Laughter


The Bible records an incident from the life of Abraham and Sarah, in Genesis 18:9-15. Three people (angels) visited Abraham and he received them and offered them a good meal at his home. And right after the meal, one of them had this conversation:

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he said.
Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’  Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

This was an unusual announcement by the visitor because Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was beyond child bearing age herself. So Sarah laughed when she heard the person saying that she will have a child. It was a laughter of disbelief. A sarcastic laugh. 


The LORD was not pleased at this laughter. He was offering a blessing, but Sarah responded with sarcasm and unbelief. She looked at the practical impossibility in the situation, like many of us do too. And God had to actually remind her "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"

Fast-forward to chapter 21 of Genesis and it records how against all odds, this promise or prophetic word was fulfilled: 
Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.
The word Isaac meant "One who rejoices or laughs". Sarah was overwhelmed with joy and rejoiced at the LORD's goodness and said: 
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

God loves you and wants you to have a blessing. He promises His joy, and blessings to those who will truly seek Him and obey Him. But are you responding with sarcasm and unbelief as Sarah did? Are you displeasing the LORD with your unbelief? 

Have faith in Jesus, believe in his word. Remember "Is there anything too hard for the LORD?". If you truly believe, you will receive your blessing. You will have laughter like Sarah, a rejoicing in His goodness and faithfulness. God Bless You.



 

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