Isaac: Abraham and Sarah’s Laughter

 Genesis 20-21

            The promised child is finally born—25 years later, but the child is born to Abraham and Sarah. They name the boy Isaac, which means “laughter.” Both Abraham and Sarah had laughed at God’s promise; they had let their doubts get the best of them and snorted in derision about a promise that seemed impossible to fulfill. But God is faithful and now they laugh for joy.

            One of the themes that runs through the Bible is reversal, that the Lord changes the fortunes of His people unexpectedly and suddenly. Consider this:

 

They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

(Isaiah 35:10, 51: 11)

 and,

 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me…

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

(Isaiah 61:1, 3)

 and,

Weeping may stay for the night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

(Psalm 30:5)

 When the Lord changes the fortunes of His people, it’s good to remember that He does so because the Lord keeps His promises. Sometimes it might seem to take forever; sometimes it doesn’t happen in our lifetime. But the Lord keeps His promises.