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Topic: Laughter (10/18/04)
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TITLE: To Laugh at God By Lisa Beaman 10/20/04 |
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However, even though laughter is a good thing, it is not always appropriate:
* Have you ever laughed at your preschooler while trying to discipline them?
* Have you ever laughed at someone else’s preschooler while they were disciplining them?
* Have you ever laughed at someone else’s expense?
* Have you ever gotten the giggles during communion?
* Have you ever gotten the giggles during a somber funeral?
Laughter is good. A sense of humor is valuable. Giggles can create friendships and bind families together. Yet as Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh”. Sometimes, the timing on our laughter is a little off.
Such was the case of Sarah.
In Genesis 18:1-15 we can read of a time when Sarah’s laughter was in poor taste. Three visitors informed Abraham that by the next year he and his wife would have a son (Gen. 18:10). Sarah, in her old age, “laughed to herself”. How sarcastic and cynical she must have sounded to God when she said, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Gen. 18:13)
Sometimes we too can be guilty of laughing at God. Many times our lack of faith, our cynicism, and our sarcastic attitudes can in essence be laughter in His face.
How does our lack of faith insult Him? Do we ever demand to know how He’s going to provide for us instead of completely putting a situation in His hands?
The human race in a very demanding one, we want to know what, why, when, where, and how. When God gives us promises that seem out of the realm of possibility, do we say “Yes Lord!” or do we laugh and sarcastically say, “Yeah, right!”
In response to Sarah’s laughter, the visitor asked, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14) The answer, of course, is no! Nothing is too hard for God. Anything is possible. God can do anything! It is as the angel told the Virgin Mary in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.”
Do you believe that? Do you believe that God can make a success out of your life? Do you believe that He can sustain your family? A major part of our relationship with God is our belief. He will come through for us; we just have to believe Him.
God had the last laugh in Sarah’s story. She gave birth to a son, just as God had promised and she named him, Isaac. When he was born she said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” (Gen. 21:6)
Like I said, I do love a funny story!
(All scripture is from NIV)
2004 copyright - Lisa D. Beaman