Abraham’s and Sarah’s Laughter
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 11/4/2018 PM |
Text: | Genesis 17:17, 18:12, 21:6 |
Psalters: | 86, 389, 309, 264 |
Preparatory to the Lord's Supper |
- Unbelieving laughter.
- Abraham (17:17) and Sarah (18:12) both laughed sinfully.
- They laughed in unbelief at God’s Word, and therefore at God for saying they would have a son at 90 and 100.
- Additionally, Abraham laughed because he did not see another son necessary when he already had Ishmael.
- All unbelief is a laughing at God and His Word.
- Unbelief cannot conceive of God’s ways (calls them foolish and stupid) and refuses to believe what it cannot understand.
- Also believers can think in an unbelieving way.
- Abraham (17:17) and Sarah (18:12) both laughed sinfully.
- God responded to Abraham and Sarah individually.
- God responded to Abraham by repeating Himself: Sarah would give Abraham a son.
- First, God gave the son a name (Isaac), and second, declared that the covenant would go through Isaac, not Ishmael.
- God added that this does not mean that Ishmael would be cut out of all the blessings of salvation.
- God responded to Sarah for her unbelieving laughter (18:13-15).
- God very gently rebukes her, “Nay; but thou didst laugh” (15b).
- While we might understand her unbelieving laughter and lying, it is inexcusable.
- God responded to Abraham by repeating Himself: Sarah would give Abraham a son.
- El Shaddai is most certainly able and sufficient to turn the laughter of unbelief into the laughter of faith and trust.
- He, to whom nothing is impossible, will turn their mourning into joy and their sadness into laughter.
- When they receive the promised child, he is named “Isaac” (to laugh) (21:3) in obedience to God’s Word (17:19).
- What do we learn.