“The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him. Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”” (Genesis 18:10–12, CSB)
Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”Have you ever laughed at the ridiculousness of what God has told you? I mean really. Sometimes God just says the most outrageous things. And sometimes we, being human, are simply astonished in disbelief by what God calls us to do or claims He will do.
Now, if you disagreed with that last paragraph, you have an integrity problem or a Bible reading problem. God sticks His neck way out once and a while, as Sarah overheard that day from behind the tent flap. Here she was post-menopausal and the stranger with her husband was claiming she was going to have a son this time next year! Absurd! How could that be? Hadn’t he taken a basic biology course?
Of course, the Lord of all the Earth can do whatever He wills, whenever He wills, and however He wills. This is the point of faith. However, in a marriage, we often meet the impossible, whether is it a matter of biology, finance, logistics, etc. Humanly speaking, there are all too many times when what we thought was over hasn’t even begun. God is on a different timetable and has a different plan. What we often see is so far from reality that it takes faith-filled eyes to discover all that God has for us as a couple, as a family.
Like Sarah, we all get to the point where we think the claims of God are incredulous, especially when it comes to our marriage. Yet, out of faith we can stand firm and believe, despite every visible clue that there is no way under Heaven for anything good to happen.
We may live under Heaven, but our God is Lord of Heaven … and earth! Twelve months later laughing Sarah held little “Giggles,” which is what Isaac can mean when translated. Holding the joy of her heart, every time she looked at Isaac she had to remember her derisive giggling at the God who claimed the post-menopausal could give birth!
Magnificent Marriage Mondays are helpful hints, clues, ideas, and solutions for the child of God who is looking for a spouse, in a relationship with someone, or are already married. Each post seeks to bring help, hope, and honesty to your life and make the rest of your life, the best of your life. They are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his 38 years, 5 months and 2 days experience with his wife, Melodee, who was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. He is currently seeking God’s will for his new life partner. He welcomes your comments below.
