but then when God decided it was time to bless her she decided it was "too late" for her. It just goes to show that we as humans tend to turn around so quickly and play God for our own lives. Let's take the advice of Jesus; "So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God." (Mark 11:22)

We need to keep reminding ourselves that God's miracles are never ending. He does not change; "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

This means that if God is pressing a plan on your life and it may not "make sense to you," just believe in Jesus and know that the way He does things will not always make sense but they make sense for His plans. This is all that should matter to us. The Father didnt find it amusing that Sarah laughed as He knew this birth led to something far bigger then just her prayer being answered. Gabriel didnt find it amusing that Zacharias questioned his good news as he knew it led to something bigger then John himself. That "something bigger," is Jesus Christ. The Lord who put all of us before Himself to save us from eternal damnation is more important then our view on our own lives and what we should or shouldn't have; "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)

When we set aside our own plans and submit to Jesus, we deny ourselves and our selfish behavior and say "I am willing to do whatever You ask of me, even if I do not understand it." This is having faith in Christ and what He came to do for us; "“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1)

Let us not pull a Sarah or a Zacharias response and question God, let us have faith and believe that His plans are much bigger then anything we can think or do ourselves. We are not serving Jesus to focus on "me, first," we are serving Jesus to focus on "Him, first." Without Him, there would be no us. Join in the movement to take God serious, He is the last One we want to frustrate.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your everlasting mercy You have shown to many who have questioned You. Thank you for still sending Your only Son to die for my sins even as many may have doubted in Your abilities. I am forever grateful of Your grace and for making a way for me to know You personally. I long to become closer to You each day. I pray that You draw near to me as I draw near to You. Your word is full of many promises I will never fully understand, but I do appreciate. Show me what I can do for You, Jesus. Help me to understand when I may react in a way that offends You so I can change it quickly. I praise You for Your patience with me and honor You in Your waiting for more to believe. I pray this in Your trustworthy Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.