Laughing at the Will of God?

Read Genesis 17:1-26, especially verse 17; Genesis 18:1-15, especially verses 10-13

When Paul rehearses the theological significance of God’s dealing with Abraham and Sarah’s, he presents a picture of faith, and rightly so, but seemingly without much struggle and no mention of their laughter (See Romans 4:1-25, especially verses 18-25). Not only did Abraham and Sarah laugh at God’s seemingly ridiculous proposal, but they lived an imperfect life, in spite of the fact that all along the way God spoke to them directly. But, there were long times of silence when their lack of understanding and faith manifested in their actions, examples: lying to Pharaoh when they lived in Egypt during a famine about Sarah not being his wife; a similar episode with King Abimilek lying again with Sarah not being his wife (20:1-18); Abraham’’s relationship with Hagar had produced Ishmael, but God insisted that Sarah, not anyone else, would produce the miracle Son of Promise (16:1-16). Abraham and Sarah were not so perfect as Paul describes in Romans 4:18-25, note especially verses 19-20 “... yet he and she did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, what? In the passage in Genesis clearly presents a more realistic human picture of them. The major challenges to their faith was their time waiting and their ages: Abraham was 99(17:24) and Sarah way passed child bearing age (Romans 4:18-19 “...Her womb was dead.”) But from God’s point of view and ability He reiterated that he and Sarah must be the parents. At this he fell face down and laughed, “but to himself” (Sarah was close to 90 years of age!) But, God knew they laughed, see also 18:17, even though they thought they were hiding it from God. But, nothing can be hidden from our God, so better to be honest. And even though they lied, God remained faithful, because He realized that they were only human. But, I don’t think that their laughter was a sin of disrespect but a sort of nervous laughter overwhelmed by the promise!

1. 1. Finally sometimes in certain difficult to believe situations we need divine hope: Paul suggests in Romans 4:18, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…” This idea may be connected to one of Paul’s gifts of the Spirit: the gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9 a special impartation of faith, beyond saving faith, to empower to remain hopeful for the miracle promised to happen. This is what I think Abraham, Paul and others received and although remaining imperfect, God brought these promises to pass.

Re-read Romans 4:18; Hebrews 10:23-25; Philippians 1:6