No Laughing Matter
Today’s Verse:
And thesaid unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. ~Genesis 18:13-14
Have you ever laughed about something at the wrong moment? If you have, you know the embarrassing feeling associated with this. Sarah laughed at hearing the incredible promise that, at 90 years of age, she would give birth for the first time to a son. This morning, we want to look at something that was no laughing matter.
We must consider the medicine in laughter.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Laughing in itself is good for us. It is healthy and invigorating. It lowers your blood pressure. It is a stress reliever. It calms our fears. It is a social relaxant. We remember things that make us laugh. Laughing is not bad in itself. Take a moment to laugh today.
We see a mockery in laughter.
Sarah had been waiting for 24 years to conceive the promised son. She is 90 years of age. The Bible describes her and Abraham as being physically “good as dead.” Biologically speaking, it was impossible for them to conceive. God had just given reassurance to Abraham about this promise. Sarah was in the background, listening as the Lord spoke to Abraham. She was skeptical and could not help but laugh. After all, who ever heard of a 90-year-old woman conceiving! It was too late! It was impossible! It was a wild dream! At least that was what Sarah thought. Her laughter was a mockery of God’s promise and unwavering word. Up until this recent appearance, the Lord did not specify a time in which Sarah would conceive. Now, He was speaking of returning to them at a time appointed. Unbelief and disappointment can cause us to become skeptical in the promises of God. Many times, we can find ourselves giving up on God just as the answer or the relief we have prayed for is about to arrive! Be careful of laughing at God’s promises.
We see a message in the laughter.
“Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” God asked a probing and convicting question. It arrested Sarah’s heart and recalibrated her thoughts from doubt to faith. It moved her from skepticism to surrender. It challenged her to trust and obey! Do you think there is anything impossible with God? Do you think God is limited by our circumstances? This is a mind-jolting question! How big is God to you? What situation in your life have you tested the omnipotence of God in? Are God’s Word and promises real and attainable to you, or are they theoretical and just words? When God asked this question, I think Sarah’s thoughts went back to a little earlier when the Lord proclaimed that He was the God Almighty (Genesis 17:1).
We see the miracle in laughter.
We read in Genesis 21:1-2: “And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.” God did as He said He would. A miracle of epic proportion happened! There was a buzz in the community! It gave a great opportunity to testify to the unbelieving people in the area of God’s power! Sarah’s commentary on what happened was: “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” This time, her laughter was one of fulfillment, happiness, joy, and exhilaration. Her laughter after the birth pointed to the miraculous hand of God in her life.
God’s promises and power are no laughing matter! Don’t let delays or interruptions rob you of the joy in seeing God work in your life. “For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Have a happy God morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 32-34