Laughably Impossible
by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/18/2023
Genesis 17:17-18 - “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!”
My father is one of the funniest and sharpest people I've ever known. Throughout my childhood, I can recall times when my dad would find things particularly humorous, and I can see him now, wiping his eyes of tears caused by his laughter. Stories like Bro. Thorpe falling out of his deer stand because someone put a dead snake in there as a prank, or when one of his buddies missed the same deer five times in a row after announcing how good of a shot he was. Unfortunately, sometimes I was the target of his entertainment. If I stumped my toe or smashed my finger with a hammer, my dad always found it hilarious. He was very much a fan of slapstick comedy. But of all the things my dad found funny, I don't know that He would ever laugh at the voice of God. This event seems difficult to believe that Abraham would be on his face laughing at God's promise to do a work that seemed impossible. Yet, the Scriptures are clear that not only did Abraham laugh, but Sarah would laugh at a different time when the very same promise is given. I suppose having followed God's leadership for over 15 years without being a single step closer to the Son of promise would have been disappointing and maybe frustrating too. I imagine they thought that their physical experience was somehow exerting its will on their spiritual experience. In other words, they assumed their age was a bigger problem than their God had solutions. Yet, God makes it clear that their limitations were no hindrance to His mighty power at all.
Many times, I believe we are captive to our experience. We evaluate our talent and think that God may only use us in small roles. We look at our resources, and we say, "I could never be a real blessing to anyone"; but God is bigger than our perceived limitations. With God's power, shepherd boys become kings, harlots become part of the royal family, fishermen become Apostles, and in this case, childless couples become parents of nations. When we limit how God may use us, we are really just expressing how little our faith in God is.
1 Corinthians 1:27 - “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
God delights in working in almost ludicrous ways. The word "confound" suggests putting one to shame or causing them to blush for disgrace. This indicates that God's preferred method is to do marvelous works using items so meager that the work of truly qualified individuals is left humiliated by comparison. That ensures He alone gets the glory.
Isaiah 42:8 - “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,”
So, the next time you imagine you are too insignificant, too weak, too old, too novice, too poor, or whatever pitiful excuse you may have; just know that your plight is the very reason God may choose to use you. Whenever He does, just make sure you hide your laughter as well as you can.
10/18/2023
Genesis 17:17-18 - “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!”
My father is one of the funniest and sharpest people I've ever known. Throughout my childhood, I can recall times when my dad would find things particularly humorous, and I can see him now, wiping his eyes of tears caused by his laughter. Stories like Bro. Thorpe falling out of his deer stand because someone put a dead snake in there as a prank, or when one of his buddies missed the same deer five times in a row after announcing how good of a shot he was. Unfortunately, sometimes I was the target of his entertainment. If I stumped my toe or smashed my finger with a hammer, my dad always found it hilarious. He was very much a fan of slapstick comedy. But of all the things my dad found funny, I don't know that He would ever laugh at the voice of God. This event seems difficult to believe that Abraham would be on his face laughing at God's promise to do a work that seemed impossible. Yet, the Scriptures are clear that not only did Abraham laugh, but Sarah would laugh at a different time when the very same promise is given. I suppose having followed God's leadership for over 15 years without being a single step closer to the Son of promise would have been disappointing and maybe frustrating too. I imagine they thought that their physical experience was somehow exerting its will on their spiritual experience. In other words, they assumed their age was a bigger problem than their God had solutions. Yet, God makes it clear that their limitations were no hindrance to His mighty power at all.
Many times, I believe we are captive to our experience. We evaluate our talent and think that God may only use us in small roles. We look at our resources, and we say, "I could never be a real blessing to anyone"; but God is bigger than our perceived limitations. With God's power, shepherd boys become kings, harlots become part of the royal family, fishermen become Apostles, and in this case, childless couples become parents of nations. When we limit how God may use us, we are really just expressing how little our faith in God is.
1 Corinthians 1:27 - “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
God delights in working in almost ludicrous ways. The word "confound" suggests putting one to shame or causing them to blush for disgrace. This indicates that God's preferred method is to do marvelous works using items so meager that the work of truly qualified individuals is left humiliated by comparison. That ensures He alone gets the glory.
Isaiah 42:8 - “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,”
So, the next time you imagine you are too insignificant, too weak, too old, too novice, too poor, or whatever pitiful excuse you may have; just know that your plight is the very reason God may choose to use you. Whenever He does, just make sure you hide your laughter as well as you can.
Posted in The Mighty God, Trials, Victorious Faith
Posted in Genesis 17, Impossible, Possible, difficulties, limitations, faith, Glory
Posted in Genesis 17, Impossible, Possible, difficulties, limitations, faith, Glory
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