I really liked this reading because it's just a different pace then the first two readings. but it continues the story of who God is and who we are in him. we see God lay down the basics of the covenant. And we focus on the promise. it's so crazy and so extravagant that in the midst of this promise, Abram begins to laugh. I love how God reacts. I often have this idea of God being angry when I don't understand who he is, but Abram laughs in his face. big no no right? Nope!, God just continues to tell Abram how much he loves him how much he's going to bless him and his kids, and the whole world through his seed. God then tells Abram the boys name is going to be Isaac. and in the good Old Testament fashion of things his name means literally in hebrew "Laughter" as a very old proffessor at Emory always says "its yitz-hac which means and sounds like Ha Ha".
God here shows his grace and his providence. he once again speaks life to his loved ones by bringing new life into old "good as dead"(Hebrews 11) flesh.
I like to think that God started to laugh with Abraham and then got the idea to name his son Isaac. Like it was one of those special moments that two friends or a son and a father have when something random happens and they have that shared experience thats worth remembering. So God was like we should mark this moment in time because it was special to me and Abraham. Every time Abraham sees his son he can remember that time him and God had before Isaac was born and realize how God was faithful. Abraham simply had faith and God provided miracles. I often forget the miracles God has provided in my life and my faith is swayed. God has made them memorable moments in my life and i pray that i would start to remember them and hold them close like a special moment shared between two friends or between a son and a Father.
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