A Divine Miracle

07.23.09

J.A. Matteson

"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken." Genesis 21:1

With regard to the Lord communicating with a fallen race the author of Hebrews is informative, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…” (Heb. 1:1-2a); two observations may be made. First, God Almighty condescended Himself to interact with a sinner, “…the LORD visited Sarah….” Let not the amazing impact of that statement go by casually for the Lord of Glory initiated communication with a sinner continuing His plan of redemption established in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15, 21).

Previously He visited her husband while she remained in the doorway of the tent quietly laughing at His disclosure that she—as woman far past child bearing age—would conceive and be with child. The child of promise, Isaac, would come through the lineage of the free woman, Sarah, and not the bond woman, Hagar. The Apostle labors the point that the physical birth of Isaac was a miracle and a type; i.e., directly associated with the miracle of the new birth (Gal. 4:28, 31). Just as the initiative of divine grace was a necessary precondition for an old woman’s womb to bear fruit, so it is an absolute in spiritual regeneration. The Lord Jesus Christ drove this point home to the astonishment of His disciples, “’Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’" (Matt. 19:24-26).

The application of the Lord’s statement is inclusive of all sinners and not restricted to those with material riches; viz. apart from the initiative of divine grace whereby they are visited by the Holy Spirit none could be saved (Matt. 16:17), this too was the Lord’s point while speaking to Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (Jn. 3:8).

Second, unlike sinners the Lord has never and will never break a promise; that which is He decrees will come to pass and there is nothing in heaven or on earth to prevent it, “…the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken.” In this regard the Apostle declares, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). A year earlier the Lord promised to visit Sarah and He predictably fulfilled His word. The grace initiated effectual calling the Apostle references is not dependent upon merit, but the sovereign choice of the Lord, for He said to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION”, and thus, ‘So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy’” (Rom. 9:15-16). And that which the Lord initiates through regeneration He is faithful to complete (Phil. 1:6); viz., glorification (Rom. 8:30).

Sanctification informs the pilgrim that the indwelling Spirit is conforming him day-by-day into the image of Christ Jesus, the second Adam (2 Cor. 4:16). Sarah’s life experience serves as a type for pilgrims and ought to be a great encouragement to them. For just as she was the recipient of grace so they are as well and the new life they enjoy in the Spirit is a gift of God—like Isaac the children of promise are a divine miracle. As the Lord was faithful to His promises to Sarah He is also faithful to the saints, each promise revealed in His Word will never fail, and they may meditate upon them, rejoicing in the knowledge that all of His promises are “yes” and “amen” in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20).

In seasons of difficulty and trial pilgrims may rest in the Word of the Lord, in His everlasting faithfulness and goodness, knowing that all things are working together for their good, to the praise of His glorious name.