The Last Laugh

Genesis 18:9-15 (ESV)
⁹ They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent."
¹⁰ The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
¹¹ Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.
¹² So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"
¹³ The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'
¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."
¹⁵ But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

We’ve all been there. We have all struggled with doubts about how things would work out. We don’t have God’s perspective and power, so without the peace of full trust in Him we often find ourselves thinking just like Sarah. Through our eyes we are limited in vision. God sees everything from beginning to end, from the foundation of the world to a new earth and a new heaven. Our journey here on earth gives us the opportunity to grow in faith and trust in the Lord.

Sarah laughs. Common sense precludes the promise of the Lord, but we do not serve a common God. That is part of the reason so many so many reject Him, or that is the reason often given, “That doesn’t make sense”.

Sarah was proved wrong. A child did come. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. As a reminder of the wonder of God and of her doubt, the child was named Isaac, which means laughter. Sarah learned that what the Lord says will come to pass. Her laughter of doubt became laughter of joy. That is what happens, for God will always have the last laugh.