February 23-March 1: Genesis 18-23
"Is Any Thing Too Hard for the Lord?"
Tyler Gathro (American, born 1988)
The Fire (2021)
Archival pigment, 40 x 32 inches
Collection of the artist
Used with permission of the artist
Genesis 18–23 bring us into some of the most personal and emotionally demanding moments of Abraham’s life. These chapters move between promise and loss, hospitality and judgment, laughter and grief. Abraham receives heavenly visitors, pleads with the Lord for the city of Sodom, and hears a promise that seems impossible: that Sarah, long past childbearing years, will bear a son. When Sarah laughs, the Lord responds with a question that echoes through scripture and into our own lives: “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”
As the story unfolds, faith is tested not only by hope, but by responsibility. Abraham learns what it means to intercede for others, to act justly in a violent world, and to trust God’s timing. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah stands alongside moments of tenderness and care, reminding readers that God’s mercy and justice are deeply connected. The birth of Isaac fulfills the long-awaited promise, turning disbelief into joy, even as Abraham continues to navigate fear, conflict, and moral complexity.
These chapters do not turn away from sorrow. Sarah’s death brings Abraham into a season of mourning, where faith must be lived quietly and patiently. His careful purchase of a burial place marks the first piece of the promised land that his family truly possesses—a small but meaningful sign that God’s promises endure beyond a single lifetime. Together, these chapters invite us to consider how faith responds to both miracles and loss. They ask us to trust that God is at work not only in moments of wonder, but also in ordinary acts of love, courage, and remembrance—and to return again to the question: Is there anything too hard for the Lord?
Gospel Questions
1. Chapters 18 and 19 begin with Abraham and Sarah entertaining holy men in their home (Genesis 18:3-8; 19:3). What did they do to make their guests feel welcome? What do you do to make guests feel welcome in your home?
2. Lot's wife turned to a pillar of salt when she turned back (Genesis 19:26). Think about other references to salt in the scriptures. Why do you think she was turned into salt?
3. When Lot "pitched his tent toward Sodom" (Genesis 13:12), he was captured by the kings who warred against them. When he eventually moved into the city of Sodom, he lived inside the city but facing its gate to the outside. When Sodom was destroyed, Lot was spared. How does the direction of our heart and not our location often determine our outcomes?
For Children and Youth
Activity: Using salt dough clay, make a small sculpture of yourself. Place this sculpture in a way that will remind you of what you personally need to turn away from. Jesus cautioned, "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32).
The earth is more than a temporary home. In the Doctrine and Covenants, we learn that the earth will be sanctified and “crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father.” It was created so that those who inherit the celestial kingdom may live on it forever (see D&C 88:19–20). In the April 2000 General Conference, then Elder Russell M. Nelson explained that the Creation occurred in seven periods of time rather than seven 24-hour days. He taught, “Whether termed a day, a time, or an age, each phase was a period between two identifiable events—a division of eternity” (“The Creation,” April 2000 General Conference).