For last Sunday’s sermon on marriage vow #3 (Our family will believe God), I came across something that didn’t apply directly to the sermon, but I found it very interesting and wanted to share it with you. It’s about laughter, which is mentioned a few times in the texts on Abraham and Sarah. I’ve read this many times but this hit me fresh and new for the first time. Go back and read these passages and think about your laughter.
Laugh #1 – Gen 17:5 (conspicuous for its mocking nature)
God announces to Abram that he is changing his name effective immediately to Abraham – “father of a multitude.” You can bet that this 99 year old man, with only one son (Ishmael) was instantly mocked by everyone whom he told his new name. Everyone including his family and closest friends knew that this was an impossibility and so they laughed at the idea (perhaps behind his back). I have had people mock my calling and dreams also, what about you? Don’t let the negative people persuade you to stop believing in what God wants to do.
Laugh #2 – Gen 17:17 (conspicuous for its faith)
Abraham laughs when God re-affirms his covenant promise that Abraham will have a son with Sarah although they were 99 and 89 respectively. At first, I thought this was a mocking laugh but upon further review I’m convinced this was a laugh of amazement – a visceral, joyful, shocked outburst of some sort. Has God given you a dream or a goal or vision for something great that he intends to do for you or with you that elicits laughter? By the way, my vision for MVCC makes me laugh like this.
Laugh #3 – Gen 18:12 (conspicuous for its unbelief)
Sarah overhears God’s intended plan to give her a baby boy at the age of 89 and she laughs to herself. This is a laugh of unbelief – forgetting that God can do anything. Believing that God will always intervene in our lives to give us the desires of our hearts is a mistake. However, believing that God never does miracles on our behalf is also a mistake. We must never doubt when we hear that someone believes God is going to do a miracle, because He certainly can if He wants. Don’t forget that big miracles take no more effort than little miracles to a God who reveals himself to Abraham in Gen 12 as El Shadai (almighty God). And don’t doubt that God has something incredible in store for our church!
(Lack of) Laugh #4 – Abraham’s first 99 years (conspicuous for its absence)
Abraham, a man of faith, leads his wife and family and his larger Oikos, pursuing God whom he trusts will fulfill that which makes him laugh inside (the dream of an heir and nation through Sarah). However, no one else is laughing. First, Abraham uproots his family from their familiar and comfortable lives to a place that is unknown and which happens to be experiencing a famine (no laughter for sure). Later, he obeys God’s command to circumcise every male in his household (definitely no one is laughing). When you take the lead toward that which makes you laugh, don’t be dissuaded from your vision just because the going gets tough and no one else is laughing.
Laugh #5 – Gen 21:6 (conspicuous for its spontaneous emotion)
This is a laugh of unparalleled enthusiasm. Sarah credits God with bringing laughter to her and says that now everyone will laugh “with her.” It sounds like she’s excited that they’re no longer laughing “at her!” This is the fulfillment of the greatest desire of her heart… God could not have done anything else that would have made her laugh more than to give her a son. At this point everything she had endured as Abraham’s wife became worth it. There is nothing more fulfilling than to want something desperately, then choose to leave it in God’s hands, and finally to see God provide that need (or go above and beyond.)
Laugh #6 – Gen 21:3 (conspicuous for its vindication)
Abraham was instructed to call his son Isaac (meaning “he laughs”), but I suspect he would have called his son Isaac even if God had not given this instruction. Abraham felt vindicated by the birth of Isaac and was now laughing at those who had laughed at him and mocked him for believing God. He’s also laughing because his wife is laughing (when mom is happy – the whole family is happy). Much like the laughter of sports fans whose team finally wins the big one after years of hoping and believing and much like the underdog stories that make us laugh – God will bring vindication to those who persevere in their faith. There have been times that the people closest to me and yes, my own wife have had their doubts about my leadership. In the end it’s always good to be able to laugh!