The Story of Sarah

Is anything too hard for me? I will return to you at the appointed time next year.

Genesis 18:14

1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the large trees of Mamre. Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent. It was the hottest time of the day.

2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly left the entrance to his tent to meet them. He bowed low to the ground.

3 He said, “My lord, if you are pleased with me, don’t pass me by.

4 Let a little water be brought. All of you can wash your feet and rest under this tree.

5 “Let me get you something to eat to give you strength. Then you can go on your way. I want to do this for you now that you have come to me.”

“All right,” they answered. “Go ahead and do it.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick!” he said. “Get about half a bushel of fine flour. Mix it and bake some bread.”

7 Then he ran to the herd. He picked out a choice, tender calf. He gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

8 Then he brought some butter and milk and the calf that had been prepared. He served them to the three men. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“Over there, in the tent,” he said.

10 Then the Lord said, “You can be sure that I will return to you about this time next year. Your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old. Sarah was too old to have a baby.

12 So she laughed to herself. She thought, “I’m worn out, and my husband is old. Can I really know the joy of having a baby?”

13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Will I really have a baby, now that I am old?’

14 Is anything too hard for me? I will return to you at the appointed time next year. Sarah will have a son.”

15 Sarah was afraid. So she lied and said, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “Yes, you did.”

1 The Lord was gracious to Sarah, just as he had said he would be. He did for Sarah what he had promised to do.

2 Sarah became pregnant. She had a son by Abraham when he was old. He was born at the exact time God had promised him.

3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah had by him.

4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. He did it exactly as God had commanded him.

5 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 Sarah said, “God has given laughter to me. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”

7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would breast-feed children? But I’ve had a son by him when he is old.”