January 19, 2011
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Father of Laughter
We know Abraham in many ways… the father of nations… the great man of faith… the friend of God. But my favorite identity of Abraham is, “The Father of Laughter.”
When God told Abraham (100 years old) that he and his wife Sarah (90 years old) would have a child, Abraham fell on the ground and laughed (Genesis 17:17). God’s promise amazed him to the point of laughter… could it really be true?? God seemed amused by Abraham’s reaction and told him that the name of his son will in fact be “Isaac,” which means, “He laughs.” When Isaac was born, both Abraham and Sarah laughed with joy as they held their son Isaac, amazed at God’s promise having been fulfilled. And whenever they would call their son by name, they would be reminded of their laughter.
Without Abraham there would be no Jew, no Christian, and no Muslim. There would be no Jesus. There would be no promise. He was one of the most critical men to ever live and he became the father of nations. And the beautiful thing is that his life was marked by laughter… to the point that his own son was a constant reminder of the joy and laughter that comes from a life of faith.
So make sure to smile and laugh. God has some amazing promises to release in your life too!
