Laughter Is Born: The Ridiculous Promise of God

When God's Plans Sound Absolutely Absurd

What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard of an elderly person accomplishing? Running a marathon at 100? Climbing Mount Everest at 80? Going skydiving at 103?

Now imagine this: having your first baby at 90.

That's the story of Abraham and Sarah – and it's so absurd that their son's name literally means "laughter." Because when God told them the news, they laughed. Not the joyful kind of laughter, but the incredulous kind. The "you've-got-to-be-kidding-me" kind.

The Promise That Changes Everything

It all started when Abraham was 75 years old. God appeared to him with a wild proposition:

The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s house

to the land that I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation,

I will bless you,

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,

and all the peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)

There was just one problem: Abraham and Sarah had no children. Sarah was barren. And as the years passed and they grew older, the promise seemed more impossible with each birthday.

When We Try to Help God Out

Like so many of us, Abraham and Sarah struggled with letting God work in His own way and His own time. They tried Plan A: maybe God meant Abraham's servant Eliezer would be his heir (Gen. 15:2)? God said no (Gen. 15:4).

Then came Plan B: Sarah suggested her servant Hagar could be a surrogate (Gen. 16:2). But again, God said no. "Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac" (Gen. 17:19-20).

How often do we do this? We hear God's promises, but then we try to make them happen ourselves. We manifest. We strategize. We take matters into our own hands.

But as Proverbs reminds us: "Many are the plans of a person's heart, but the Lord's decree will prevail" (19:21). God's foolishness is wiser than our greatest wisdom (1 Cor. 1:25). His plans – no matter how ridiculous they seem – are always better than ours (Isa. 55:8-9).

The Laughter of Doubt

Fast forward to Genesis 18. Abraham is pushing 100 years old. Three visitors appear at his tent, and they deliver the news: "In about a year, Sarah will have a son."

Sarah was eavesdropping from inside the tent. Her response? She laughed to herself. "After I'm worn out and my lord is old, will I really have this pleasure?"

God heard that laugh. "Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

Sarah denied it, afraid. "I didn't laugh."

"Yes, you did."

This whole exchange is almost comical. But it reveals something profound: Maybe Abraham and Sarah didn't doubt God's ability – maybe they doubted themselves.

They didn't question whether God could do it. They questioned whether they could. "I'm too old. My body doesn't work that way anymore. This is biologically impossible."

From Doubt to Joy

Genesis 21 finally arrives. "The Lord came to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised." At 90 years old, Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

Her response? "God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me!"

The laughter of doubt became the laughter of joy. The laughter of impossibility became the laughter of "can you believe it?!" Sorrow turned to dancing. Mourning turned to celebration.

God's promises wrapped in a blanket.

The Greater Son of Abraham

But here's where the story gets even more beautiful. Isaac's story points us forward to another son – Jesus.

Both were sons of promise. Both had miraculous births foretold by angels. Both were called "only begotten sons." Both were loved by their fathers and offered as sacrifices. Both carried wood up a hill. Both submitted willingly.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

The difference? Isaac was spared at the last moment – a ram was provided as a substitute (Gen. 22:13). But Jesus was the substitute. He was the lamb. The ultimate sacrifice. And His resurrection wasn't figurative—it was literal and eternal.

You Are Isaac

Here's the stunning conclusion: We are the new Isaac.

Paul writes in Galatians: "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29).

And again in Galatians 4:28, "Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise."

You and I are children of promise. We inherit the blessing. We're part of God's family – the family that started with one elderly, childless couple and became as numerous as the stars in the sky.

The God Who Provides

Abraham named the place where he almost sacrificed Isaac "The Lord Will Provide" (Gen. 22:14). And God did provide – for Abraham, for Isaac, and ultimately for us through Jesus.

Maybe today you're living in the laughter of doubt. Maybe God's promises seem ridiculous. Maybe you're past childbearing age – metaphorically speaking – for whatever dream or calling God has placed on your heart.

Remember: You may doubt yourself, but don't doubt God.

He showed up for Abraham and Sarah after 25 years of waiting. He provided a ram in the thicket. He raised Jesus from the dead. And He can turn your mourning into dancing, your doubt into joy.

The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And His promises – no matter how absurd they sound – are always, always worth trusting.

---

"Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

---

LISTEN TO OR WATCH THE FULL SERMON HERE

Apple Podcasts

Spotify Podcasts