Amazing Births: A Child of Laughter
Matthew 1:1-2 (pg. 681) December 2, 2012
Introduction:
Matthew, the record keeping tax collector, begins his gospel record as any good number cruncher would, with a list…an important and precise list, too.
“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
If you think it’s an accident that David’s name came before Abraham’s in the intro you’d be mistaken. Most of the time names were recorded in order of importance and significance. If you don’t believe me check out Luke’s writings in the book of Acts where he lists Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2) being set apart. But by the end of this chapter it’s Paul and Barnabas were leaving (v. 42). Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly (v. 46). At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual (14:1).
Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation as promised by God in Genesis chapter 12:2, “The Lord said I will make you into a great nation.”
And we’ll see how God miraculously does just that in an amazing birth. But David, isn’t the first king of Israel. That distinction belongs to Saul. But David is regarded as the greatest King of Israel. The promised Savior was certainly known better as the “Son of David” than any other name.
All Jews claimed to be “sons and daughters of Abraham” but the majestic, kingly, messianic title “Son of David” seemed held for “the promised one.”
Why? Because of power. Kingly power. Majestic power. Power to throw off oppression. Power to reclaim me.
If Jesus tarries we’ll look at an amazing birth that involves King David. But today we look at maybe the second most amazing birth recorded in all of history.
“Abraham was the father of Isaac.”
If you know nothing about Jewish history you’d think, “Big deal! Abe was the father of Ike.” But Matthew, the amazing tax collector, turned “Holy Spirit inspired gospel writer,” knows Jewish history. His genealogy of Jesus Christ will begin with that second most memorable birth in history, Jewish and otherwise, and end with the absolutely most amazing birth. Let’s look at this amazing birth starting with the “birth announcement.” In genesis 15 Abram (Abraham before the covenant with God) has given up on ever having children. So in his prayers he says to God, “You have given me no children so a servant in my household will be my heir!” But listen, God shows
1. An Amazing Promise (Gen. 15:4-6, p. 10)
I’m pretty sure Eliezer of Damascus wasn’t real crazy about this promise from the Lord. He was the servant who would have received everything. But God said, “It won’t be this man. It will be a son coming from your own body.”
It was a nighttime promise because God took Abraham outside and said, “Look up. See all those stars in the sky. Your descendants will be like that in number.” Promises are only as good as the one who makes them.
Last month before the election we heard politicians from both sides of the aisle promise everything from a “chicken in every pot to pot being legalized for personal use!” And most of us would say we’ve become jaded to those promises. We know they can’t or won’t keep them. We expect them to be half kept or not kept at all.
But God isn’t a politician. He’s the creator of the universe, so when he shows you a night sky filled with stars he hung there and you’ve experienced His promise keeping ability in the past even when you’re 75 years old and your wife is 65, even when you’ve started to make other plans for your inheritance because you’ve given up, you have a choice. “Trust God, believe Him or…not.”
“Abram believed the Lord.”
This promise was maybe the second most miraculous birth promise ever made. The first most miraculous was to a virgin who found favor in God’s sight and was promised the child growing within her was from the Holy Spirit. Both Abraham and Mary trusted and believed. And because of that God put in their spiritual bank account a deposit that said, “righteous person.”
The most difficult thing about Abram’s promise from God is he had to wait 25 years for it to become true. Mary, just nine months. Abram two and a half decades. And he’s old.
II. Waiting for Amazing Promises is never easy.
God would reinforce His promises to Abraham and Sarah on several occasions through those 25 years. He would even forgive them trying to take matters in their own hands by Abraham fathering a child with Sarah’s maid, Hagar. But Ishmael wouldn’t be the promised child. God would forgive their impatience. But, man, there would be consequences.
“God’s messenger said, “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him. And he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (Gen 16:12)
God will let you try to fix things on your own, but there are usually consequences that affect you and your whole family. Whether it’s the church or your blood family. 25 years after the initial promise God appeared before Abraham again and sent three messengers to their home, a tent. Listen to Genesis 18:10-15 (p. 11).
Why did Sarah laugh? I’m not sure we really know. It’s kind of like email messages you can never really tell the emotion or emphasis behind the words. Sarah doesn’t belly laugh, she laughed to herself as she thought, “I’m old. I’m worn out. Abraham’s old and worn out. Will my greatest dream come true now?!!”
It reminds me of the old couple sitting on the front porch together, 60 years of marriage together. The sun’s going down but the husband feels an emotional tug and says, “I’m proud of you.” His wife looks into his eyes and says “Huh?” and he says loudly, “I said I’m proud of you!!!” and she looks back and says, “I’m tired of you, too!”
When you have a lot of life under your belt, not only is that belt bigger, but that belt goes around a person who isn’t surprised easily, who has experienced a lot of pain, a lot of joy, a lot of disappointment, and a lot of victories. Sarah’s almost 90 years old, so she chuckles to herself and God calls her on it.
“Why’d you laugh, Sarah?” She lies, “I didn’t.” God says, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Maybe it’s a reminder that we should never get so old or so jaded or so tired that we stop expecting God to keep His promises. It’s why Isaiah wrote these words, some of my favorite—Isaiah 40:28-31 (p 512).
Don’t you know, haven’t you heard, God is forever. He made everything in all creation. He doesn’t get tired or weary. He knows it all. He has a plan, a purpose that you cannot even imagine. He will be your strength. Whether you’re 100 or 25. You’ll trip and fall. He will pick you up. His hope revitalizes our world so much that we can fly above the crowd. Run with Him and you will never grow tired. Walk with Him and His sprit will hold you up!
Waiting and trusting are never easy. Sometimes we get impatient and try to fix it on our own, and endure the consequences. But God doesn’t quit on us. He gives us the opportunity to reestablish the covenant. He did it for Abraham and Sarah and He does the same for us.
III. One Day God Will Bring Us Laughter
Matthew 1:1 and 2 begin the genealogy of Jesus. Matthew records, “Abraham was the father of Isaac.” Now you have a better insight into this simple sentence. By the way—the name Sarah means “laughter.”
Genesis 21:1-7 (p. 14)
The Lord was filled with grace and He kept His promise to Sarah. Verse 6 is one of my very favorites “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” Abraham was 100 when his son was born. Sarah was 90. Sarah would live another 37 years. Abraham would live another 75 if you believe scripture.
I don’t know a lot but I know this by experience: Don’t quit on God. Because if you love Him, if you have been called according to His purpose, like Abraham and Sarah, some day He will turn your heart back into laughter. He will turn your mourning into joy. It might take 9 months, it might take 5 years or it might take 25 to eternity—I don’t know.
I know that when my youngest daughter told me she was pregnant I did not feel like laughing. We had gone through this with my oldest daughter. I did not feel like laughing then either. Our son was in Iraq and my dad had just passed away the year before. I felt broken and hopeless in many ways. Satan seemed to be winning. There were some who said, “What kind of godly man would let this happen?” I didn’t have any easy answers. I couldn’t see a day in front of me, much less five years, six years. But I knew the one who had called me, so did my wife. We love each other and we love Him dearly. So all we had was faith. Faith that God keeps His promises. Faith that He will not let us go. Faith that He will work even the most heartbreaking things in our lives for good. He is, and He’s not through.
“You see, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” It’s what Abraham was commended for. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Heb. 11:6)
Let me end with the section in Hebrews 11 that talks about this amazing birth we’ve looked at today (Heb. 11:11-16, p. 852 )
I’ve always been a person who laughed easily and a lot. But I don’t think I’ve ever laughed with joy as much as I have as papaw—joy has overcome heartbreak. Abraham and Sarah experienced joy that overcame heartbreak…and they named him Isaac.
All those truths point to a Savior. His name is Jesus and He can fill your heart and life today. If you accept God’s offer of grace through faith. It’s a gift. And it came wrapped in love.
Let’s pray.
