How do you respond to the Lord’s promises?
Belief? Doubt? Fear? Scoff? Laughter?
I think I can say I’ve done all of those. When I read the Lord’s promises, I’m inspired. At other times, I wonder if He would do that for me.
Have you been there? Do you see how the Lord works in others’ lives and wonder if He would do that for you? Do you have faith or fear?
As we continue moving through Genesis 18, we continue in Genesis 18:9-15:
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
Genesis 18:9-15, New International Version
“There, in the tent,” he said.
10 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. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Arriving in the day’s heat, Abraham provided a meal for his three visitors. Most likely, these visitors were Jesus and two angels. We discussed this last week.
They ask about Sarah. According to the customs of the day, it was customary for her not to eat with her husband when he entertained guests.
This prompted the one to say in verse 10, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
Sarah laughs.
This laughter differs from Abraham’s, which was recorded in the previous chapter. Abraham’s laughter was either joyful acceptance or wonder mixed with growing belief. Sarah’s laughter was an expression of utter disbelief, as the Lord’s response indicates.
It’s hard to justify Sarah’s unbelief. The Lord had recently promised that Sarah would have a child, and she was to name him Isaac. Her unbelief and laughter were calling the Lord a liar.
But she doesn’t stop there. Sarah went from disbelief to laughter. Then she lied about the whole thing. She scoffed at the Lord’s promise, and now she was trying to cover it up out of fear.
She was relying on a technicality. She laughed to herself, but it was not a hearty belly laugh. We might even call it a snickering scoff. It was private. The Lord knew.
The Lord doesn’t treat her disbelief lightly. He addressed it and was abrupt about it. Yet, the Lord reaffirmed that He would return next year, and she would have a son.
While it’s hard to justify Sarah’s actions theologically, it’s easy emotionally. Abraham was old, and so was she. Sarah was long past child-bearing years. The window of having and raising children was long over. In every way, Sarah couldn’t have a child. It was impossible.
So, she laughed with a scoff as a sign of disbelief.
Have you been there? Have you scoffed at the Lord’s promise?
When we are tempted to laugh at the plans of God, may we not fall into unbelief. May we remember Sarah. May we trust in the God of the impossible.
Recall His blessings and faithfulness through all of Scripture. Observe the Lord’s blessing and faithfulness in others’ lives. Remember the Lord’s blessing and faithfulness in your life.
Therefore, let us laugh. But instead of the laughter of disbelief, may our laughter be that of joy and belief. Let’s laugh as we celebrate the graciousness and kindness of the Lord. Indeed, we should praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!
Life Meets Theology 