Yahweh Laughs

When Abraham's son was born, he was named Isaac, which means, "He laughs." Dr. Kinlaw said that for a long time he felt that what was being said was that the child was given a name that would be a perpetual reminder to Abraham and Sarah of their unbelief. But in studying Ancient Near Eastern names, he learned that most of the names are sentence names and that the subject of the sentence was normally a god or goddess. Isaac's full name was probably "Yahweh laughs," or "God laughs."  

Was God laughing in derision at Abraham and Sarah for their unbelief. No, he was laughing with joy! Every time "Isaac" occurs it is in a context of a promise for blessings for the whole world.  

God was saying, "I want to tell you how to name him because we have a world that needs to be redeemed, and when this child is born, the messianic line is on its way."

God's joy is in His thought of redeeming the world. He was looking down through the centuries to the day when the angels will sing in praise to God because the Son is born, a Savior has come, and He laughs in sheer joy.

God's joy is in redemption, in restoration!

Dear Lord, help our joy to be in the same thing as Yours.

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).