Laughing Out Loud

[WalterandDebbie]

Friday 4-28-23 6th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Iyar 7 5783, 40th. Spring Day

Read: Genesis 21:1–7 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 3–5; Luke 20:1–26

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God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. Genesis 21:6

Comedian John Branyan said, “We didn’t think up laughter; that wasn’t our idea. That was given to us by [God who] knew we were going to need it to get through life. [Because] He knew we were going to have hardship, He knew we were going to have struggles, He knew . . . stuff was going to happen. . . . Laughter is a gift.”

A quick look at the creatures God made can bring laughter, whether because of their oddities (such as duck-billed platypuses) or antics (such as playful otters). He made mammals that live in the ocean and long-legged birds that can’t fly. God clearly has a sense of humor; and because we’re created in His image, we too have the joy of laughter.

We first see the word laughter in the Bible in the story of Abraham and Sarah. God promised this elderly couple a child: “A son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir” (Genesis 15:4).

And God had said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars . . . . So shall your offspring be” (v. 5). When Sarah finally gave birth at ninety, Abraham named their son Isaac, which means “laughter.” As Sarah exclaimed, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (21:6). It amazed her that she could nurse a child at her age! God transformed her skeptical laughter when she’d heard she’d give birth (18:12) into laughter of sheer joy.
Thank God for the gift of laughter!

When has laughter been “good medicine”? How can finding humor in your life help even in the most difficult times?
Dear God, thank You for giving me the gift of laughter.

INSIGHT​

Genesis 17:17 is the first time that laughter is mentioned in the book of Genesis when Abraham laughs at the idea that his wife could have a child at age ninety. Some commentators have argued that Abraham’s laughter was one of joy; others believe it was skeptical laughter. Sarah is also described as laughing at the idea after overhearing visitors sent from God prophesy that she and Abraham would have a son (18:12–15). Later, the same Hebrew word is used to express the reaction of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar.

It’s translated “mocking” by the niv (21:9) but “laughing” in the esv, making the reason why Sarah reacted so angrily unclear and a matter of debate among scholars. Some have argued that Ishmael’s laughter was mocking or abusive behavior, while others suggest that Ishmael’s laughter was perceived by Sarah as Ishmael being a threat to Isaac’s role in the family.

By Alyson Kieda|April 28th, 2023

Thankfulness Genesis Twenty One:1-7

1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

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Love, Walter and Debbie

 

[Pearl]

And there's also Spiritual laughter. I remember one evening in the mid 80s when three members of our church who were strangers to us had come to our home to pray together. We hardly knew each other but we all knelt down against the furniture with our backs to the middle of the room and began to pray. firstly with understanding and then in tongues. I don't know what we were there to pray for specifically but I remember praying fervently for Prince Charles. anything else I don't remember. The room was peaceful as we all prayed quietly and independently of each other and then all of a sudden we all started to laugh at the same time. We laughed so much we were rolling on the floor with tears pouring down our faces. It was incredible and wonderful and uplifting as the Holy Spirit worked in each of us in a completely new way. God did indeed give us the gift of laughter.

 

[dev553344]

I like some good nature humor. I remember hearing humor at church and it was tasteful.

 

[Pearl]

I like some good nature humor. I remember hearing humor at church and it was tasteful.

Laughing is good. I always say you don't have to be a serious person to be a serious Christian.