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Is Anything Too Hard for God?

Scripture: Genesis 18:9-14; Text: "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."(Genesis 18:14)

About twenty-three years prior to the events of this passage, God promised Abram that he would be the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3). Through other events that followed, it was confirmed that a son of promise would be given. Abram and Sarai became impatient over the years and devised a plan by which Abram might have a child through Hagar, the handmaid of Sarai. This was not what God had in mind, so again the promise is confirmed in the passage of our scripture reading. By this time God had changed their names to Abraham and Sarah. Even though Abraham is now almost one-hundred years old and Sarai is beyond child-bearing years, yet the message of the Lord was specific, "... Sarah thy wife shall have a son" (Genesis 18:10). At that message, Sarah laughed within herself and questioned whether or not she would have a child at such an old age. In response the Lord asked the question, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?"

It is this profound question that I want us to ponder in our hearts and minds today. I ask you the question, please answer it in your hearts. What do you think about it? Can you think of anything that is too difficult for God to perform? I hope that you share with me the conviction that the answer to the question is an emphatic no! No, there is nothing too hard for God. Yet, regardless of our answer, the answer to this question is found within the pages of the Bible. A prophet who lived more than a thousand years later, recorded the answer in Jeremiah 32:17. He said, "Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee." Personally, I am glad that he made this declaration of faith and confidence in God, for by doing so he settled the issue in the minds of all who believe that the Bible is divinely inspired. Who among us would dare to argue with the prophet Jeremiah for to do so would require us to doubt or deny the great power of God.

While we may rejoice together in this great fact, there are many infidels who do not believe it, and there are some professed Christians, who apparently do not feel as I do about this matter. For example, some say that God cannot save you unless you meet certain requirements, which often differ with various groups. They declare that God has done all that He can for our salvation and the rest is up to the sinner. Such ideas cannot possibly be true if there is nothing too hard for God. The words of our blessed Saviour teach us that "... with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). If we believe Jesus, then we must declare the sovereignty of God and therefore our salvation does not depend upon whether we will "let God save us" or "accept His gift," rather it depends upon the power of God to keep the words of His sure promise "... he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Because nothing is too hard for God, we trust the eternal (God) and not the external (man).

When God says there is nothing too hard for Him, He means absolutely nothing. The lesson surrounding the initial question should be adequate evidence of that fact. From a man and woman in the vicinity of a century old, God gave a son of promise who was named Isaac. As remarkable as his birth was, there is even a more remarkable birth recorded in the Bible that further proves the ability of God. I have reference of course to the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. In this instance the birth took place without the physical union of a man and woman. Jesus had no earthly father, for He was born of a virgin called Mary. More than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ the ancient prophet prophesied, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). The angel who spoke to Joseph just prior to the birth of God's Son, confirmed this prophecy in Matthew 1:23. God acted upon the body of Mary and by a holy conception (while yet a virgin), she brought forth a son and called His name Jesus. It was described in this manner: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). What wonderful evidence that nothing is too hard for God.

Now, if we rejoice in the supernatural birth of Isaac and the miraculous birth of Jesus, let us also ponder God's power as manifested through the new birth. The saved have been twice born, once of a natural birth and also of a spiritual birth. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:6-8). He revealed that the power of God, Who directs the winds, also sends the Spirit of God, with the same irresistible power. Thereby mortals are born from above into the family of God. Since man's mind is at enmity with God and would not consent (Romans 8:7) it took a work of sovereign grace to quicken those who were dead in sin into divine life (Ephesians 2:1). God has imparted this new spiritual life to countless people, as further evidence that nothing is too hard for Him.

Inasmuch as birth has supported the sovereignty of God, let us look at the other end of our earthly existence and consider death now. I recognize that it is a most unpleasant subject for many people and some may even be inclined to skip over this segment of our study; however, there are some important facts to be considered and they relate to the initial question which began this study. While death is regarded by most of the living as a dreaded enemy, it is also an appointment that we must all keep, unless Jesus comes first (Hebrews 9:27). We must therefore ask the question, "Is death too hard a problem for God to handle?" Through the scriptures, the obvious answer becomes clear: no, death is not too difficult for God to handle. God has power over the issues of life and He also has power over the issues of death.

This truth is evident as we consider Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. He was taken ill and in a few days died. By the time that Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days and had begun to stink through the process of de-composure (John 11:39). When Jesus arrived at the tomb, He cried, "Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go" (John 11:43-44). What a marvelous display of the power of God; He restored the body of Lazarus and return life again to him. Indeed, nothing is too hard for God.

As remarkable as that miracle was, it is a dim flickering candle when held beside the radiant light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Crucified by Romans, slain for sinners; He suffered upon the cross and died for the sins of God’s elect. Though He died, He did not remain dead. He said, "Destroy this temple (body), and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19), and that is precisely what He did. He died, was buried in a borrowed tomb and rose to life on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus described it in this manner, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father" (John 10:17-18). He declared that the crucifixion did not kill Him, but that He willingly died. Since He is God, I can certainly understand that men could not kill Him without His consent, which He gave and so died. Through His death, He delivered us from our offences and then He rose to life again for our justification (Romans 4:25). While I cannot understand all that transpired, I do most certainly believe that He lived again after His death and furthermore, He is alive today. Jesus said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18). Indeed, nothing is too hard for Him!

He still holds the power of the grave in His eternal hand. Because He lives, we shall also live (John 14:19). The same power that raised up Jesus from the dead, shall also raise up our dead bodies. Paul said, "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power" (1 Cor. 6:14). In the great resurrection chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15; Paul assures us of the hope of life beyond death, based upon the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. Does the fact of resurrection stagger your imagination? Does it seem impossible to think that the body will die, decay in the earth and then be raised to life again someday? Ancient saints did not have the advantage of the resurrection of Jesus to reinforce their faith, yet many like Job and David were firmly convinced that the resurrection of the mortal body would occur at some distant future date (Job 19:25-27, Psalm 17:15). Paul asked, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8). If we truly believe that nothing is too hard for God; then incredible as it is, we know that we shall live again in the resurrection morning at the second coming of Jesus.

There is yet another resurrection which must be considered and one that is much closer to us today. I have already considered regeneration from the standpoint of the new birth, but it must also be viewed from the standpoint of a resurrection of the dead. Paul said, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Man in nature is depraved and is therefore dead in sin (Romans 5:12). We are all under this condemnation: that while we are alive physically, we were dead spiritually. Therefore, we exist as the living dead until the work of grace quickens us into divine life. As God's Holy Spirit enters us and takes His abode inside us, we are made alive in God and instantly become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). The dead cannot impart life to themselves, either in the natural or spiritual realm. The same God and power that shall raise to life our dead bodies in the resurrection, has even now quickened our spirits into life. We have already been raised up once, but shall someday be raised up again (John 6:39). Jesus spoke of His quickening power, which many now enjoy, saying "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live" (John 5:25). In verses 28-29, He goes on to address the subject of the resurrection of the body. Thank God, even now, the dead (in sin) are being raised to life again and live through the marvels of His saving grace; and some glorious day our bodies shall also live again. Even now, these truths bless mortal lives, because nothing is too hard for God.

The reason we know God can perform all these remarkable feats of life and death, is because He has created all this marvelous world. Simply put, God created and God controls His creation. Certainly, if God is able to speak into existence all that is in this world; then by the same power He is able to control it. The Bible emphatically heralds the message of divine creation. This world is not the product of chance or the by product of change. It was designed and created by God the Father and God the Son, Who brought it into existence. The amazing fact about the creation of the world is that God made it out of nothing, for there was nothing from which to form it. As mind boggling as it is to the finite mind, it remains true "In the beginning God created the heaven and earth" (Genesis 1:1).

Because God created the world, He has often exercised absolute control over the elements of nature. In the deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian bondage, He parted the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21) and during the public ministry of Jesus, He caused a raging storm to cease (Mark 4:39). More remarkable than either of these events, was the time when the sun stopped and stood still in the heavens, as God exercised His sovereign control. The Bible says, "So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day" (Joshua 10:13). This has occured only once in the history of man, and it took place during the days of Joshua. Equally as remarkable as the time God caused the sun to stand still, was when He actually caused the reverse direction of the movement of the earth (Isaiah 38:7-8). In those times man did not even understand the rotation and orbit of the earth, yet God proved that nothing is too hard for Him, because He altered nature at His will.

All the births and resurrections join themselves in unison with the voice of creation to shout the message of God's sovereignty. There are of course many who choose to remain ignorant of such truths (2 Peter 3:5) and prefer to scoff at these facts rather than give God the glory that is rightfully His. Yet, there are those of us who love and trust God and rejoice in the messages of His power. We echo the words of those, who long ago witnessed the miracle of Jesus saying, "We have seen strange things today" (Luke 5:26). We glorify God as we join our voices to declare that "Nothing is too hard for Him."

In conclusion, I want us to briefly consider some reasons as to why God shared this wonderful information through the pages of the Bible. I firmly believe that God has a purpose in all that He does and evidently, His design here is to bless the lives of saints in all ages through a strengthening of their faith. The stronger our faith,the greater our confidence in the exceeding great and precious promises of His word (2 Peter 1:4). Believing in His great power, we have a lasting hope in salvation by grace. Because all things are within the realm of His power, we know that Jesus has power over all flesh and can therefore give eternal life to all the Father gave Him in the covenant of grace (John 17:2). Since nothing is too hard for God,He is able to choose a people in Christ before He made the world (Ephesians 1:4) and to predestinate them to finally be conformed to the image of His Son - Jesus Christ. Having omnipotent power (Revelation 19:6), God is able to save even the vilest of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and to keep them as His own forever (John 10:27-28). I am glad to believe that nothing is too hard for God, for now I can rest assured that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).

Because of the truth of our text, I not only trust Him for eternity,but I also trust Him for now. He has the power to bless our lives beyond our richest dreams (Ephesians 3:20-21). We can trust Him for ourdaily provisions (Matthew 6:11) and we can rely upon Him to answer our prayers. When we are weak, He is our strength (2 Corinthians 12:9) for He is ever present to help us (Psalm 46:1). Regardless, of how great our needs, He is able to supply all of them, according to His riches in glory (Philippians4:19). I trust Him, don't you? I really do believe that there is nothing too hard for God. It is not only the testimony of His word, but it is the firm conviction of many saints. I thank God for these marvelous truths and rejoice to share them with you, to His greater glory and our enduring comfort. Let us live for Him, obey Him, reverence and honor Him; of whom we have received the biblical testimony "There is nothing too hard for thee."




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This page last updated on June 7, 2014