IMITATE THEIR FAITH / SARAH - Conclusion of "YOU DID LAUGH"

 

 Not long afterward three men, strangers, came to Abraham's tent. It was during the heat of the day, but this elderly couple immediately hurried to welcome these guests. Abraham said to Sarah:  "Quick get two measures of fine flour, knead the dough, and make loaves of bread." Hospitality involved a lot of work back then. Abraham did not leave all the work to his wife; he rushed about to slaughter a young bull and prepare more food and drink.  (Genesis 18:1-8)  Those "men" turned out to be Jehovah's angels!   The apostle Paul likely  had this incident in mind when he wrote:  "Do not forget hospitality, for through it some unknowingly entertained angels." (Hebrews 13:2) Can you imitate the splendid example of hospitality set by Abraham and Sarah? 

When one of the angels repeated to Abraham's promise about Sarah giving birth to a son, she was out of sight, within her tent listening. The thought of giving  birth at her age struck her as being so bizarre that she could not hold back -she laughed to herself, saying "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I really have this pleasure? "  The angel corrected Sarah with a pointed question,  "Is anything too extraordinary for Jehovah?"  Sarah's reaction was fearful, defensive, and only too human. She blurted out: "I did not laugh!" The angels replied: "Yes! you did laugh." - GENESIS 18:9-15.

Was Sarah's laughter evidence that she lacked faith?  Not at all.  The Bible says:  "By faith also Sarah received power to conceive offspring, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who made the promise.: (Hebrews 11:11)  Sarah knew Jehovah; she knew that he could fulfill any promise that he made. Who of us  does not need more faith of that kind? We do well to get to know the God of the Bible better.  As we do, we will see that Sarah was right to have the faith that she did.  Jehovah truly is faithful and carries out his every promise-at times, he might even do it in ways that surprise us into amazed or incredulous laughter! 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH / SARAH - "LISTEN TO HER"

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