Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Lord, for the Years"
Today's Bible Reading
Genesis 18:1-15 The Three Visitors
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son."
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Reflection
Imagine you’ve just spent the last hour or so having a nice soaking bath and getting all dressed up ready to go for a meal out and then the phone rings – it’s your partner who sheepishly and apologetically says, “I’m really sorry but something important has come up at work and I have to work late. I’ll make it up to you and we can go out next week instead.”
How do you feel? Let down, disappointed even angry. A promise has been broken – even though it might seem like a genuine reason. It’s not a nice feeling especially when it’s something you’ve been looking forward to. Perhaps you’ll think twice about the promise to go out next week.
In the verses that precede todays passage [Gen. 17:16-22], God promises Abraham that He will bless Sarah and give him a son by her. In this next encounter, the Lord repeats this promise. Sarah’s reaction on hearing this is much the same as Abraham’s first reaction - “Yeah right – of course I’m going to have a son at my age”.
We should remember that at this time, Abraham was a hundred years old and Sarah was ninety years old and long past the menopause, so I guess we shouldn’t be too quick to condemn their doubt. So God has repeated the promise to both of them – he is reassuring them and feeding their faith.
God is greater than their doubts, He is greater than all our doubts, and instead of rebuking Sarah, He is reassuring her. ‘Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself’ [2 Timothy 2:13].
And of course God keeps his promise because He always does – He is never going to say, I’m sorry but I’m a bit busy at the moment or something else has cropped up.
Despite how incredible the promise seems, God makes it happen. What’s more incredible is that the baby is not conceived through some spiritual miracle, Isaac is conceived through natural means and the relationship between Abraham and Sarah. Sarah’s physical body is regenerated to make this happen as promised.
God knew that having a baby together was something that Sarah and Abraham had wanted all their lives, and even though Abraham recognised the Lord he still struggled to believe it was possible. The same can be true for us, as we look at the world today and see the suffering, wars, exploitation and inequalities, it’s hard to imagine how the world can ever be right again. But we have to have faith and trust in God. For with God, nothing is impossible.
In the same way that God regenerated Sarah’s body, He can regenerate us and the world. Jesus promised us that when we believe and trust in Him we will have a place by His side in heaven.
Sometimes we just need to set aside our inner doubts and find some space to sit and talk with God and also listen to Him. Like Abraham, sitting quietly outside his tent, we should find some time to reflect in the stillness. God doesn’t make Himself known in the thunder or an earthquake but in the stillness of our lives.
Sarah laughed inwardly with disbelief, she didn’t scoff out loud, but God still heard her.
God hears our silent thoughts too, but He is forgiving and full of grace and will never break His promises to us even if we occasionally have doubts.
Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty God,
We thank you for your abundant grace and love for us.
We pray that though your Word,
we will be strengthened in faith,
and trust in your power to heal and save.
Father God, we pray for an end to the atrocities we see in the news,
