Genesis 21:3-7

A Child Named Laughter

How appropriate the child of promise should be called Laughter, or Isaac (21:3-7). For 25 years, since the promise of a great nation was made, Abraham and Sarah had waited for the child through whom the great nation would come. Without him, the promised land would have had no people to inhabit its borders. The world could not have been blessed. Both his parents had once laughed at the announcement of his coming. His mother now laughed with joy and wanted everyone to join her. Sarah was thankful God had given her "children" to nurse, even though she had only one son. Clearly the singular is included in the plural.

Abraham kept the covenant by having Isaac circumcised (17:10-12). Though Christians do not have to be circumcised in the flesh, it is necessary to cut away fleshly desire to please God. Such is achieved in the act of obedient baptism (Colossians 2:10-12). Today, those who are circumcised in the heart are Jews, or God's chosen people (Romans 2:28-29).