Marvelous

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the Terebinth of Mamre, as Abraham sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: "Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way." The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."

Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls." He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

They asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" He replied, "There in the tent." One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son." Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods. So, Sarah laughed to herself and said, "Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?" 

But the LORD said to Abraham: "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?' Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son." Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, "I didn't laugh." But he replied, "Yes you did." (Genesis 1 8:1-15)

Seems like we are eavesdropping on a private conversation between Abraham, the three men, and the LORD.  We know their every word.  Obviously, there is no way for that conversation to have been recorded and conveyed.   It’s a marvelous legend told by those with a meaningful story to tell.

Moreover, we read that Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods.  Being in her 90s that makes sense.  Therefore, biologically speaking, becoming pregnant was impossible.  Then again, it was believed that women were the receptables to receive the man’s seed.  Understanding of genetics and the woman's 50% contribution to the child's genetic makeup came a bit later, more than one thousand years or so.  That’s one reason why the child in the womb belonged to the man, not the woman.

 “Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do?”  Let’s look around at the marvels of the world.  They are wonderous!  The forests, mountains, and oceans are three marvels.  From fertilization to development in a woman’s womb to delivery, now that’s marvelous!  A baby is a creation like no other, and it sure makes us laugh as Sarah apparently did when she heard she would bear a son.  

Deacon David Pierce