Genesis 18

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14 NKJV

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  Is this problem I’m having today too difficult for the Lord? Is this habit or addiction I am trying to break too hard for the Lord?  The apostle Paul said “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think”  (Ephesians 3:20).  The power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today through prayer.  Remember that God is not sitting somewhere in heaven remotely watching our lives.  He is personally involved in our lives, waiting for us to ask for His help.  James 4:8 tells us that “if we come near to God, He will come near to us.”  What do you need His help with today?  Speak these words and feel their power: “Father, I thank you that there is nothing too hard for you, and I ask for your help with this problem.” Remember that when you pray for something, God’s answer may be “yes”, “no”, “not right now”, or “I have something better planned for you.” Only God knows the plan and timeline for our lives.

And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. Genesis 18:20-33 NKJV

God knew that there were not even ten righteous people in the city, but He was merciful enough to allow Abraham to intervene on behalf of Lot and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.  God does not take pleasure in destroying the wicked, but He must punish sin. His justice is perfect. Every sin has a punishment, and thankfully Jesus took the punishment for every sin of every believer in Him.  He gave the men of Sodom one last chance to repent.  He is even patient with non-believers today.  2 Peter 3:9 says that God is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone come to repentance.”