Wednesday 12 June, 2019

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “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.”

The birth of Isaac is connected with laughter.  In fact, the name “Isaac” means “laughter.”  Abraham had laughed in joyful faith when he heard the news that God would give him a son (17:15–18), but Sarah laughs in unbelief.  Why should we doubt the promises of God?  “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  Mary’s, Jesus’ mother, expressed faith in Luke 1:34, when she asked, “How shall this be?”  Here, Sarah is saying, “How can this be?”

What happens when God promises something to you.  Do you laugh in incredulity or in amazed faith?  When Isaac was born Sarah did laugh in faith and joy (21:6–7) which suggests here repentance and growth.  So even if we ‘miss’ it at the beginning, we can repent and receive God’s blessing with joy.

Father help me to hear and respond to your promises with faith – even when they are beyond my wildest dreams!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta