1 “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 42:1-2 Have you ever read those words and wondered if you longed for the Lord like that? “As newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.” 1Pet 2:2 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Ps 63:1

2 “Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O Lord, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls. At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” Is 26:8-9

3 At the risk of sounding legalistic, I want to say that probably all of us would say that we are given too much to the distractions of life and could all benefit from a deeper hunger for the study of our God so that we could grow more deeply into Him. How can we break out of the routines that confine and enslave us, and dare to possess more of the One who longs to possess us? I have taught this before but there is a condition among Christians that we could liken to the “failure to thrive” in infants that don’t grow as they should. I want you to think about this because all of us would say that intimacy with God would have to be indescribably incredible. But many Christians talk about what it could be but don’t have the hunger to drive them close enough to engage it.

4 What causes hunger? What does the Bible say follows hungering for God? Peter tells us that we will grow, and we may logically conclude that those who do not hunger for and feed on the Word do not grow as they should. My guess is that anyone who has been under the teaching of this church can answer why so many Christians do not have a healthy desire for the Word and basically live for years in a condition of “failure to thrive” as God’s babies.

5 The biggest reason is “confidence in self” and they don’t want God messing around with their plans, that often are built of sin, and at very least are self-dependent for direction and power. We often start with consequences for failing to live as God intended because it makes the most appeal to our flesh that wants the best for self. But it is only our spirit that can relate to or understand the positive reasons for having a healthy HUNGER for our Creator, and that is what we are going to look at now. This is a good self-analytical tool. If we think that have a functional relationship with God, and yet find that we are short on the hunger for deeper pursuit of God, we might consider that our relationship is more fleshly discipline than dynamic engagement with Jesus. That can become a very serious problem because since it isn’t hinged on the power of God, it cannot be sustained. People then think that they have tried what God offers and have found it to much less than satisfying, but all they have experienced is self.

6 To illustrate our point we are going to study Gen 18:1-16. “Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.” Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.

7 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 Why do you suppose the Lord asked this question? The preincarnate Christ has come to do a work of faith in the heart of Sarah to get her ready for the blessings of the Covenant! At the time of His coming, her heart was antagonistic to faith because of her many disappointments related to children. But faith is the necessary point of reception for the gifts and the Covenant blessings. He said that because He knew that when she heard her name, she would listen very carefully to what was being said about her, and He wanted her to hear and react to what He was going to say. In fact, she is the point of this entire exercise. Abraham was readied in the previous chapter. Jesus is bringing Sarah to readiness to receive from Him because He brings husbands and wives together into truth and blessing.

8 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 At this point you have an 89 year old woman, pie- eyed, mouth gaped open so widely that the most prominent feature of her face is her uvula, which narrowly escaped being sucked down into her lungs! This was anything but what she expected to hear anyone say and her mind is now beginning to processes what she just heard – beyond the shock of it, and it is hitting every logical objection to what is insurmountably ABSURD to her by any measure.

9 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 First of all is the issue of their age. He is 99 and she is 89. She had long been through menopause.

10 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 She laughed to herself, which interestingly is said of Abraham in chapter 17. But most theologians say that Abraham’s laughter was in delight, but Sarah’s in doubt.

11 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 They were no longer engaging in a sexual relationship, which is one more obstacle to this preposterous notion.

12 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 As she ponders the absurdity; she has never been able to conceive even during childbearing years, is now 89, and they are no longer having sex, she laughs in her resident self-protective unbelief. What she thinks is private scoffing in her heart is about to be confronted to her shock.

13 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 As with all the rest of the conversation, well within earshot, the preincarnate Christ asks Abraham why Sarah laughed. What is the sense in that move?

14 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 She believes her unbelief is cloaked since she is not participating in the discussion and she is not visible. But there are no secrets to the King of Creation. He knows our every thought before we even think them, and He also knows the devastating power of unbelief, which He cannot allow any further in this blessed woman, who is invited into infinite blessing! He wants her doubt in His ability to be highlighted to her and to Abraham as well so that the affliction of her unbelief has no place to hide. Because of the shock of this incident, her unbelief will not easily hide itself in the passing of time. Unbelief is a huge deal to us and to our Lord who loves us so much. The inability to elude His gaze is unnerving to her and so she, like Adam and Eve, seeks shelter in a technicality.

15 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.” Gen 18:1-16 Isn’t this an absolutely insane exchange? She tries to cover herself. He simply denies her cover flat out, and then stands up and leaves! Why? He doesn’t wait for an acknowledgement that she did indeed laugh, or for an explanation. He just gets up and walks out with His accompanying angel, and leaves her to her thoughts and conclusions. Why? Truth and light are fatal to darkness and bondage, and sometimes the Lord has to meter it out in incremental graduations so that the heart may be skillfully drawn and willingly possessed, which is His goal.

16 The point of connection with our last discussion is that if you had asked Sarah what her relationship was like with the Lord before this interchange, she would have said that she loved the Lord, was heir to a bunch of promises, and was excited about what God was going to do. But if you asked God, He would have said that Sarah was mired in unbelief that was preventing her from engaging Him in a satisfying manner. That was the point of this entire account. God came to set Sarah free. How can we definitively conclude that Sarah was not living in faith and in peace prior to this exchange with the pre-incarnate Christ? That is simple. It was her well disciplined flesh and unbelief that led her to give Hagar to Abraham to produce the seed of unbelief. It was also her flesh that determined her interaction with Hagar after the pregnancy. We have not seen the fruit of faith in Sarah yet – just normal Christian fluff we so commonly see today. Therefore I think it is imperative that each one of us examine our lives to see if that proper and healthy hunger to know and experience God a little more deeply is there, so that we might learn if there is some impediment that keeps us in a failure to thrive.