Soon after this third renewal of the Covenant with God, A'bra-ham was sitting at the door of his tent in true Oriental fashion, resting from the heat of the day; ready to greet any passing traveler, and to invite strangers of respectable appearance to pause and share a meal with him. When three men of striking countenance and superior bearing approached the tent, A'bra-ham hastened to meet them, bowed courteously and invited them to tarry with him for dinner. His urgent invitation was accepted, and a bounteous meal was prepared for them by Sa'rah.
The courteous behavior of A'bra-ham toward these strangers, his humble bearing toward persons whose superiority evidently impressed him, his gracious hospitality , and the reverent manner in which he listened to them, all gave proof of his lovable and deeply religious nature. With noble humility he claimed no merit for his kindly service, with true courtesy and forethought he made the distinguished guests feel at ease in his home, and in a deeply religious spirit he thanked the Lord for this opportunity of doing a good deed.
At this time A'bra-ham did not know that the three passing strangers were Heavenly messengers. One of them appears to have been the Lord in the form of a man, probably the "Angel Je-ho'vah," which was a name for the Lord in His earthly appearances during ancient times. This leader of the group talked freely with A'bra-ham, speaking with him further about God's promise to send the promised heir to him and Sa'rah.
When Sa'rah overheard the words of the Heavenly guest concerning the promise of God that she should become the mother of a son, though advanced in age and greatly lessened in strength, Sa'rah simply could not believe what she heard. She burst into laughter, not from a spirit of wickedness or impiety, but from sheer astonishment. Such a happening was so contrary to the usual laws of nature that she could not see how it could take place.
The time had come when Sa'rah should become a party to the Covenant of God, and this may have been the reason for the Angelic visitor to speak as he did where Sa'rah could overhear the conversation. She must be told of the miracle that was soon to take place in her life, and her doubts must be overcome. It was not enough that she be told of the miracle by her husband; God Himself must make known to her the wonderful prospects, and her unbelief and fear must be overcome by a message direct from the Heavens,
In range of Sa'rah's hearing, and especially for her benefit, the Angel of the Lord therefore said to A'bra-ham: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" In such words he called attention to the Almighty God with whom all things are possible, and Sa'rah's doubts and fears were transformed into victorious faith.
In later history Sa'rah was praised as a model for womanly virtue and subjection. Her name appears in the notable list of the heroes and heroines of faith. She found favor with God, and all her unbelief was removed from her faithful heart. In due time the promised son was born, and Sa'rah became the mother of Is'ra-el, and of kings, princes, and nations.
