September 2, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said. The Lord did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age. It happened at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him in remembrance of their laughter.” (Genesis 21.1-3)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Abraham laughed. Sarah laughed. They laughed because they heard what they never thought they would hear: You will have a son together. This was like a “gospel” to them, good news. Listen to the words of the Angel of the Lord who appeared to the shepherds keeping watch over the flocks through the night: “Do not be afraid for I am bringing you good news of a great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day the Son of God, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2.8f) What mankind could not do, God had done and it was no laughing matter!

For Abraham, his laughter must have been of relief. His heart was always for Sarah, his wife, though he would put her life and reputation on several occasions (but she did agree to submit to the request of her husband whom she loved.) He knew the burden she carried among women because she had not, and until God blessed her could not, bring a child into the world. In those days, a woman was not considered fulfilled until she had given birth to a child. We might consider this line of thinking and rationale for that husband and wife who pledge eternal love saying “you complete me.” Mighty ones of God, Abraham could not have been the “father of faith” if not for Sarah. Her heart was for Abraham, too. Not only did she feel the burden of what God had promised which she could not deliver but she knew that Abraham’s desire for her completeness dominated his thought and thinking of being a man, her husband and a believer in God. For Abraham, the response of laughter to the gospel of God which said “You will have a son (meaning from Sarah)” was like the jiggler valve on a pressure cooker. As the pressure inside built up, it needed a release of else there would have been an explosion. Imagine the days Abraham counted as he watched their years go by knowing and wondering when will “it” happen. Abraham laughed. The pressure was off. The promise of God was confirmed by Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command of circumcision. (It might make you wonder what was the real reason Sarah could not have children. Was it the threat of “impurity” on the part of Abraham which then was eliminated? Was that act of consecration before the Lord the step of faith which God knew was necessary for the “true son of promise” to be born and carry the legacy of God’s people before all the world? The bottom line was that God had a plan and had put safeguards in place so that what was needed would be accomplished. God was in control, not manipulation, so that everyone would know that God had done this to bring righteousness back into the world!

Sarah laughed because the news not only surprised her but was a relief as well. For the reasons of reputation as mentioned above as well as her desire to serve her husband as the mother of his son, the fantastic news of deliverance was overwhelming. We have experienced such times of surprise and elation hearing good news we never thought we would. We might gasp, flinch, faint, deny or laugh as Sarah did. We would be thinking to ourselves “what in the world just happened” and the thought we were thinking spilled outside of the box in some sort of physical and tangible reaction. We would be surprised by it as much as Sarah was. We would hope no one saw or heard it and further our embarrassment. And being called on it, we probably would have and probably have “denied it.” Sarah laughed being “surprised by grace.” She knew full well, her body had said years before “it will never happen.” How long Sarah must have wondered to herself shall this emptiness persist and the shame of it be carried. When would she be relieved of the burden she believed she was to Abraham. But Abraham loved Sarah. He agreed to her decision for him to impregnate Hagar not for his pleasure but to satisfy Sarah’s longing to be “complete.” Mighty ones of God, only God can truly complete us. He who has made us and knew us long before we were even considered to be in the wombs of our mothers has made it possible for us to be complete. That completion comes in the birth of a Son. Listen again to the word of the Angel of the Lord to the shepherds, joined by a heavenly host singing “Glory. Hallelujah.” It was said, “For unto you is born this day, a Savior, the Son of God, who is Christ the Lord.” And Jesus was born not just to Mary and Joseph, nor just to the shepherds; but to the entire world. Jesus completes us! And the birth of that Son, who is our Savior, restores us to the paths of righteousness for the sake of God’s name. No, His reputation was not at stake but our future was. God is “The God who saves!”

Abraham laughed. Sarah laughed. God in Christ has the last laugh. What is that “laugh”? It is when the plans of Satan to undo God’s plan of salvation, reconciliation, restoration, and empowerment to bring to full completion the “good and very good of creation” are once and for all put to rest and the life that is born out of the union of the Groom (Jesus Christ) and the Bride (the Church) will endure forever and ever. Mighty ones of God, let us laugh together…”For what is impossible for humankind is totally possible with God.“

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.