Genesis 21-40

It is Thursday, and I'm looking forward to a full day and then soul-winning tonight.  I hope to see several people trust Christ as their Savior before the day is over.  I enjoyed Church last night so much and what a joy to be with God's dear people.  I am reading in Genesis again today, and I just finished my twenty chapters and here is a thought or two: 1) LAUGHTER-  In Gen. 17, Abraham laughed when he was told he would have a son.  Later we know that Sarah also laughed when she was told she would bear a child in her old age in chapter 18.  God had already told Abraham in chapter 17, that the boys name would be Isaac.  In chapter 21, Isaac is born and verse six says:  "And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me."  Wow!  Here is the great thing.... the name Isaac, means "laughter".  "ha,ha".  Yes, God knew all along the effect this child in the couple's old age would cause and named him appropriately. 2) SORROW RELEASED- In Gen. 24, Isaac finally has a bride named Rebekah at age 40.  It says in verse 67, "... and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death."  Now Sarah died at age 127.  Isaac was born when she was 90.  So he was 37 when she died, and for three years, he mourned the death of his mother and had no joy or laughter in his life.  Now at 40, he has a beautiful wife named Rebekah, and love and joy and laughter enter into his life again.  The thought here is that sorrow must be released.  Whatever the tragedy, you cannot carry the sorrow around for long.... you must release it and know that God had a plan, even if you do not understand it.  Trust Him! 3) FAMILIES COME TOGETHER- In Chapter 25, Abraham died and so his sons, Isaac and Ishmael come together to bury their father.  Now Ishmael could have had some hard feeling because he was sent away by his father when he was just about 16 years old, but here he is coming together with family to bury his father.  In Chapter 35, Isaac dies, and his sons Esau and Jacob bury him.  They had their differences as well, but now they come together to bury their father.  This is from whence we get the custom of coming together when a loved one passes away.  No matter what the differences and hardships, and bitter feelings of the past, families should come together at the death of their loved ones!  This is the teaching of Scripture.  Well, so much more to write about, but this is enough for today.  May God richly bless you and yours!   Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor and Friend