pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Impossibility


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Joy and Laughter

Readings: Genesis 18:9-15 and Genesis 21:1-7

Genesis 21:1 – “The Lord was attentive to Sarah just as he said, and the Lord carried out what he had promised.”

Returning to Genesis 18, the strangers turn to Sarah. One declares that he will return in a year and that then Sarah will have a son. Listening from inside the tent, Sarah first thinks about how “very old” they are. She then thinks about the physical impossibility of it all: she is “no longer menstruating.” Sarah laughs to herself, maybe chuckling a “wouldn’t that be something to see” kind of laugh. She is not laughing at the stranger or even at the impossibility of it all. Sarah has certainly experienced the first kind of laughter – at her and her barrenness. This laughter was probably mixed with ridicule and scorn.

Turning to chapter 21, we read, “The Lord was attentive to Sarah just as he said, and the Lord carried out what he had promised.” God follows through on what God has promised – 25 years ago, a dozen years ago, just last year. Sarah becomes pregnant. Imagine her laughter at each step. Each day, as the baby grew, she probably touched her stomach and laughed. Then Sarah gave birth and held a miracle in her arms. Tears of joy mingled with smiles and more laughter. A son, a gift, in old age, he has to be named “Isaac” – the one who laughs, the one who brings laughter. All along the way, Sarah’s laughter has been shared with others. They too have been drawn into the miracle and gift of God.

This is our God – the one who is attentive to us, the one who brings joy and laughter to our lives. This is our God – the one who keeps promises and has and always will do the impossible. This is our God – the one who brings life when all feels dead, the one who opens doors when there seems to be no way, the one who brings healing to hopeless situations, the one who redeems and restores what is broken. And when these miracles happen in or near to our lives, may we too be filled with a joy that leads to laughter, bursting forth in praise for what the Lord has done.

Prayer: Lord God, when we’ve walked a long, hard road, be it 25 years and what feels like an endless week, remind us of your attentive presence and everlasting promises. Draw us into your love, extend your grace or healing or forgiveness. Fill us with a joy that comes from your work in our lives and in our world. May our joy and laughter and praise be contagious, drawing others into your love. Amen.


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Humility and Love

Reading: 1st Kings 3:3-14

1st Kings 3:5b – “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.”

In our reading today God comes to Solomon in a dream. He has just become king, succeeding his father David. While David has set a great example for Solomon, all wasn’t perfect. The temple had not yet been built so people are sacrificing at local shrines. As we begin our reading we see that this is also Solomon’s practice. We also see that Solomon loved God and sought to walk according to the Law. Solomon goes to Gibeon and offers a very large sacrifice to God. Gibeon was the location of the Tabernacle. The ark of the covenant, however, was in David’s tent in Jerusalem.

That night God appears to Solomon in a dream. God says to Solomon, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.” What an open-ended question! Before pressing on in our passage, we pause to ask ourselves: What would be my response to this question? Solomon’s response demonstrates both humility and his love of God. After thanking God for walking with David and for passing the kingship on to him, Solomon acknowledges his youth and inexperience. Accordingly he asks for “a discerning mind in order to govern your people” and for the ability “to discern good from evil.” Solomon also recognizes the impossibility of leading Israel without God’s help.

The Lord is pleased and grants Solomon’s requests. These requests were aligned with God’s will and plans for Solomon and for Israel. In addition, God grants Solomon wealth, fame, and the possibility of “a very long life.” This last part is contingent upon Solomon’s continued faithfulness to God.

Solomon sought to honor God with his request. His humility and Love of God drove his petition. May it be so with us as we lift our petitions to the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to walk in humility, recognizing our need for your direction on our lives. Lead us to see with honest and clear eyes and hearts, recognizing our own weaknesses. Fill us with your presence, empowering us to bring you the glory in all we say, do, and think. Amen.