I remember as an unbeliever making sport among the Christians whom God put around me. On one particular occasion I was doing my best to tempt a believer into acting out and losing it. With self-control, he calmly said, “Raymond, God is not mocked.” Within a year I was arrested by the sovereign grace of God and bowed the knee to King Jesus. I went from laughing in doubt to laughing in amazement. God brings mockers like me to marvel.
Can you believe she laughed?
She was pushing 100 years old and God made a specific promise to her. He told Sarah that within a year she was going to be a mom—even though she was barren and well beyond the normal age for motherhood. Upon hearing this, she laughed (Gen. 18:10-14). Then after being confronted by God about her response she denied it; but God persisted, “No, but you did laugh.” (Gen. 18:15).
God made a great promise but Sarah couldn’t believe it. She laughed in the face of such an unbelievable promise.
This isn’t the end of the story. A year later God makes good on his promise:
“The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.” (Gen. 21:1–2)
Just as God said (Gen. 17:16, 19, 21; 18:14) he came and visited her and gave her a son. The promised son has come.
So, what happens? Sarah laughed again.
“And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”” (Gen. 21:6–7)
This time it’s different. Whereas before Sarah laughed with doubt now she laughed in amazement. God brings her from mocking to marveling.
