When Promises Turn to Laughter

Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7

Stories between Genesis 2-18

Noah and the Great Flood

Tower of Babel

Call of Abram

Sodom and Gomorrah Introduced

Abram's Vision and Covenant

Ishmael and Hagar

Genesis 15:1-6

After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield;

your reward will be very great.

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.”

4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 17:15-16

15 God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name. 16 I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

"I will bless her.

I will give you a son by her...

I will bless her.

She will produce nations...

kings of people will come from her..."

Genesis 17:17 Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?”

Genesis 18:1-15

1 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. 2 He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”

“Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then Abraham took curds and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he answered.

10 The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”

13 But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”

15 Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said because she was afraid.

But he replied, “No, you did laugh.”

What has God promised you?

Abram believed the Lord... (Genesis 17:17)

Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed... (Genesis 17:17)

So she laughed to herself... (Genesis 18:12)

Is there something in your life when you think about it, you laugh? Not because it is funny, but the laughter is out of the deepest part of your soul and you don't know what else to do.

vs. 14- "Is anything impossible for the Lord?"

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

"Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"

Genesis 21:6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.”