The Lord promises Sarah a son

18:1 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest time of the day. 18:2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 18:3 He said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. 18:4 Let a little water be brought so that you may all wash your feet and rest under the tree. 18:5 And let me get a bit of food so that you may refresh yourselves since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.” “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.” 18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.” 18:7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. 18:8 Abraham then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them. They ate while he was standing near them under a tree. 18:9 Then they asked him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There, in the tent.” 18:10 One of them said, “I will surely return to you when the season comes round again, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him. 18:11 Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years; Sarah had long since passed menopause.) 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?” 18:13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child when I am old?’ 18:14 Is anything impossible for the Lord? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.” 18:15 Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.”

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

The Lord appears to Abraham and again promises that Sarah will have a son. Abraham shows reverent hospitality, but Sarah laughs because the promise seems impossible to her. The Lord corrects her unbelief and reminds her that nothing is too hard for Him.

The Lord came to Abraham near Mamre while Abraham was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. Abraham saw three men and hurried to welcome them. He bowed low and offered water, rest, and food. He served them with care and urgency. This showed both honor and hospitality.

Then the visitors asked about Sarah. One of them said that when the season came again, Sarah would have a son. Sarah was listening from inside the tent. Because Abraham and Sarah were old, she laughed to herself. She could not see how the promise could happen.

The Lord then confronted that doubt. He asked why Sarah laughed and repeated the promise. He asked, “Is anything impossible for the Lord?” The answer is no. The Lord was not limited by Sarah’s age or Abraham’s weakness. He would keep His word at the appointed time. Sarah denied that she had laughed because she was afraid. But the Lord told the truth plainly: she had laughed.

• The Lord truly appeared to Abraham.
• Abraham received the visitors with humble and generous hospitality.
• The promise of a son through Sarah was repeated and given an appointed time.
• Sarah laughed because the promise seemed impossible in human terms.
• The Lord corrected unbelief by asking whether anything is too hard for Him.
• God’s promise depends on His power, not on human ability.

• Warnings: Do not answer God’s word with unbelief or hidden mockery. Fear may lead people to deny the truth.
• Promises: Sarah will have a son when the season comes round again. Nothing is impossible for the Lord.
• Commands: Show reverence and hospitality. Trust the Lord’s word.

This passage continues God’s covenant promise to Abraham. The promised son through Sarah is the heir who will carry the covenant line forward. The birth comes by God’s power, not by nature or human strength. This keeps the story of salvation moving toward the nation of Israel and the later fulfillment of God’s promise in the wider biblical plan.

Believers should trust God when His word seems to conflict with what they can see. Age, weakness, and human limits do not stop the Lord. His promises are fulfilled at His appointed time. The passage also calls God’s people to receive others with humility and care, while keeping faith in God’s truth.

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