Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Doctrine of Laughter. Part 1.
Sunday, May 26, 2002
This blessing is so great that it immediately aroused a relaxed response.
This was not a token of Abrahams weakness of faith or unbelief, ROM 4:17-21.
GEN 18:12 - Sarahs laughter was a reflection of her doubtfulness.
Our Lord did not even take it up with Sarah, because Abraham was the head of the house.
Sarah had laughter inside her soul, so now she shall have laughter inside her womb.
Abrahams laugh undoubtedly expressed his joy at the prospect of the fulfillment of the promise.
Yitschaaq - Isaac = “laughter.”
Abraham fell on his face, and wayitschaaq - he laughed, and the joy and happiness he felt our Lord alluded to -JOH 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw {it} and was glad.”
His irrepressible smile arises not from any doubt of the fulfillment of the promise, but from surprise at the unexpected way it was about to be fulfilled.
The word of God and the blessings are simply overwhelming; they are beyond anything he could ask or think,EPH 3:20.
Qal imperfect - tsachaq = not only did he laugh, but he kept on laughing, probably he even got a little hysterical.
The laughter of the mature believer is faith breaking through the barriers of a hopeless situation, and accepting divine reality, as over against human viewpoint, human hopelessness.
“He said in his heart or thought to himself” - Qal imperfect - amar = records what he was thinking as he laughed.
1. Where there is a sense of humor, extraordinary thought often provokes laughter.
2. As an ultra supergrace believer, Abraham was not only amused at the thought, but it activated his sense of humor to the reality of the fact.
3. Abraham does not doubt what God said, but accepts what He says, ROM 4:17-21.
4. Abraham was relieved to hear God reiterate and reconfirm the promise of a son by Sarah after the elapse of thirteen years.
5. Both humor and relief are found in the laughter of Abraham.
6. Abrahams laughter is neither cynicism nor unbelief.
7. It is not so much the hopelessness which provokes the laughter, but the appreciation of what ordinarily would be ludicrous and comical.
8. Abraham was laughing at himself.
Intense people never laugh at themselves; they take themselves very seriously, too seriously.
9. The laughter indicates Abrahams sense of humor, his capacity for life, and his ultra supergrace status.
Abraham is the friend of God, 2CH 20:7; ISA 41:8; JAM 2:23. Its just as though God had played a joke on Abraham, and promised him a son, when there was no hope of having a son because of Abraham being sexually dead.
10. As an ultra supergrace believer, Abraham had a relaxed mental attitude, a marvelous sense of humor; a sense of humor is a part of capacity for life.
Here is a grown man talking to an ass, and giving the ass reasons for what hes doing.
King James - 1SA 24:3 - he needs to “cover his feet!”
PRO 11:22 As a ring of gold in a pigs snout, So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
PRO 17:28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
PRO 21:19 It is better to live in a desert land, Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
PRO 27:15-16 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.
AMO 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”
JON 2:10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.
Leah = “wearied wild-cow” - Gesenius and the Biblical Library, p. 265.
NUM 11:31 Now there went forth a wind from the Lord, and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a days journey on this side and a days journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about thirty-six inches deep on the surface of the ground.
NUM 11:33 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague.