Today's reading.
In the first half of the chapter, God visits Abraham again to reaffirm his promises. This visit, however, seems to be more for Sarah's sake than her husband's. We learn that, "the way of women had ceased to be" with her; perhaps a bit too much information about a biblical figure, but the audacity of the promise comes through all the more in light of that detail. Jesus's great-great-great-grandmother was postmenopausal when she had her first baby. Almost makes a virgin birth not implausible. Indeed, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (18:14).
Sarah clearly needed the reminder of the promise. She laughs in disbelief at the thought that she could be a mother (18:12). Maybe it just sounded too good to be true, and she didn't want to be taken for a sucker.
God's pursuit of his people—even barren, messed up Sarah—is astonishing. He descends with two angels to speak to the wife of a guy who lives in the desert. She laughs at God for his kindness and love. And he still pursues her (18:14-15)!
How often are we tempted to disbelieve God's promises because they are too good to be true? We don't want to expose ourselves to disappointment, so we believe halfway. God's grace forgives my sin, but I'll do enough good works to hedge my bets just in case the gospel lets me down.
God pursues us even in our half-belief. He won't rest until we joyfully receive "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:4). Every one of them is ours in the gospel. If we are tempted to ask Sarah's skeptical question in 18:12 ("shall I have pleasure?"), God will not quit until we believe his resounding "Yes!" to us in Christ.
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