Sarah of the Bible: When God Makes You Laugh
Rick Hamlin
Remember Sarah’s reaction when the three men—God’s messengers—appeared at Abraham’s tent and said that he and Sarah would have a child within a year? She laughed. How was it possible? She was way too old.
“Me, give birth? At my age?”
Then she was afraid for having laughed. Even pretended she hadn’t laughed. Lied about it, tried to squirrel out of it. What, me laugh? What I love about Sarah and so many of the characters of the Bible is she is so real. So, like us. God gives us a promise that seems impossible. Wouldn’t the first reaction be to laugh? And then to be afraid.
I think Sarah is an example of what happens when God enters our lives, and we’re open to it. Things are never the same. First of all, she had to change her name, a sign of her changed identity. She was Sarai. Her husband had been Abram. They become Sarah and Abraham. We are all called something. Then we hear God’s call and our whole identity changes.
We know a bit about her sense of shame. Remember what happened to her earlier. She faced the humiliation, especially humiliating in those times, of not being able to have a child. She offered up her servant Hagar to sleep with her husband and Hagar became pregnant.
That made Sarai—as she was then called—feel even worse. So, she banished Hagar into the wilderness. Hagar only returns when God’s messenger intervenes and tells her that she’s just going to have to put up with Sarai for a while. He has His promise for her, too. She’ll bear a son named Ishmael, a name that means “God hears.”
God hears us all.
We know the end of the story. The aged Sarah becomes miraculously pregnant. God’s promise is fulfilled. She and Abraham have a son. The child’s name is Isaac.
Remember what that name means—sometimes this gets a little lost in translation. Isaac in Hebrew means “He laughs” or just “laughter.” This is my favorite part of Sarah’s story. Answered prayers can bring endless delight and laughter. Fulfilled promises are a source of joy.
Even after a journey of shame, humiliation, fear and disbelief. Sarah found that out. By God’s grace,
laughter—and Laughter—was born.
Sarah laughs to herself when she overhears the Lord telling Abraham that she will have a son. She
doubts it will happen due to her age. God confronts her about her laughter, and she denies it out of fear.
Genesis 18:12-15:
Worship Calendar
July 27 / Jesus Teaches Us to Pray / Luke 11:1-13. /. Rev. Eric Lee
Aug. 3 / TBA / Rev. Jan Hieminga
Aug. 10 / TBA / Rev. Jan Hieminga
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our New Instagram Account
We’re pleased to share that Graceview now has an official Instagram account! It will be maintained
by Rachael Chen and will focus especially on updates and outreach related to our new Young Adults Group.
We invite you all to follow our IG account.
Here is the link:
https://www.instagram.com/graceview.presbyterian?igsh=MnlpeXE5YTYyN2ly
Egg Cartons Wanted
St. James Food Basket is once again in need of egg cartons, at least for the summer months.
Please leave them in the cloakroom at Graceview and they will be taken to St. James. Thank you for your help.
SodaStream
Free to a good home two pink canisters for SodaStream. Contact Maureen at 416-433-8148 or
maureenscreen@gmail.com.
A Summer Devotional Update (Updated June 17, 2025):
A new edition of These Days (July/August/September), as well as a new edition of Our Daily
Bread (June/July/August) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on
the church porch.
Music Announcement
Glen would like to start a New Bell Ringers Choir. Anyone can join between the ages of 10 and 110 years. No music knowledge or experience is needed. Rehearsals will be once a month, every third Sunday for 20 minutes after church. The first performance will be Thanksgiving Sunday. The next rehearsal of the Graceview Bell Ringers will be on August 17.
Lemonade
Lemonade will now be served (self-served that is) after worship during June, July
and August. Please join us in the Adamson Lounge for a refreshing glass of
lemonade and some cookies.
WEEKLY GIGGLE
A climber fell off a cliff, and as he tumbled down, he caught hold of a small branch wedged in the rock.
“HELP! IS THERE ANYBODY UP THERE?” he shouted.
A majestic voice boomed through the gorge:
“I will help you, my son, but first you must have faith in me.”
“Yes, yes, I trust you!” cried the man.
“Let go of the branch,” boomed the voice.
There was a long pause, and the man shouted up again, “IS THERE ANYONE ELSE UP THERE I COULD TALK TO?”