‘And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh saying ‘will I really bear a child, when I am old?' Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son”.'
Nothing is hidden from God. The laugh, and the thought of the heart, is discerned. And it is answered. ‘Is anything too hard for Yahweh?' Yahweh can do anything. The universality of this statement at this time is remarkable. Yahweh is seen as supreme and all powerful.
“At the set time” compare Genesis 17:21. This passage assumes the existence of the covenant in Genesis 17.
So the promise is sure. Sarah will have a son. The partly direct, partly indirect method of first referring to Yahweh and then speaking in the first person is reminiscent of the angel of Yahweh (compare 16:10-11). But Abraham is too important in God's eyes for His approach to be described as anything but direct. Thus we have ‘Yahweh said'.
‘And Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”, for she was afraid.'
Her fear arises from the fact that the man knows her thoughts, and that what she had done was a breach of etiquette. It is stressed by the fact that she interrupts the men in conversation, another breach of etiquette, for she is not sitting with them. But she is becoming aware that the One Who is speaking has the power so to speak and the power to punish. She tries to cover up her failure. She has laughed at the representative of Yahweh. But she cannot deceive God, nor can we.
‘And he said, “Oh no. But you did laugh”.'
The words appear a little harsh. But God wants her to know that nothing is hidden from Him. And He wants her to face up to her unbelief. It will be better for her if she does. Sometimes God has to be cruel to be kind.
‘And the men rose up from there and looked towards Sodom.'
Knowing the final result our hearts chill at the words. But the incident is perfectly innocent to Abraham. It simply means that that was the direction in which it was clear they were going.
‘And Abraham went with them to bring them on their way.'
He is the perfect host to the end. He had no other purpose. But how important it was for Lot that he should do so. On such a small courtesy can depend lives.