5. Week Five: The Mighty God

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Is anything too hard for the LORD?

The LORD to Sarah in Genesis 18:14a (NIV)

Have you ever doubted God? I have, and I suspect that I will again in the future. And yet I can now see how God has used my doubts to force me to wrestle with the issues of who he is and what he expects of me. Because I admitted my questions rather than denying them, I had to face them head on. In general that wrestling strengthened my faith. It became real and personal instead of weak and inherited from my family.

The name LORD, written in all caps in English and used in Genesis 18:14 above, is the Hebrew name for God revealed to Moses, Yahweh, meaning I Am (Exodus 3:13-15). It emphasizes him as the self-existent, eternal God. In the previous story, which occurred just before this one, he referred to himself by the name God Almighty when he appeared to Abraham.

The names that God uses help those who hear understand who he is in light of what he wants of them. Both of the names used in this two-chapter context are important in the faith of the hearers.

Part One

This week’s story quickly follows the previous one so Abraham is likely still 99 and his wife Sarah is 89.

This may be my favorite story about Sarah because I am quite sure that I would respond as she does to what happens. I love God’s gracious response to doubt in the verse quoted above. It’s a great reminder to me when my own questions about God come.

Read Genesis 18:1-15 & Hebrews 11:11-12.

*** Read Luke 1:5-36 and Matthew 1:18-25, considering the parallels to Sarah & Abraham’s story in the stories of Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph. Record your insights.

Respond to the story:

Write down your thoughts as you compare the Genesis and Hebrews passages.
What has happened in your life that causes you to identify with Sarah’s initial reaction to God’s promise or his gracious response?
What aspects about God’s character must Sarah rely on to believe his promise?

Part Two

By studying Abraham, we hope to strengthen and grow what we know about God so that we can faithfully trust him whatever happens. In this story we watch Abraham lean on what he has already learned about God through experience.

Read Genesis 18:16-33.

*** Read Hebrews 4:14-16, considering it in light of Abraham’s story.

Note your thoughts about these questions on the story:

What does God reveal about who he is in this story?
Abraham speaks courageously to God because of what he knows about God. Which of God’s qualities might lead him to speak as he does with boldness and faith?
What do you learn about interceding for other people before God in prayer from Abraham and his relationship with God?
What is God saying to you about your faith?

Part Three

This section quickly covers the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We read it not to figure out everything in the story, but to continue our quest to learn more about our God so that we grow in faith. Such stories are often difficult for us to understand today because judgment for sin seems harsh (or at least we feel that way about our personal pet sins). If a sin involves heinous crimes, however, most people acknowledge the need for judgment on the perpetrators. Sins such as genocide, child abuse, murder, rape, or slavery reveal the deep- seated desire for justice in the hearts of all people. Amazingly, God’s grace is available to even these whose acts seem most unforgivable if they will turn to Christ and accept it.

As you read this story, think about Abraham’s comment: “Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?” (Gen. 18:25), or consider Romans 11:33-36:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him?

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.

Read Genesis 19:1-29.

*** Meditate on these verses about God’s judgment: 2 Peter 2:4-10. Write down your thoughts.

Note your insights as you consider these questions:

What qualities of God’s character are clear in this story?
Do you believe that God is right when he judges individuals or nations? Describe what influences your belief—things like feelings, discomfort, scriptures, current world reality, or other things that come to mind.
What is God saying to you through this story?

A reminder about the end of God’s big story:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”

Revelation 21:1-4