I love God’s sense of humour. He delights in surprising us with the unexpected. In one case, He told a woman beyond child-bearing age that she was going to have a baby. And then it took many more years for that promise to happen. 

Abraham and Sarah had left their family in Haran (modern-day Turkey) to follow God’s orders to settle in a new land. After they arrived in their new home of Canaan (between Syria and Egypt), the Lord appeared to Abraham in a vision. “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them,” He said. Then God added this audacious statement: “So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5). What a fabulous promise, to have a family whose descendants would cover the earth. But Abraham and Sarah were well into their senior years—and they’d never had kids. 

That didn’t bother God. With Him, a promise is a promise. 

Really, God? We’re A Bit Old for This 

Many years later, the Lord appeared to Abraham a second time and said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son” (Genesis 18:10). When Sarah overheard what God told Abraham, she laughed.

So, why does that make her a bad girl? 

Sarah’s laughter that day wasn’t simply a happy chuckle that results from hearing great news. Sarah laughed in a scornful way, ridiculing God for promising something that He’d promised before and hadn’t yet done—something that everyone knew was impossible. 

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)

God didn’t think His promise was inconceivable. He asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ ” (Genesis 18:13). Instead of admitting her doubt and scorn, Sarah lied, denying that she’d laughed. 

In His bottomless mercy, the Lord didn’t punish Sarah for her laughter and her lie. He simply replied, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). A year later, Sarah was cradling baby Isaac—whose name means “laughter”—in her arms. God had fulfilled His impossible promise. Isaac was the beginning of the Jewish nation. And later—through Jesus—the beginning of Christianity, whose members currently number more than two billion. Abraham and Sarah’s spiritual descendants now cover the earth. 

Just like God promised. 

From Laughter to LaughterSarah began as a skeptic and ended as a believer. Her mocking laughter turned to joyous laughter when God’s audacious promise of a child turned to reality. 

The Lord didn’t withdraw His promise when Sarah doubted His word. Nor does He cancel His promises of salvation, protection and provision for us when we aren’t quick to believe. He’s the same God for us today that He was in Sarah’s day for her (see Hebrews 13:8). Full of mercy and compassion. Quick to forgive. Abounding in blessings. It may take Him longer than we like, but He always keeps His promises. 

Now that’s something to laugh about!

All About Sarah

Read Genesis 15, 18 and 21

• Who: Abraham’s wife and the mother of Isaac

• When: Around 2000 BC 

• Where: The land of Canaan (now Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, and the southern portions of Syria and Lebanon)

Illustration: Woodcut by Gustave Doré (1832-1883), courtesy of The Doré Bible Gallery