Genesis 18:1-14
Stats About Sarah
• Name was originally Sarai, which means “Striver.” Was later changed to Sarah, which means “Princess”
• Mother of the whole Jewish nation
• Died at the age of 127
My Story
I think that God loves the element of surprise. He loves to do unexpected and, at times, seemingly impossible things. And usually when God shares these things with us, the things He wants us to do, they seem crazy. When I started college, I made a beeline for the Business school. I knew what I wanted to do—Accounting. You might have heard this story or one like it—I had my heart set on being an Accountant. I felt like God had given me a love for numbers. What else do you do with that love other than become an Accountant? Obviously God had other plans for me. And when my campus minister told me about a job that he knew I was perfect for, the job of Children’s Intern, I, like Sarah, laughed at him. I didn’t work with children at the time—there was no way that I was going to be good at that job. And yet here we are, 10 years later and I am not an Accountant. I am a Children’s Minister. And I’m much happier than I would have been as an Accountant.
Your Story
Tell your family about a time in your life when God wanted you to do something that seemed crazy or impossible to you. Alternatively, you can also tell a story about someone you know who experienced this. What did God want you (or them) to do? Did you (or they) do it? How did you (or they) feel about that decision? How did the situation turn out?
The Bible Story
In Genesis, beginning in Chapter 12, we find Abram and Sarai, two people to whom God promised big things. God told Abram and Sarai to leave their country and their family and go to the land that God would show them. God promised to make them a great nation. Abram was 75 when they left Haran, and although God promised that He would give the land of Canaan to Abram’s children, he and Sarai had none. God eventually changed their names to Abraham and Sarah, to symbolize His covenant with them.
Read Genesis 18:1-14 in The Message.
“God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them. He said, ‘Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I’ll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I’ll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path.’ They said, ‘Certainly, go ahead.’ Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, ‘Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread.’ Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate. The men said to him, ‘Where is Sarah your wife?’ He said, ‘In the tent.’ One of them said, ‘I’m coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man. Abraham and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age for having babies. Sarah laughed within herself, ‘An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?’ God said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh saying, ‘Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?’ Is anything too hard for God? I’ll be back around this time next year and Sarah will have a baby.’”
And God did what He promised—Sarah had a baby and named him Isaac. Abraham was about 100 years old when Isaac was born.
Discussion
Talk about things that God asks us to do that may seem crazy, like being nice to those who are mean to us, or forgiving someone you really don’t want to. Ask your children if God has told them anything that seems crazy.
Prayer and Action
• Ask God to help you and your family to be open to what He wants you to do, even if it might seem crazy to the world.
• Practice something this week that may seem crazy to the world—like forgiving those who have hurt you or being nice to someone who is mean to you or helping someone who has nothing to give in return.
Jessica Asbell is currently serving as the Minister to Children at First Baptist Church of Roswell, GA. She has worked with children in various capacities at several churches, including Winter Park Baptist in Wilmington, NC, First Baptist of Decatur, GA, and Highland Hills Baptist in Macon, GA. She has a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology and a BBA from Mercer University. In her spare time she loves to read, watch movies, and of course spend time with her sweet kitty, Lucy.
Kevin Head began serving as Minister to Young Families at First Baptist Roswell, Georgia, in February 2012. He has pastored three churches in Kentucky and more recently served as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lumberton, North Carolina. In 2007, Kevin and his wife, Amy, began a ministry-based counseling practice called New Perspectives for Life in East Cobb, Georgia. He is a graduate of Furman University (B.A.) and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D., M.Div.) in Louisville, Kentucky. Kevin was ordained by the First Baptist Church of Belvedere, South Carolina. His model of ministry is based on John 8 and the amazing, continual grace of Jesus Christ. Kevin and Amy have two children, Jenna and Joshua.
