Sunday 11 Mar 2012

Sunday Reading: Genesis 18:9-15

Key Verse: Genesis 18:12
12  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Devotion:
I know I shall probably have to put up with a lot of stick over the next few devotions, but here they come anyways because this is what The Lord has laid on my heart… Did you know that men and women are different! I say that not as a question but a statement because we all should already have realised that. But I want to be able to look a bit deeper at some of the differences – and yes, it may well be a bit biased because I am a man! I don’t pretend to understand women other than through what has happened to me and through what God has taught me (and still teaches me) through His Word. Beside reading God’s Word the one thing that I have learned to do is to write things down so that I can go over them at a later stage.

That then brings us neatly on to the first of our differences. Men seem to be able to shake things off rather quickly whereas ladies continue to be affected by things that have happened or have been said in the past. If this is a failing on our side, then there are times when I welcome such failings for the ability to shake off some of our past experiences. Are we then lucky? I don’t know yet…

One of the things that I have seen affect many people in the past is the inability to have children. God has given us together so that we may have children and when we are robbed of that privilege for any reason, it is probably the female who is most affected normally. I have two wonderful children who have all but grown up already so they may soon be thinking about starting their own families; I can only pray that God will be gracious to them as well when the time is right.

This must have been something that was building up on Sarah’s mind for some time, but both Sarah and Abraham had been able to live through it up to this point. It had probably been many years since God first promised Abraham numerous children so they had been continuing in faith for that time. Sarah’s first reaction was to try and fulfil God’s Word by giving Hagar to Abraham – not an easy decision I am sure. But now as the child grew, Sarah’s feelings were still strong. Being reminded about her barrenness was not something she cherished. Once you have had children you can relate to just how much she was missing out on not having children and how much she must have envied those around her. But God is always Just and gracious! He always delivers on His promises – even when us men forget and move on!

Points to Ponder:
Are you impatient with God?

Are you feeling like your faith is being exercised?