The Women Who Laughed at God
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
Have you ever laughed at God? Your first instinct might be to reply, “Of course not!” Perhaps you haven’t chuckled out loud, but have you dismissed certain claims of Scripture as being ridiculous or impossible? After all, God’s Word contains many bold claims: the Red Sea was parted; the donkey of Balaam spoke; Lazarus was brought back to life; a virgin named Mary gave birth to the Son of God; and the list goes on and on. If you have ever doubted God’s Word, you are in good company. Genesis 18 tells us about a woman named Sarah who laughed at a promise made by God. God’s response might just surprise you.
Picture the scene: God is at the family table speaking—indeed reaffirming—His great promise to Abraham. The Lord says, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:10) In response to this statement, Sarah laughs to herself. After all, she is 90 years old. How could she possibly bear a child? Sarah has actually heard this wonderful promise of God before. Years previously, she grew impatient with the fulfilment of God’s plan and took matters into her own hands – giving her servant as a wife to Abram to speed up the purposes of God. It was a complete disaster. Now, when Sarah hears God again repeat the promise at the family table, she frankly finds the promise to be absurd. And so she laughs.
Sarah initially focused upon her circumstances—her old age to be precise—which falsely suggested that God’s promise was impossible. She was looking at the obstacles to God’s promise and not the Lord’s sovereignty over those impediments. It would seem that, eventually, Sarah reflected upon what she heard and shifted her focus upon the trustworthy character of God. As Hebrews 11:11 states, “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
Some might assume that God became angry with Sarah—that He lost His patience—or that He revoked His promise altogether. But notice how God replies. He is gracious and patient, though He does not ignore Sarah’s laughter. He says to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14). How glorious that God is full of grace and patience with a stumbling and slow-to-learn people.
Today, if you are drifting into disbelief, be encouraged. God is patient with His people. Ask Him to help you with your unbelief. Place your trust in His character and challenge yourself to take God at His Word. For God always and only tells the truth. As Numbers 23:19 states, “God is not man, that He should lie.” Sarah eventually saw God’s promise come to fruition: she bore a son and named him “Isaac” (which means “laughter”). And her initial, cynical laughter was replaced with a new, joy-filled laughter. As she declared, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” (Genesis 21:6) Indeed, with God, all things are possible. He remains faithful to His promises and His purposes never change. Genesis 21:1 says it best: “the Lord did to Sarah as He had promised”. To God be the glory!