As we roll into Genesis chapter 21 we find our word for today is a name. And like we have seen already with the names in the Bible God has a hand in guiding the parents to call them what the purpose of their life would be. Our word is יִצְחָק Isaac. It is used 108 times in the Old Testament. Genesis 21:1-3 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him Abraham gave the name יִצְחָק Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. So why name the kid Isaac? Great question. Here is why. Genesis 21:6-7 Sarah said, “God has brought me צְחֹק laughter, and everyone who hears about this will צְחֹק laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Now that sounded familiar didn’t it. Yes, you are correct the word for laugh צְחֹק is the root word for the name יִצְחָק Isaac. When you add the Hebrew letter yod to the beginning of the root you make it an imperfect masculine form. So, his name literally means “he will laugh”. God is having fun making a play on these words when he responds to Abram hearing the news that he will have a son from Sarah. Genesis 17:17, 19 Abraham fell facedown; he צְחֹק laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”… Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him יִצְחָק Isaac. Sarah had the same response the first time she heard the news. Genesis 18:12 So Sarah צְחֹק laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” This is our God not only does he do the impossible, but he does things over the long term even when we have not been consistent with trusting him. Abraham and Sarah both tried to take matters into their own hands to make what God promised to happen sooner. This harmed everyone involved as we have seen. But because Abraham and Sarah didn’t stop trusting in God the were able to realize what He promised them in his timing. And he brought laughter into their lives after all the mistakes they had made and all the years of waiting. And he called this miracle son laughter to remind them that He can do the impossible and can bring laughter into their lives. Job 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Psalm 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. Psalm 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” There was another occasion where a group was glad over a son that was born. Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Joy is a much deeper word than laughing but when you have joy laughing comes along with it for sure. This son who brought joy and laughter is Jesus who not only made the Shepherds glad but all of us who trust in him as our savior.
