Have you ever made a bold prediction or set a high goal, only to have someone laugh at you and say: “you’re joking, right?” I believe the modern colloquialism used by teens today is “Yeah, right” with more than a hint of sarcasm.
When Joe Namath made his fearless prediction of a Super-bowl victory for his upstart AFL team, many people laughed. When a B-movie actor from California began his campaign for the presidency, most people laughed. When a peanut-farmer from Plains, Georgia entered the presidential race in 76, it was considered a joke. When David stood in front of Goliath with 5 smooth stones, the Bible tells us the giant laughed, but not for long.
Laughing can be a result of joy from a good practical joke, but it can also be a result of cynicism and disbelief, as was the case here in Genesis 17-18 with Abraham & Sarah. Abraham had been hearing about this promised child since he was in his 70’s. Now he was near 100 and Sarai was 90. It had been nearly a quarter of a century since the original promise and you can feel their cynicism and bitter disappointment as you read about their laughter. Abraham and Sarah laughed at God’s promise.
Sarah and Abram’s reaction was understandable and God seemed to have a great deal of patience in dealing with them, but laughing at God is something we don’t want to do. The writer of Ecclesiastes says there’s an appropriate time to weep and a time to laugh. I don’t know if it’s ever appropriate to laugh at God, His Words, or Promises.
Have you ever been tempted to laugh at God? Maybe you’ve never literally fallen on the ground & rolled in laughter, but perhaps our laughter comes in more subtle ways. We laugh at God when the preacher talks about grace, forgiveness, & mercy & we ignore these truths and in our hearts say “Yeah, right.” We laugh at God when we read his promises in the Bible to care for us just as he cares for the lilies of the field and sparrows, yet we go right on feeling anxious and worried about trivial things. Anytime we ignore or discount the promises of God, it’s really no different than Abraham & Sarah’s laughter.
Let me share a few truths from this story about why doubting God is “no laughing matter.” First of all, the Bible tells us “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Those who seek God must believe that he exists, that He is who He says He is, and that He will reward those who seek him.” So laughter as a result of doubt is obviously displeasing to God.
Now Sarah must have known in her heart that her laughter was wrong. She got pretty defensive when God asked the question “why is that woman laughing?” She experienced fear because she knew who she was laughing at. Laughing at the Creator of heaven and earth is no small mistake. It’s like tugging on Superman’s cape or pulling the mask of the old lone ranger. The Lord Almighty, El-Shaddai is no one to laugh at.
It’s one thing to laugh at a teen-age shepherd boy waving a sling. It’s one thing to laugh at a Hollywood politician making speeches & campaign promises. It’s one thing to laugh at an overconfident athlete. But you don’t laugh at the promises of the Creator and Maintainer of the universe.
When God comes to us with a promise or a command, he knows ahead of time of our weak faith and human frailty. That’s why He introduced himself with the name “El-Shaddai.” El-Shaddai means “God of the mountains” or as our NIV reads “God Almighty.”
Whenever we face a crisis of belief God always come to us through His Word and reminds of His nature and particular attribute that fits our need. If our financial present & future is in trouble or we’re hungry, he reminds us that He is our Provider. If we face physical danger He is our Defender or Shield. If we are spiritual hungry or thirsty, He is our Bread and Living Water. Whatever our need or concern or crisis, God comes to us as God Almighty, reassuring us that whatever our situation, He is more than able to handle it. So don’t laugh, or ignore, or disbelieve his Nature.
Secondly, don’t laugh at God’s Commands. Right after revealing His nature to Abram in verse 1, he had some instructions for Abram. “Abram, if you really believe I am who I say I am, and that I will do what I say I will, then do this: walk before me and be blameless.”
I think many Christians very subtly, perhaps subconsciously laugh when we hear commands like “walk before me” or literally “walk with me.” It is so difficult to comprehend why an all-powerful being would be interested in close communion or fellowship with a frail, lowly earthling like us. Many people in Jesus day couldn’t handle his claim as the Son of God, even though they witnessed his incredible miracles. I don’t think many could handle the fact that God came down to walk among us.
To walk before God means to be constantly aware of his continual presence in our lives. Begin blameless is a command that is impossible to keep. We’ll never in this life achieve perfection. But if we walk in the continual knowledge that Christ is in us, and God is behind us, and that we are never out of his watchful eye, then being blameless won’t be something to laugh at. We’ll be blameless because the blood of Jesus will cover every sin. Our actions and motives will become more and more blameless because they will be a result of an intimate walk with God.
If you look at the commands of the Bible in the O.T. and N.T.: the 10 commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the summary of the law to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength and neighbor as self, you will be tempted to say “Yeah, right.”
But if you believe God is who he says He is, and believe that He keeps His promises, if you believe that His Holy Spirit resides in you to strengthen and empower you, then you will find miraculous strength to handle every temptation and trial you face. “Greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world.”
This brings us to the last point in our outline. Don’t laugh at God’s nature, his commands, and don’t laugh at His promises, no matter how outrageous they may seem. This particular promise to Abram and Sarai was definitely one of the more outrageous promises in the Bible. I don’t think even Ripley’s Believe it or Not readers would buy this story: a 100 year old man and 90 year old woman having their first baby after their Golden Anniversary.
After Abram got done laughing and after God reassures him once again, he did believe God. Evidence of his faith is his obedience to God’s command to circumcise himself and his entire household. Evidence of his faith can be found also in his willingness to take on a new name, Abraham, father of many. Abraham believed God and all his incredible promises, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Do you believe God and all his incredible promises to you? Faith isn’t faith unless we believe before we see the fulfillment of those promises. Abraham took on his new title long before Isaac was ever born.
God has given each one of you a new name and new title. Did you know that you are saints? If you trust in Jesus you are a saint, long before you reach perfection. You have been given a new title as Christian or “little Christ’s.” Long before you are completely transformed into the image of Jesus, you can bear that name. You are adopted children of the King, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Even now when not all your thoughts or actions could be called holy, you are given that title by God.
We think of titles as something we have to earn. You can’t call yourself Doctor, until you’ve earned your PHD or MD. You can’t be called Reverend until you’re ordained & jump through all the “hoops” and tests. You can’t get initials like CEO or CPA or any other letters behind or in front of your name until you’ve earned them.
That’s not how it works in the Kingdom. God wants to bless you, make your name great, multiply your spiritual gifts and spiritual children. He is preparing a place for you right now, a paradise that will last for eternity, and it’s nothing you can earn or deserve, but just something you have to believe and give thanks for.
Don’t laugh. It’s no joke. God wants you to walk before him and follow His Son Jesus Christ. He wants to work miracles in your life, in your spirit, and even in your body. It’s no joke, He has called you by name and you are His. There’s no better way to say thank-you than by giving your heart completely to Him. There’s no other Person worthy of our hearts and devotion, than El-Shaddai, God Almighty. Amen.
