Eavesdropping

I'm plugging right along in Genesis; I'm up to Chapter 18.  In the beginning of this chapter, God visits Abraham in the form of three men.  Abraham rushes out to meet them, implores them to wait while he prepares a meal, then runs around like crazy, directing Sarah and the servants to prepare something tasty, and quick!

Then Abraham stands with the men as they eat.  And God asks Abraham, "Where is your wife, Sarah?"  He replies that she's in the tent.  Sarah, of course, is eavesdropping at the door of the tent, which the Bible says is "behind him."  I think this is hilarious.

Jesus gets all the credit for condescending to the natural world and becoming the God who meets us on our own human level, on our own turf so to speak.  And rightly so.  But this verse proves that God has been like this all along.  Not just in the New Testament; not just in our post modern interpretations of His Son.

I love how God speaks to Sarah - not just Abraham - during this visit.  He tells her that by this time next year she will have a son.  He does it in a way that perfectly fits the culture and norms of the time, but is tongue-in-cheek all the same.  I've seen this side of God before.  I was going through one of the hardest times of my life, walking along the road in my neighborhood, and I actually got so desperate that I asked God for a sign that I was doing the right thing.  I never ask God for a sign.

As soon as I asked, I heard the strangest music.  An ice cream truck had turned the corner behind me and was following me along the road, providing the kooky background music to my prayers.