It is said that "he who laughs last, laughs best". It's also said that he who laughs last didn't get the joke, but that's another story ...
The meaning of this pithy statement is that the initial laughter of one who thinks they have prevailed may be premature. When the end of something has come, the one who has prevailed has the satisfying laugh.
Laughter takes many forms. There is the laughter of delight, and there is mocking, disbelieving laughter.
"Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, 'Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'" (Genesis 17:17)
Abraham's laughter was followed by Sarah's when she received this news: "Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'" (Genesis 18:12)
There is an interesting comparison and contrast between Abraham's laughter and Sarah's. There are no comments or questions concerning Abraham's laughter, but the angelic messenger delivering the news to Sarah questioned her private reaction: "Why did Sarah laugh?" (Genesis 18:13) His searching question - "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14) - reveals that Sarah's laughter was that of disbelief, whereas Abraham's laughter was apparently that of delight. Abraham delighted in God's outrageous act, but Sarah laughed with doubt.
Those of us who live by faith get the last laugh. Few things are more outrageous than God's plan to take a team of obscure misfits in the world, and entrust them with leadership of the world under the jurisdiction of His Son. Many would laugh in disbelief that you and I would serve in the "cabinet" of the coming world ruler. But, as children of faith, we are privileged to laugh last in delight at the assurance that God will do the outrageous thing He has promised.
As you live and serve today, may others take note and ask about the delightful laughter that characterizes your demeanor.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
The meaning of this pithy statement is that the initial laughter of one who thinks they have prevailed may be premature. When the end of something has come, the one who has prevailed has the satisfying laugh.
Laughter takes many forms. There is the laughter of delight, and there is mocking, disbelieving laughter.
"Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, 'Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'" (Genesis 17:17)
Abraham's laughter was followed by Sarah's when she received this news: "Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'" (Genesis 18:12)
There is an interesting comparison and contrast between Abraham's laughter and Sarah's. There are no comments or questions concerning Abraham's laughter, but the angelic messenger delivering the news to Sarah questioned her private reaction: "Why did Sarah laugh?" (Genesis 18:13) His searching question - "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14) - reveals that Sarah's laughter was that of disbelief, whereas Abraham's laughter was apparently that of delight. Abraham delighted in God's outrageous act, but Sarah laughed with doubt.
Those of us who live by faith get the last laugh. Few things are more outrageous than God's plan to take a team of obscure misfits in the world, and entrust them with leadership of the world under the jurisdiction of His Son. Many would laugh in disbelief that you and I would serve in the "cabinet" of the coming world ruler. But, as children of faith, we are privileged to laugh last in delight at the assurance that God will do the outrageous thing He has promised.
As you live and serve today, may others take note and ask about the delightful laughter that characterizes your demeanor.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 8:09 AM
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