March 17, 2025 - Genesis 18:14 - "Is Any Thing Too Hard for the LORD?"

Genesis 18:14

"Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

In this verse, we encounter a powerful moment of divine revelation that poses a question with profound implications: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” This question is spoken by God Himself to Abraham and Sarah, in the context of a promise that defies human logic—a promise that, in their strength, seemed utterly impossible. At the age of ninety, Sarah had long passed the years of childbearing, and Abraham, though still alive, was also well beyond the time when he could expect to father a child. Yet God, who is not limited by the natural laws He created, declares that, in His perfect timing, Sarah would indeed bear a son. The question posed by the LORD is not merely rhetorical; it is meant to stir something deep within the heart of the believer. In this single question, we are reminded of God's sovereign power and His ability to accomplish the impossible.

Consider the significance of this question.

God is not asking for our opinion, “Can I do this?” He is reminding us of His nature: He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One who spoke the world into existence from nothing. As His creatures, we have limitations—whether they be physical, mental, or emotional. Not only are we created beings, but we are also fallen creatures. Our wills are not free but are bound by our depraved nature, so that, as Paul declared, “For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:19). Knowing our limitations, we could never say, “Is there anything too hard for our will to achieve?” contrary to the false thinking of the "Law of Attraction"—"Believe to achieve." In reality, there is only one Being who has free will, and that is God Himself, who is not limited by anything but His Sovereign will and what He has purposed. Only He cannot deny Himself.

But with God, no situation is beyond His reach, no promise too grand, and no circumstance too dire. The phrase "nothing is impossible with God" expresses the truth that God, being all-powerful and all-knowing, has no limitations in what He can do. It suggests that, regardless of how challenging or impossible a situation may seem from a human perspective, God has the power to bring it to pass. This truth is rooted in Scriptures such as Luke 1:37 ("For nothing will be impossible with God") and Matthew 19:26 ("With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"). It speaks to God's sovereignty, His ability to bring about His will, and the belief that God directs all things and grants faith to sinners of His choosing, who rest in His power to accomplish what He has purposed, with nothing hindering His will. As Daniel 4:35 declares: "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

How does this apply to God's promise to Abraham concerning the birth of his promised child?

1. The Context of the Promise: God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah was not just an ordinary promise; it was the fulfillment of a long-awaited hope. Through them, the covenant of God’s elect people in Christ would continue, despite their old age, infertility, and the impossibility by human standards. God's promise, therefore, came against the backdrop of the impossibility of either Abraham or Sarah contributing, other than being instruments in God's hands to accomplish His will through them. What is impossible with man is not impossible with God, should He will and purpose it. This is the essence of what makes God sovereign in the salvation or condemnation of sinners. It's not that God is waiting for sinners to come to Christ by some fictitious "free will." Sinners are just as dead as Abraham and Sarah were in their ability to reproduce. God had to reverse their deadness, not only reinstating the ability to conceive and produce a child, but also renewing their desire for one another to bring it to pass. It is His grace that reaches down to the most hopeless of sinners and draws them to Christ, making a way when there would be none.
   

2. The Assurance of God’s Timing: Notice that God also says to Abraham, “At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” God’s timing is always perfect. In our impatience, we may long for the fulfillment of His promises in our time. But God assures Abraham that His promise would be kept at the appointed time. Just as God did not forget His promise to Abraham and Sarah, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s promises for us will be fulfilled in His perfect time, even if it requires waiting. God does not operate on our timelines. His sovereignty over time means that He will bring about His eternal purpose in a way that is not only best for His glory but also for our good (Romans 8:28). How often do we find ourselves in situations where we question God’s timing? But we are to trust that His appointed times are always perfect. What we deem impossible today may be the very thing that God has purposed for us tomorrow.

3. The Revelation of God’s Power: The question, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” is not just about our circumstances; it’s a revelation of the power of God. We see this truth revealed in the life of Jesus Christ. God's will from eternity in the creation of the world is to the honor and glory of Christ as the Creator, Sustainer, Savior, and Judge. In the New Testament, the LORD Jesus asked the same rhetorical question when speaking to His disciples about the impossibility of salvation for sinners: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God demonstrated that He has the power to overcome sin, death, and the grave—things that seemed utterly impossible for those who languished under the condemnation of God’s law and justice.

   
   

As we have considered the question, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” we must respond as the LORD Jesus has taught His disciples to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). We therefore trust in His Sovereign power, His perfect timing, and His boundless Grace. There is nothing beyond His ability to accomplish. Whether we are facing physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges, we are not alone. The God Who spoke the stars into being, the God Who made a way for Sarah to conceive, is the same God Who works in our lives today.

In those moments when doubt creeps in, when our limitations weigh heavily upon us, let us remember the Word of the LORD: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Let us bow and respond according to His gift of faith: "No—nothing is too hard for our God," for He has purposed to accomplish what He wills. We respond with hearts full of Faith, knowing that the answer is no—nothing is too hard for our God.