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Laughter Has A Son
The
phrase "best Bible humor" almost seems like a contradiction.
.
Is it
possible that Scripture, which some feel is always deadly serious about
whatever it discusses, also, at times, be FUNNY?
.
The
perception that this inspired book is virtually void of laughter arises due to
several factors.
.
One
reason why the Bible is considered to contain little, if any, humor is that
passages we would find funny are often subtle and hard to identify, especially
to those new to study.
A
second cause is that some humor originally placed in the text was lost, and
therefore is not obvious, when it was translated into another language (e.g.
English).
Yet
another factor leading to the belief that the Bible is bereft of humor is that
people fail to understand the context of the passages they read.
This opening article in our best humor in the Bible series
explores the first few occurrences of the rarely used word "laughter" (or variation thereof) found in Holy writ.
Their
use is related to the ratification of God's important covenant with Abram
(Abraham).
We
will discover how humor played an active role in the Lord fulfilling his
promise to Abram (Genesis 15:2-5) that he would ultimately produce a child with Sarah.
It
will be through this miraculous "son of laughter" that Abraham’s
descendants will ultimately number as the stars in heaven (verse 5)!
Laughter has a
son!
The first time laughter is referenced in the Bible is in
Genesis 17.
Abraham
is informed by the Lord that he and his wife Sarah, who is barren (Genesis 18:11),
will produce their first son.
When this promise is made the "father of the faithful" is ninety-nine years old (Genesis 17:1, 17) and
Sarah is eighty-nine.
Sarah
had already experience menopause many years prior and Abraham's body
was too old to procreate (Romans 4:19).
Abraham,
after he is promised a son, finds humor in the fact that the Lord waited until
he and his wife were quite old before making it possible for them to conceive!
He
laughs (Genesis 17:17), not because he doubts the Eternal's power (Romans 4:20-21), but
out of joy that he will be a father when he turns 100!
Abraham's
laughing is noticed by the Lord, who also finds humor in the miracle.
God,
no doubt in response to his friend's joy, decides to perform the rare act of
naming the child himself!
He
declares the son's name will be Isaac, which in Hebrew means, "he laughs" or "laughter" (Genesis 17:19).
The
Lord, taking the form of a man, a short time later visits Abraham in the plains
of Mamre. He again confirms the promise of a child (Genesis 18:1-10).
Sarah,
hidden in a tent behind the Lord (Genesis
18:9-10), secretly overhears the promise.
She
finds what she hears both unbelievable and laughable!
The Bible reveals she thinks to herself, "Now that I am old and worn out, can I
still enjoy sex? And besides, my husband is old too" (verse 12, TEV)!
She
finds it incredibly hilarious that someone would suggest, in her old age, that
she would not only be able to have and enjoy sex, but also become pregnant and
carry a baby!
The Lord, who knows what Sarah is thinking, says, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I
really have a child when I am so old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? . .
." (Genesis 18:14).
Shocked
and afraid that the "stranger"
knew her thoughts, she lies about her laughter (Genesis
18:15).
The Lord, who might have then turned and looked at Sarah,
playfully and with a bit of humor corrects her by stating, "No, but you did laugh" (verse
15, HBFV)!
Sarah
soon learns to have faith and fully appreciate the wonderful gift he made
possible.
After her son "laughter" (Isaac) is born, named,
and circumcised, she joyfully exclaims, "God
has made me laugh, so that all who hear will laugh with me" (Genesis 21:6, HBFV)!
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