Human Limits, God’s Power — Genesis 18 Daily Word

Abraham and Sarah laugh at God’s promise, doubting what seems impossible. Yet God declares nothing is impossible for Him, revealing how faith transforms us beyond human limitations.

Genesis 18:9-15 — Abraham and Sarah respond with laughter when faced with human limitations. Yet God rebukes their doubt and disbelief, declaring that nothing is impossible before Him, even what seems impossible given human age and ability.

Human Limitations and the Power of God

1. [Scripture]

[9] They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” [10] The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. [11] Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. [12] So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord 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 hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” [15] But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Gen 18:9-15, ESV)

2. [Daily Word]

# Abraham began to experience gradual transformation as his faith grew into a faith of conviction.

He moved from living a self-centered life to living a life centered on others. Because of this, he sought to share with his neighbors the blessings he had freely received from God. When we come to truly love God, our lives are transformed.

The evidence is found in [20] If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. [21] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:20-21, ESV) Therefore, the reason our lives lead us to care for our neighbors because we believe in the Lord is found in [7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7, ESV) … This is because we belong to the God of love. In other words, it is because we have received God’s love. And so, that love is conveyed and expressed through us.

# Zacchaeus appears in Luke chapter 19.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. The term “chief tax collector” refers to someone who collected taxes from the people, but this was a very different concept from a modern tax official. Zacchaeus was a collaborator with the foreign nation that had invaded Israel at that time. He collected taxes indiscriminately and mercilessly. As a result, in the eyes of the people, Zacchaeus was a sinner. Yet when Jesus said that He would stay at the house of Zacchaeus the sinner, Zacchaeus was transformed — because Jesus, who cares even for sinners, had entered into the room of Zacchaeus’s heart.

And so Zacchaeus was changed on the spot. What kind of change took place? He declared, [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” (Luke 19:8, ESV) In response to this confession, Jesus said, [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. (Luke 19:9, ESV)

# Abraham’s love for his neighbors arose from the fact that he belonged to God.

And so he washed the feet of his guests, prepared a delicious meal for them to enjoy under a tree, and stood nearby, ready to serve their every need. Then one of them said to Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?” He answered, “She is in the tent.” These visitors had not seen Abraham’s wife Sarah, and they did not know her. Yet the remarkable fact is that they were asking after her — they were looking for where Sarah was.

One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” The phrase “about this time next year” can be literally translated as “when there is life” or “when life breathes.” Because it was the heat of summer at that time, the promise was that when spring comes the following year — the season when all things are renewed — Sarah would have a son.

Sarah heard this from behind the tent door and thought to herself — verse 12 — “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” God had declared that a son would come in the season when life is renewed, but Sarah knew that her monthly cycle had long ceased, and so she could not bring herself to believe that life could arise within her. And so she laughed to herself.

But God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Sarah, however, denied it, saying, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “No, but you did laugh.”

# God is the One who examines the hearts of us all.

Therefore, let us not hold empty faith in our hearts, but remember that we must fix our eyes on God alone and cry out to Him who dwells at the very center of our being.

[18] The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. [19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Ps 34:18-19, ESV)

[23] And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23, ESV)

Holding fast to these words, it is my hope that you will be the worshiper God is seeking and the faithful servant whom God is looking for.

Repentance from unbelief, the power of God, human limitations, the fulfillment of promises, faith that overcomes doubt

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com