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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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