Sarah Laughs

One hot day when Abraham was sitting in the
doorway of his tent, three men approached. They
are strangers but something looks familiar for
Abraham jumps up, runs to them and then bows
down. Sarah makes the bread for the meal
Abraham serves to them and then she sits down
just behind the tent flap.

"Where is Sarah your wife?"
"She is in the tent."
"I will surely return to you about this time next
year, and Sarah shall have a son."

Sarah laughs; incredulous, unbelieving laughter.
How could she not laugh? "I am worn out, and
my Lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"

God to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh?"
Sarah to God, "'I did not laugh," for she was afraid.'"
God to Sarah, "No, but you did laugh."

This is one of my favorite dialogues in scripture. Up
until this visit, God had only spoken to Abraham.
Sarah felt invisible as she listened to the conversation
outside of the tent. Suddenly she was not invisible, not
even her silent unbelieving laughter went unnoticed.
Sarah denies it, speaking directly to God,
and he calls her on it--directly.

Dear reader, are there not times when you REALLY
want a word from God, but maybe not, a personal
encounter?