Date: 01-06-2021

Title: God’s Sense of Humor

(S) cripture:
    Genesis 17:17 (NLT2) Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”
    Genesis 18:12-15 (NLT2) So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the LORD said, “No, you did laugh.”

    Genesis 21:1-6 (NLT2) The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. 2 She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. 3 And Abraham named their son Isaac. 4 Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. 6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.

(O) bservation:
    When the Lord told Abraham and Sarah that she would give birth to a son both laughed at the absurdity of the thought because they were both old and Sarah was well beyond child-bearing age. When the child was born he was named Isaac which means “laughter”. I think God smiled and said you laughed at my promise so his name will be a constant reminder of your response.

(A) pplication:
    So many people think God is a mean tyrant that only wants to take the fun our of living. Many never think of God has having a sense of humor. There are many places in the Bible where we can see God’s humor if we just look and think. Jesus used humor often when telling parables or confronting people’s sin as a way of having them examine themselves. Today I am reminded of God’s sense of humor when he called me to preach and teach. I take heart in the Bible story where God had a donkey speak to Balaam and think that he is using me to speak too. I want my life to please the Lord.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, let me see you as you are. Let me laugh with you and be moved in my spirit the way you are in your spirit. Let me use humor the way you do and not in destructive ways. Use me today in people’s lives to encourage them to follow you, the God Who Loves Them. Amen