Is anything impossible with God? In The Princess Bride, arguably one of the best and most famous films of my generation, Vizzini, a highly intelligent yet proud Sicilian mastermind, argues with Westley, the hero, that the idea of Westley defeating Vizzini in a battle of the wits is completely “inconceivable,” especially when death is on the line. After a brilliant game of deception, Westley defeats Vizzini by training his body to resist the effects of a toxic substance, to which the Sicilian mastermind unwittingly succumbs. By the end of the film, Westley has rescued his bride and tricked death on multiple occasions in the name of “true love.”
Our story in Hebrews 11:11–12 is beautiful and sensitive. It also includes poetic irony and “true love.” Sarah conceives a child through faith (Isaac, whose name means “laughter”). What is actually “inconceivable” is Sarah’s advanced age when she conceives Isaac. She no longer followed the women’s way (Gen. 18:11). If that wasn’t enough, Abraham is 100 years old when he and Sarah conceive Isaac (21:5). This is simply inconceivable. But is anything impossible with God? Of course, God can do whatever He wants as long as it does not violate His righteous character. However, the story establishes a peculiar scene.
In Genesis 12, God began promising Abraham offspring. He repeated the promise in Genesis 15 and 17, although Isaac was born many years later to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham and Sarah’s faith might waver on occasion, particularly during a lonely period of barrenness. In a moment of weakness and desperation, Sarah would effectively throw her servant Hagar at Abraham, demanding that Abraham give Sarah a child through Hagar. But this was clearly not God’s design. In reality, it was a sinful plot. Neither Abraham nor Sarah were praised for their fleshly efforts to bring about the covenant promise.
In Genesis 12, God promised Abraham offspring. He reaffirmed the promise in Genesis 15 and 17, despite the fact that Abraham and Sarah gave birth to Isaac many years later. Abraham and Sarah’s faith can falter at times, especially during a lonely period of barrenness. In a moment of weakness and desperation, Sarah would fling her servant Hagar at Abraham, demanding that Abraham bear Sarah a child through Hagar. However, this was plainly not God’s purpose. In truth, the plot was wicked. Neither Abraham nor Sarah were praised for their fleshly endeavors to fulfill the covenant promises.
With God, nothing is impossible; nothing is truly “inconceivable.”
Despite their faults and lack of faith, God remained faithful to His promise to Abraham and Sarah. He approached them in the middle of their anguish, promising them a son of love. The story in Genesis 18 is full with comedic irony, such as Sarah laughing outdoors after hearing God promise that a child will come to Abraham through her. She truly laughed at God’s promise, only to deny it when God confronted her. Her lack of faith was immediately disguised by deception and evasion. At this point, God instructed them to name their unborn child “Isaac.” Many people interpret God’s decision to name the boy Isaac as a sign of God’s judgment or chastisement; they laughed, therefore God names the child Isaac (which means “laughter”) to remind them of their failure to believe God’s promise.
While that is possible, something far more lovely and redeeming was probably at work. In the Old Testament, the name Isaac is frequently connected with God laughing at His enemies (Pss. 2:4; 37:13; 59:8). Death is God’s ultimate enemy, and He laughs at it. Indeed, death poses the most direct threat to the covenant vow. When Abraham eventually conceives the son of the covenant promise, he is described as “as good as dead” (Rom. 4:19; Heb. 11:12), rather than simply being old. This is the true meaning of Hebrews 11:11–12. God tested Abraham and Sarah to the point of death before delivering them the son of His promise. Abraham and Sarah were as good as dead, but God, the resurrection God, brought life in lieu of death. At this point in death, God not only raised Isaac from the dead, but He also demonstrated His power over death. Abraham would have as many children as the sand on the shore (Heb. 11:12). God triumphs over death and infertility.
Eventually, Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac died. Even though God extended the physical abilities of their bodies, they finally died. Something or someone must triumph over death and its cause (sin) before God’s people can see the true triumph of God. The covenant promise was not just extended life, but eternal life, which is only available through the Son who is greater than Isaac—Jesus. It’s not unexpected that the Son of God, who confronts death in the face and laughs at it, was born in a same miraculous way. When Jesus, Abraham’s greatest son, was born, He entered the world as part of God’s divine plan.
He was born of a young virgin, not an old mother. Is that any less “inconceivable”? Who could fathom a virgin conceiving? But it was God’s design that death would be defeated—even mocked—when Jesus, Abraham’s greater son and the righteous Son of God, entered the world.
Is anything impossible with God? Frequently, Christians face the impossible. But, just as Abraham and Sarah were purified by God’s purposeful infertility, so are we refined by the numerous settings in which God demonstrates His might through our weakness. With God, nothing is truly “inconceivable.”
