Laughter In The End

"He said, 'I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.' And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?' And the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' 'Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.' Sarah denied it however, saying, 'I did not laugh'; for she was afraid. And He said, 'No, but you did laugh.' " - Genesis 18:10-15 NASB

"Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.' And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.' " - Genesis 21:3-7 NASB

A few chapters later Sarah is laughing. Much happened over that year. The incident at Sodom and Gomorrah happened. Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister to King Abimelech. She must have been showing at the time. Very serious things and yet laughter becomes the bookends for these events.

God made Sarah laugh and He makes many others laugh who hear of her situation. During serious times laughter is forming like a child in the womb. A promise from God is manifested as joy in due season.

God didn't tell Abraham to name his child Isaac. Isaac's name basically means 'He will laugh.' When it was all over Abraham and Sarah laughed together. God's joy was born in their life. Sodom and Gomorrah was a smoldering crater of a place. King Abimelech got a confused but personal experience with God. Abraham was a strange somewhat weak representation to this King but the light shone through a cracked clay vessel and healing came to his house. Even so they both laughed and we all laugh with them.

We can say the same.

If we have trusted in Christ we will laugh in the end. The tears will have dried on our face from what has transpired and healing laughter will come. It will come right on schedule.

"When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." - John 16:21-22 ESV

How many stories have we heard from mothers who say, 'I thought a knew what love was until I had my child.' This is the kind of joy that awaits all of us that we experience in part in this life. When we see Him our joy will be full.

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