FEATURES FROM THE BIBLE

LAUGHING AT GOD Genesis 17 and 18

Laughing at God? Some do. Both Sarah and Abraham did it. They did not see how God could fulfill His promise that in their old age they would have many descendants. Abraham even asked if his son by Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar, could live under God’s blessing.

Sarah’s laughter came when three visitors came to Mamre to visit with Abraham and Sarah. A warm welcome was extended to the visitors and a fine meal was prepared for them. One of the visitors was the Lord. He was the spokesman and told Abraham that the next year he would visit again and that by that time Sarah would have a son. Sarah heard this conversation and laughed. Her thoughts were that she and Abraham were both too old for this to happen.

The Lord heard Sarah laughing and questioned her about it. She tried to deny that she had laughed, but the Lord knew that she had.

The Lord asked Abraham, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”

He then stated that he would return at the appointed time next year and Sarah would have a son.

A SON NAMED LAUGHTER (Isaac) Genesis 21

God fulfilled his promise to Sarah and Abraham.

“The Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.” Genesis 21:1

Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time he had promised him. Abraham gave his son the name Isaac, which means “he laughs”. When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God commanded him to do.

Sarah responded to the birth of Isaac by saying, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” She continued, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children, yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”