Abraham fell on his face and laughed…
Sarah laughed to herself …
(Genesis 17:17a; 18:12a)
Many are happy to overlook the way God has revealed Himself in the sacred histories. They prefer to view Him through inspired statements made about Him. Then they define His actions in view of those holy declarations. This is a good principle, but we should not neglect to watch carefully to see how He interacts with people that He loves. Perhaps statements about God might be seen through the revelatory record of His relationships. For example, look at Abraham and Sarah’s unbelief. First, look at Abraham:
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. “I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. (Genesis 17:15-19)
At least Abraham kept his derision to himself. He only spoke “in his heart.” God didn’t reprove him. God continued to declare His purposes for Abraham. Yet, look at Sarah. Really, this couple just goes from bad to worse…
He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:9-15)
Here’s a woman who actually laughs in disbelief at God’s promise. When she’s called on it, in fear and disbelief in God’s goodness, she lies to God’s face. Why wasn’t Sarah turned to ashes where she stood? In the very next chapter (the inexorably severe judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah) we read of Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying the word of an angel. Here, we have the inspired record: Lot’s wife’s Aunt Sarah secretly mocking God’s word. She laughed!
Not only did God not destroy Sarah, but He didn’t rescind His promise to her. Not only did God not respond in wrath, but Sarah didn’t disqualify herself from His purposes for her. In fact, the gentle reproof He offered did not even receive a penitent response. What did she say? “I did not laugh.” So, Sarah not only laughs at God’s word, but when convicted by the audible voice of God she doesn’t even have the reverence to humbly confess her fault. She denies, she maintains her righteousness. And this woman lived? What did God say? “No, but you did laugh.” I have been familiar with this story for years, but still can’t quite get over this.
This is as poignant and merciful an interaction as anything we read about in the New Testament. In fact, where else in the Sacred Text do we see this type of behavior? (I’m not just writing about Sarah, but Sarah and God!)
Have you ever received a promise that you believe was from God, but now, if it is mentioned, the very sound of it brings pain? If the LORD, Himself, was to draw near to you and restate His purpose, would you bitterly laugh? Would you mock? Have you done that? If so, take heart. He is the God of Abraham, yes, but He is also the God of Sarah.
Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:5-7)
What an incredible display of the God of Sarah’s faithfulness. Before we leave this story, let’s read the way the writer of Hebrews tells this story:
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11)
Are you kidding? That’s the apostolic verdict? I am tempted to laugh…
Tags: Abraham,
calling,
children,
Genesis,
God,
Isaac,
Ishmael,
judgment,
prophecy,
righteousness,
sarah
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I had a small meditation on this same passage a few mornings ago. I would like to share what I viewed Sarah laughing was a picture of(this is exactly what I wrote a few days ago):
Is this a picture of the American Church? Is this us? The Lord gives His Word, we’ve seen His delivering power and yet when he reveals to us His promises we laugh in unbelief, it is like we are saying to God “as if”, “as if life can come from this dead thing”. We’ve been so use to being near dead that we have come to believe that revival and awakening is impossible. We are laughing at God and when He confronts us we deny it. Lord help the church to stop laughing and to take you at your Word. Lord help us not to be offended, when you move in a way and in a place that we don’t think you should. Woo us by your love out of unbelief and into the realm of the impossible.
The church’s biggest sin has been limiting God!
He is so kind! Your article brings to mind the words of a modern psalmist:
May we grow in the experience, knowledge, and expression of the kindness of God!
I too have often enjoyed watching God’s interplay with His people. I love to see facets of His character in how He relates to people and especially how he allows others to relate to Him…or maybe what He lets people get away with in conversation with Him. We read the words of the dialogue, but He see’s the heart of the individual.
I thank God for making sure His relationships with people have been recorded for us, especially the verbal exchanges. It really is a treasure to see Him in His relating to/with people in scripture.
Good word David…
Very encouraging comments.
Concerning God’s kindness – He really is kind. In addition, it is written that His kindness is towards us: “…kindness towards you, if you continue in His kindness….” (Romans 11:22b)
I really enjoy the way that’s expressed. “Chrestotes” is translated “kindness.” In this context, chrestotes means, “goodness, kindness, generosity.” (Gingrich) We’re called to look at this kindness. I think that’s a healthy meditation. (I know that we’re called to look at both the kindness and severity of the Lord – right now I’m looking at His kindness.:)
Some unpublished comments:
A friend shared that Sarah was undoubtedly strengthened by this encounter with God and received the faith necessary to conceive.
Another friend reminded me of the role of laughter in the rest of the narrative. Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me … people will laugh with me,” and she named her child “laughter.” J
David
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Freely you have received, freely give. – Matthew 10:8