Laughter
Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.
I can't even count how many times in my life God has called me to do something, and my first reaction was to laugh. You want me to do what?!
Thankfully, God has a delightful sense of humor. God can handle the laughter. In fact, I think God sometimes instigates the laughter. I imagine God chuckled a bit when Sarah said, "I did not laugh," and God responded, "Oh, yes you did!" She was caught red handed, but it didn't bother God at all.
God has the utmost patience with us when we resist God's calling. After God's messengers left, it was a very long time before Sarah actually conceived a child. Maybe God knew she wasn't ready yet. Or maybe she dragged her feet out of fear and disbelief. Regardless, Sarah did finally conceive, and God's plan was set in motion.
If God is calling you, be patient with yourself if you are in the laughter stage. Do some deep reflecting if you are in the waiting stage. And be prepared to laugh a lot (and cry a lot) if you are in the let's-do-this-thang stage. Wherever you are, embrace it, and keep moving forward. It'll be worth the wait.
Narrative Lectionary Text: Genesis 18:1-15
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”