Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, September 15, 2019
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: God’s idea for life is one filled with joy and laughter.
Pure, deep-seated joy. That’s what this story expresses from beginning to end.
Abraham and Sarah had not had a perfect life to this point. They were wanderers without a home, often plagued by enemies seeking to kill Abraham and steal Sarah (Genesis 12:11-13; 20:1-2). They remained childless despite God’s promise to make Abraham and Sarah parents of a mighty nation (Genesis 22:17).
Despite it all, Abraham still owns a joy that runs deep. It is only with this kind of faith in God and joy of life that causes a person to go so far out of their way for a stranger. When three strangers traveled by, Abraham went above and beyond to welcome them. (Israel has a long history of hospitality, with this story being one of the pillars of its tradition.)
When the strangers proclaim that Sarah will have a baby, the joy widens, including Sarah. Her initial joy at the news is more like glee at the sheer ridiculousness of their proclamation. She didn’t believe them, and it made her laugh. When called out for laughing, of course, she denied it, but the Lord was on to her, “Oh, yes you did laugh.” (I can almost hear the exchange—“Oh no, I didn’t.” “Oh, yes you did.”!)
But wouldn’t you know, they were telling the truth! Sarah did have a son, and she named him, “Isaac,” which means “he laughs.” I wonder—they may have been referring to God laughing!
Often people turn moral, upright (Christian?) living into a chore—serious and somber. But clearly God’s story includes a lot of joy and laughter. Joy of living. Laughter at the absurd. Laughter at the ridiculous, miraculous things God can do. Sometime life is somber. But it also can be wonderful, weird, unexpected, and delightful.
God intended for our lives to be filled with joy.
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