God's Impossible Promises Bring Unexpected Joy
Daily Scripture
Genesis 17:15-19, 18:1-2, 9-14, 21:3, 6
Genesis 17
15 God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai…. Her name will now be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and even give you a son from her. I will bless her so that she will become nations, and kings of peoples will come from her.”
17 Abraham fell on his face and laughed. He said to himself, Can a 100-year-old man become a father, or Sarah, a 90-year-old woman, have a child? 18 To God Abraham said, “If only you would accept Ishmael!”
19 But God said, “No, your wife Sarah will give birth to a son for you, and you will name him Isaac [or he laughs] I will set up my covenant with him and with his descendants after him as an enduring covenant.
Genesis 18
1 The LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at the entrance of his tent in the day’s heat. 2 He looked up and suddenly saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from his tent entrance to greet them and bowed deeply.
9 They said to him, “Where’s your wife Sarah?”
And he said, “Right here in the tent.”
10 Then one of the men said, “I will definitely return to you about this time next year. Then your wife Sarah will have a son!”
Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were both very old. Sarah was no longer menstruating. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, I’m no longer able to have children and my husband’s old.
13 The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Me give birth? At my age?’ 14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? When I return to you about this time next year, Sarah will have a son.”
Genesis 21
3 Abraham named his son—the one Sarah bore him—Isaac.
6 Sarah said, “God has given me laughter. Everyone who hears about it will laugh with me.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Genesis shared two versions of God promising Abraham and Sarah a son (as it did with creation and several other stories)—showing this was an important story. Both versions said Abraham and Sarah laughed, finding it strange that, at their age, they would have a son. The divine promise that Abraham and Sarah, childless at an advanced age, would start a great nation foreshadowed the promise of a savior for the whole world. It was hard to believe—which made the joy even greater when it came true.
- A modern writer captured the humor and humanity of this story perfectly. Preacher and writer Frederick Buechner wrote, “There are a couple of chapters in the book of Genesis that positively shake with [laughter]. Sarah was never going to see ninety again, and Abraham had already hit one hundred, and when the angel told them that the stork was on its way at last, they both of them almost collapsed. Abraham laughed ‘till he fell on his face’ (Genesis 17:17), and Sarah stood cackling behind the tent door so the angel wouldn’t think she was being rude as tears streamed down her cheeks. When the baby finally came, they even called him ‘Laughter’—which is what Isaac means in Hebrew—because clearly no other name would do.” * How does this story show the joy of laughing with God at his surprises—not laughing at God, but laughing with delight at what seemed impossible?
Prayer
A daily reminder from Pastor Hamilton: Our hope is that tonight or tomorrow morning, continuing through Christmas, each of you will, either in the morning or at night, take the time to write down three things you are thankful for. You might write these in the form of a thank you letter to God or simply write down a journal entry.
Prayer: Lord God, you know how often doubt and fear tug at my heart. Send your message of promise and joy across my path, reminding me to trust and not to fear. Amen.
GPS Insights
Valerie Nagel
Valerie Nagel, who serves as a Connection and Care Pastor at Resurrection Leawood, wrote today's Insights. A Californian by birth, her Master of Divinity degree is from Duke Divinity School. She served in the Rio Texas Conference from 2011 in the Austin area and San Antonio. From congregational care and welcoming guests to leading in worship, Valerie loves the local church's ministry. She juggles ministry with being a mom to Caleb (born 2012) and Jacob (born 2015), friend, avid reader, lover of the outdoors, beginner in CrossFit, and foodie.
Yesterday was the third Sunday in Advent. We lit the pink candle and celebrated “joy.” But this weekend we were also reminded of the violence present in our world. I wore my silly Christmas sweater to church–my youngest bought it for me. It’s one of my favorite Sundays. Yet a Jewish community was targeted as they gathered to celebrate Hanukkah in Bondi Beach. Students at Brown University suffered terror on their campus. Joy and pain. Celebration and heartache. It’s almost too much to wrap our heads and hearts around.
In our passages for today we heard about the absurd promise that a couple who was too old to have kids would have one. Their response to this news… laughter. Sometimes the only response for the awful is to find the humor. Sometimes the best response for the seemingly impossible is to hold on to hope. Cynicism is right there waiting for us, but Joy Sunday reminds us that if we dig deeper, if we are willing to trust in God, what seems impossible is possible with God.
Joy Sunday is important to me because as a pastor I spend time with people who are going through incredibly difficult seasons. Child loss, infertility, terminal cancer, sudden and unexpected spouse loss, financial challenges, heartbreak, and so much more. Life can be really hard. And yet in the middle of our lives, God shows up with unexpected promises. The best promise of all is that God is with us. I love Advent because I hate waiting. But every day as my kids and I open our Advent calendar, light candles, read Scripture, and prepare for Christmas, I’m reminded that in the waiting, in the longing, in the heartache, God is with us. God promises us that death does not have the last word. God promises us that our lives matter. God loves us so much that God became one of us. I can’t wait to bake a birthday cake for Jesus and laugh with delight as my kids and I celebrate the good news of God’s love. My story, your story, and our needs matter. Friends, may you feel hope, peace, and joy this Advent.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Frederick Buechner, Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who’s Who. HarperSanFrancisco, 1979, pp. 171-172.
