Gotcha! Who’s Laughing Now?

Objective: To establish that when you think you’ve reached the pinnacle of what life has to offer, that God knows how to bless your socks off!

Genesis 18:9-15 NLT “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied. 10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

Introduction: Christians must invest in their relationship with God, to avoid tragedy and hilarity. The investment is trust in God’s track record, timing, and truth.

Transition: When you think you’ve figured your life out, you run into a gotcha moment without warning. God shows up and turns your winter of decline into a wonder of development!

Exposition: Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90 years old, but God’s Gotcha! has interrupted their acceptance of mediocrity…

Revealed Prophetically (verse 10a) -Removes Sarah’s Shame -Rekindles Abraham’s Ambition

Received Poorly (verses 10b-12) -Laughed at her current condition -Laughed at the condition of her husband

Rectified Providentially (verses 13-15)