Gen. xviii. 13, 14. And the Lord said unto Abraham, Where- fore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 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.
THEPtE is no time, no situation, no circumstance wherein we are not in clanger of falling into sin. Whether we be in good company or in bad, we have need to be on our guard against the influence of our indwelling corruption. We may be engaged in the most sacred duties, and yet be assaulted by the most
horrible temptations : we may be performing the kindest offices to others, or be receiving the most important instructions from them ; and the things which in their own nature tended only to good, may through the depravity of our hearts become occa- sions of sin.
Abraham and Sarah were occupied in a way truly pleasing to God. The aged Patriarch, seeing three strangers at a distance, ran and invited them to his tent ; and having brought them thither, gave imme- diate directions for their hospitable entertainment. He desired his wife to make ready some cakes ; and ran himself and fetched a young calf from the herd ; and, when it was dressed, he set it with butter and milk before them. In this he is proposed as a pat- tern to us ; and we are told for our encouragement that " he entertained angels unawares." No doubt, Sarah also performed her part with as much alacrity as Abraham himself : yet behold, the very kindness with which her hospitality was rewarded, called forth the latent evil of her heart ; and occasioned her to commit a sin, which brought down upon her a severe rebuke.
We propose to consider, I. The reproof given to Sarah —
Sarah, occupied in her domestic engagements, was not present while these illustrious strangers partook of the refreshment provided for them : but, being- close at hand, she overheard the inquiries made after her, and the assurance given to Abraham that she should bear him a son. Not able to credit these tidings, she " laughed within herself." But the Lord (for he was one of the guests in human shape) knew what passed in her heart, and testified his displeasure on account of it. In his reproof, we notice,
1. A just expostulation — [Sin of every kind is unreasonable ; but unbelief in parti- cular : because it questions every perfection of the Deity, and contradicts all the records both of his providence and grace. However secret may be its actings, or however specious its appearances, God will not fail to notice and reprove it. Sarah