Today’s Reading:
Gen.18:1-14 (12)
‘‘Therefore, Sarah laughed within herself, saying, after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also’’ (v. 12, KJV)
In our text from Genesis 18, the laughter of Sarah is an important part of the account. Unfortunately, her laughter is the laughter of unbelief. Fortunately for Sarah and us, God turns her laughter into the laugh of faith and joy because God fulfils what seems to be His impossible promises. Abraham also laughed at God’s promise. When God promised Abraham a son, “Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, will a son be born to a man a 100 years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of 90?” (Genesis 17:16-17). Abraham did not think it could happen. God had invited Abraham to “look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be’’. Is it surprising that at age 100 Abraham laughed at such a promise? Yet God would work a miracle. Abraham laughed in doubt when the promise was made. God would keep the promise. Abraham would laugh again, not in doubt this time, but in joy over the birth of his son. God kept his promise.
In our text, 3 visitors came to Abraham. Who were they? We know that one was the Lord Himself. The other 2 were Angels. God tells the events that will occur: ‘‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son’’- Genesis 18:10. Sarah overheard these words and she could not help but laugh the laughter of doubt. To Sarah, the promise seemed utterly ridiculous as she was biologically too old to have children. She was menopausal. Sarah did not believe. God’s promise brought the laughter of unbelief (at this juncture), not the laughter of joy.
It was in the same manner that people laughed at Jesus too when He came to the house of Jairus whose daughter had died. When Jesus told them that Jairus daughter was just sleeping, they laughed in unbelief. But the laughter of unbelief changed to the laughter of joy when the Lord raised the little girl from death. Mark 5:39-42; Mathew 9:24-25; Luke 8:52-54.
Do we laugh at God’s promise?
Do we laugh in unbelief that sinful people like us will actually make heaven?
Do we laugh in unbelief when we think God will provide for all we need every day?
We at times have laughed in unbelief at the promises of God. When we are struggling with temptation, when we are struggling financially, we laugh within us at God’s promises. God asked Sarah and Abraham a question, and this question is for you and me too. ‘‘Is anything too hard for the Lord? Is there a time when you feel your troubles are too big for God? (Mathew 19:26; Jeremiah 32:27). With God, all things are possible. God can certainly change your laughter of unbelief to laughter of joy.
God convicted Sarah for her unbelief, and she came to believe the promise made. Sarah later confessed: ‘’ God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me’’ – Genesis 21:6.
Believe in God’s promise, you will laugh the laughter of Joy forever in Jesus name.
BABALOLA IKOTUN
Prayer:
I will laugh for joy in God’s promises, in Jesus name.
I will stand before the throne of God someday and laugh for joy, in Jesus name.
Father please above what my body tells me, help me to believe your word, in Jesus name.
I reject the voice of doubt, in Jesus name.
Father, give me the joy of laughter in your forgiveness and salvation, in Jesus name.
O Lord, grant us special wisdom to train our children to the glory of God, in Jesus name.
Father, let there be divine intervention in the situations in our nation, in Jesus name.
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