Devotionals

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   In Genesis chapter 21 of the Old Testament we read of Abraham’s wife Sarah bearing a child miraculously at the ripe old age of 100.(Abraham's age)  This was about as much a miracle as young Mary bearing the Christ child without ever having been with a man.  Neither Abraham or Sarah could keep from laughing at the thought of such an event.  For that reason the baby son was named Isaac which actually means “laughter.”  Interestingly we read later that Ishmael the boy’s older half brother “scoffed” at Isaac or “laughed” at him in a mocking manner.  Sarah was upset and requested that Ishmael and his mother Hagar be sent away so that this would never happen again.  Abraham was distressed by this request but nevertheless complied with it as God reminded him that Isaac was his true heir.  In these two examples of laughter involving the two brothers two kinds of attitude or personality are contrasted.  The laughter of Abraham and Sarah was the laughter of delighted surprise.  The laughter of Ishmael was the laughter of scorn and derision.  Sarah and Abraham were laughing with themselves and each other at the wonder and unlikelihood of what was going to occur.  The laughter of Ishmael on the other hand was directed at someone, namely his brother Isaac.  One kind of laughter is an expression of joy, the other is an expression of dislike or even hatred, and can carry an intent to harm the one who is the object of the ridicule.  This is the harm from which Sarah wanted to protect Isaac.  One kind of laughter has the power to unite, the other to viciously divide and separate.  These two lineages have been separated ever since of course, though the seed of Isaac has the power to unite them both in a common faith in the Messiah, and that is exactly what is happening today in unprecedented proportions and at an historic rate.  The laughter of delight will eventually drown out the laughter of scorn forever!

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