Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Sarah denied having laughed because she was afraid, yet the reply to her affirmed plainly that she had laughed. Her laughter was not mere surprise but distrust that God had power to fulfill His promise of a son to her. That same distrust led to Abraham taking Hagar as his wife, on the thought that the promise would be fulfilled through her.
As part of the Genesis 18-19 account, this incident calls hearers to seek the Lord most earnestly and to take a more decided stand. They are to be not merely professed believers in the truth but obedient to all of God's requirements. That response includes heartfelt confession under the softening and subduing work of the Spirit of God.
Sarah denied having laughed because she was afraid, yet the reply to her affirmed plainly that she had laughed. Her laughter was not mere surprise but distrust that God had power to fulfill His promise of a son to her. That same distrust led to Abraham taking Hagar as his wife, on the thought that the promise would be fulfilled through her.
As part of the Genesis 18-19 account, this incident calls hearers to seek the Lord most earnestly and to take a more decided stand. They are to be not merely professed believers in the truth but obedient to all of God's requirements. That response includes heartfelt confession under the softening and subduing work of the Spirit of God.