July 21, 2019 Text: Genesis 18:1-14
Dear Friends in Christ,
In the land of Israel a lady’s fight with a cockroach put her husband in the hospital with burns, a broken pelvis and ribs. The Jerusalem Post reported she found the insect, stepped on it, threw it in the toilet and then sprayed insecticide when it refused to die. Her husband came home from work, sat on the toilet and lit a cigarette. He threw the cigarette in the toilet and got burned on his “sensitive parts.” When paramedics came they laughed so hard at the story that they dropped the stretcher, which broke the man’s pelvis and ribs.
There was another time in Israel when laughter abounded. It is in our text. It involves a husband and wife. A senior citizen couple. Two souls thinking that having a child has passed them by. But has it? God doesn’t think so and He is the creator of life. He enjoys a good laugh and I pray you do too.
“LAUGHING WITH GOD”
Can we laugh with God? I believe we can. He makes me laugh all the time. I like to park away from other vehicles in large lots. Numerous times I come out and there is a car parked right next to me or that person is getting in their car at the exact same time even though there were hundreds of people in the store. I laugh. God laughs. Whatever my foibles the Lord always says, “Not so fast human being Lueck, I’m in control here.” I laugh. He laughs. It happens all the time.
Does the same thing happen in your life? He laughs. You laugh. I sure hope it does because God’s gift of laughter has been shown in certain medical studies to stimulate organs with oxygen-rich air. It also helps relive stress and tension, improves the immune system and mood and relieves pain.
Abraham and Sarah got even more than just health benefits. Abraham laughed when told he would have a son. Sarah now laughs. “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” Sarah has both joy in a child to be born and in having sexual relations at an advanced age. Joy with child and joy with husband. God wanted Sarah to laugh for joy. God wants us all to laugh for joy in His unique and astonishing promises.
Notice at first though how Sarah’s laughter is laughter of doubt. She didn’t believe a woman of 90 could have a child. They laughed at the Savior too. When he healed Jairus’ daughter the people laughed in unbelief. But that unbelief turned to joy when she came back from death.
Do we laugh at the Lord’s promises? Do we doubt his Divine Providence? Do we laugh at God’s promise to forgive us over and over in our weakness? When do we laugh at His promises? When we are struggling with temptation, when we are beaten down by the world, when we are sick or fighting a disease, when the expenses outweigh the income, when the direction for our life is not clear, when we watch our kids struggle. The Lord asked a question to this faithful couple and He asks us the same thing, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (v. 14) Can our troubles be too big for the Lord? Never. Laughing with God because His promises lead us from doubt and unbelief to joy and laughter.
That is what happened with Sarah and Abraham when their Son was born – Isaac – which means, “he laughed.” Sarah said at his birth, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” (Gen. 21:6) It was by faith that these geriatrics believed the promise. This Son being born brought great joy.
There would be another Son being born that brought great joy. Not just to a small corner of Israel but to the whole world. He would be a Son of Promise. Promised by God to all of mankind. This was also a promise to Abraham. From his seed would come forth one who would be a blessing to all the world. They would laugh that He was the Son of God. They would laugh when He wouldn’t come down from the cross. They laughed in mockery and scorn. They laughed that He was dead and what were His followers going to do now.
God kept the promise. God laughed at their antics. God laughed that they thought they were bigger than Him. God laughed at their foolishness and arrogance. The Promised One from Abraham’s line and David’s line has conquered unbelief. He is living proof that God keeps His promises, for he rose again on the third day and is alive today. “To those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
God wants you today to laugh with Him. Laugh in joy. Witness to this joy when others laugh at your faith. Who cares?! You will stand before the throne of God someday and laugh for joy for you are in heaven forever.
God has a great sense of humor. Don’t miss it as you go about your daily business. God laughs with all of us because of the promise of forgiveness and salvation. Laugh with Him at the antics and arrogance of our world and then know the God of laughter has the last laugh. You will too.
Amen.