Daily Bible Study

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Day 20 – Laughter Genesis 18:1 Then the LORD (Jehovah) appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord (Adonay), if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. 9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So, he said, “Here, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” (Sarah listened in the tent door behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore, Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the LORD (Jehovah) said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD (Jehovah)? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh!” God’s name: Jehovah – Self-existent, Eternal Adonay – Lord – Proper name of God God’s character: Promise giver. Have you prepared a meal for an important guest? Have you done it on the spur of the moment because the visit was unexpected? Unexpected moments in life can be the most revealing. Jehovah visited Abraham unexpectedly. Abraham recognized his visitors and did two things. One, he bowed before them, and two, he called them Adonay, God’s proper name. Abraham offered him dinner, and they accepted. While they ate, Jehovah told Abraham Sarah would have a child at the time of life. Sarah heard what they said and laughed because she was eighty-nine at the time and would be ninety when she would have the child. Abraham would be one hundred. Jehovah asked why Sarah laughed. When she denied it, He said nothing is too hard for God. What do you do when you have an unexpected guest who intends to stay for dinner? Do you rush out to the store and get the necessary food for dinner for an important guest, or do you call the local pizza service and order take out? Remember, this is an important guest. Their presence would automatically cause you to ask them to stay for dinner. You would make certain you had a meal worthy of their presence, and if not, make certain you did. It also meant your guest would be with you during the entire preparation of the meal. How long was Adonay’s visit with Abraham? Abraham told Sarah to make bread enough for three people. He went to the herd and told his servant to take the fatted calf and prepare it for dinner. I guarantee they were with Abraham for an entire day. It takes a minimum of three hours to bake bread. Dinner would take longer because you’re making your best meal, and you want it to turn out perfectly. It’s not your quick meal you make for yourself. We’re talking hours before the meal is ready. What do you talk about while dinner is cooking? Whatever the topic, it could cause merriment and reveal something about you that you didn’t expect an important guest to learn about you. Who were Abraham’s three guests? Why did he bow before them? Was it the culture of the day that caused him to bow before them, or an act of worship? Abraham called them Adonay. His three visitors who accepted his obeisance were the Father, preincarnate Son, and the Holy Spirit. Only God would accept his act of worship when he bowed before him. When unexpected guests come to your home, how do you treat them? Do you treat them with honor due to them, or do you tolerate their presence while giving them a show of honor? Abraham knew who visited him. He had stood in their presence when Jehovah told him he would have a son and made a covenant with him as the father of nations. Now the Covenant Maker visited his home and his wife. He let Sarah know the promise He made to Abraham would come true. She laughed and Adonay told her nothing was impossible for Him. When God tells you the impossible, remember, nothing is impossible for God. What He says, He will do. Let’s pray: Father, make my impossibilities, Your possibilities. Let me know You hold my life and purpose in Your hands. When I laugh at the impossible, show me the possible. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 7 February 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.