If you've been here a while, then you'll know that I've been studying Genesis like a mad woman (because I'm determined to read through the Bible... no matter how long it takes me). So, today we're gonna talk about Sarah, the wife of Abraham.
(Fun fact: she was previously called Sarai, but God renamed her Sarah, or Princess. So we have Abraham, the father of many nations, which might as well make him a king, and Sarah the princess. Look how God renames as He redeems!)
While Abraham and Sarah are well aware of the Lord’s promise of descendants, Sarah is, well, let’s just say she’s not jumping for joy.
At this point, she’s ninety-something years old and has already tried everything within her power (including forcing her servant, Hagar, to have a kid with Abraham) to provide children for her husband.
But obviously, Hagar’s baby, Ishmael, is not hers. And God has since clarified things; not only will Abraham be a great father, but Sarah will become a mother (Gen 17:17-22).
Yeah right (her response, I’m sure).
So when God appears (in chapter 18, just to clarify) as three desert travelers, declaring (again) that Sarah will have a baby soon, this old woman laughs.
And this is not a happy laugh.
You know how grumpy people have a tendency to laugh at their own misery? Yep, that’s what she’s doing here. In fact, the exact wording says that Sarah laughed “within herself,” implying that she didn’t make a peep, but sardonically, hopelessly chuckled in her head (Gen 18:12).
So it kind of makes sense, then, that God’s reply of “why did Sarah laugh?” freaks her out a bit (Gen 18:13). I mean, if the people next to me heard my internal ramblings and grumblings, I think I’d be scared too!
In her fear, Sarah denies her laughter, but the Lord knows her heart, her thoughts, and her silent chuckles of defeat:
“Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, ‘I did not laugh.’ But He said, ‘Yes, you did laugh’” (Gen 18:15, emphasis mine).
Now, God’s reply is really fascinating to me; in response to her fear, her doubts, her hopelessness… the Lord does nothing.
The text literally goes from “yes, you did laugh!” to “then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom” (Gen 18:15-16). And friends, in an odd way, God’s reaction (or lack thereof) reminds me of myself. Sort of. In a far-fetched way.
Sometimes when I get these pesky OCD thoughts roaming around my head like annoying little gnats, I decide to stop shooing them away.
Because I know they are ridiculous and nonsensical.
And because I’ve learned that swatting at them will only make them swarm faster (aka, it’ll validate the fear thoughts and reestablish the anxious patterns I’m fighting to break).
So I ignore them (or try to, at least).
I think, in a very loving way, that’s what God’s doing here—
The Lord has spoken His truth, proclaimed His promises again and again over Abraham and Sarah. And yet, Sarah continues to be filled with unbelief.
In this case, yes, her unbelief makes sense (I mean, 90 is a little old for a pregnancy), but the problem is, God is not bound by what makes sense. He is all-powerful and nonsensical in the very best way. So when she questions Him and then denies said questioning, He doesn’t validate her unbelieving fear with a response.
He’s given her the Truth to believe in, the proof of His provision. Now, she has to choose to believe it. To believe Him.
And truth be told, I don’t know if she does. If she ever truly clings to her Creator when His promises are yet to be fulfilled. The Bible doesn’t go into a lot of detail with Sarah, but we do know this:
Regardless of her fear, mistrust, and despair… the Lord is faithful. He makes her a mother, just like He said he would.
He meets His daughter’s fear with grace, and the very next year, Sarah’s laughter returns (the good, joyful kind, this time) with the birth of Isaac, the one who laughs.
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CREATION SPOTLIGHT:
This summer scene is full of vibrancy, energy, and life. Originally painted in acrylics, Flower Fields is sure to remind you of vivid days under the sun!
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