Genesis 18

What would you do if the Lord showed up at your house?  Would you make him a meal or take him out to your favorite restaurant?  Would it bring you joy to have him visit or dread?  Would you show him around or would you try and hide stuff?  

We can only imagine what must have been racing through Abraham’s head as he greeted these three visitors that day.  As was custom, Abraham fed them. But he fed them well, providing fresh meat from his herd, which would have been beyond what was expected.  

After this, the guests announced some news that clarified the promise Abraham had already received.  But it seemed that this news was for more than just Abraham, for he had heard it back in chapter 17. This time Sarah got to hear the news.  Within the year, their long awaited son would arrive. She had the same response as her husband when he heard this news, she laughed.  For both of them there was a huge obstacle to God fulfilling his promise; menopause.  They were too old to be having kids, and to think otherwise was laughable.  In response to this obstacle the Lord says something in verse 14 that is worth us all remembering: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  Jesus himself would one days say the same thing in Luke 18:27:  “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”  

From here we see what is essentially a prayer meeting between Abraham and the Lord.  Abraham is given insight into what’s about to happen to Sodom and his response is to humbly ask God to be merciful to the city if righteous people are found there.  God says he will relent but if there are as few as 10 righteous people in the city.  The point of this story may not be that God’s mind was changed but that he was willing to hear the requests of Abraham.  

May we always remember to not concentrate on the obstacles in our lives but instead concentrate on the One who can do what seems impossible.  And may we pray like it matters to the One who can do the impossible.  Let us pray for our cities and campuses and, with humble courage, consider that the God who can do the impossible might answer and say yes.