Is anything too hard for God – even if we laugh?

“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh” (Genesis 18:14-15).

Having been promised that in her old age she would have a child, Sarah had responded as most of us would. I know my own too-often lack of faith; I would have laughed, too. Once she was called and confronted with her laughter, fear followed doubt and she denied she had laughed. But God knew the truth and simply said, “Yes, you did laugh.” He didn’t grind her to powder or condemn her or anything other than let her know that HE KNEW.

Of course, before we condemn Sarah harshly, we should keep in mind that Abraham laughed, likewise, when he had been given the same promise sometime before (Genesis 17:17). Here, Abraham tried to reason out what God really meant or to figure out using earthly means what God had promised supernaturally. So Abraham pronounced a blessing on Ishmael, the son that he had fathered earlier with his servant when he and Sarah had tried to help God’s plan along. God, then, said He would, indeed, bless Ishmael for Abraham’s sake, but He also said He meant what He had said, that a child of promise through Sarah would be Abraham’s promise come true.

Is there a lesson here? Yes, many, but one comes to mind at the moment. It’s simple. God doesn’t need our help and can even work in the midst of doubt and even laughter at His plan. He can bring it to pass. And when He does, He’ll even name it for the doubt that challenged it. “Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac [laughter] was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age” (Genesis 21:5 – 7). Isaac – laughter – was the fulfillment of the promise. God has a sense of humor. Abraham and Sarah had laughed in doubt at the promise of God; then they laughed in joy at the fulfillment of the promise.

Hold on the promises, even if it seems they can’t happen – even if you have doubted and laughed at the prospect. (Been there, done that, got that T-shirt.) Now, God won’t let it slide. He’ll check you and say, “Yes, you did laugh.” But, He’s the one responsible for bringing the promise to fulfillment. He will. And when He does it will be clear He did it in His time and His own way. Then, laugh again at the promise fulfilled.