Laughter
Ever the enigma, Abraham is willing to remove his own foreskin as a ninety nine year old man and preside over the removal of the foreskins of all the men in his household – based on the word of God which he heard commanding him to do it. No doubt. No circumventing. Just circumcision.
But when God affirms a promise that He has already made to Abraham in the past – laughter. Isaac, of course, is the Hebrew word for laughter.
Not laughter of joy, but of incredulity: “shall a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?” Already, he calls her Sarah, honoring God’s new name for her, but still laughs at God for affirming his promise.
Ishmael. Abraham has loved Ishmael. And God is already challenging this fixation.
This is hard to hear. This morning I know of another Ishmael. The cutting away is not far off. Will I be willing when it’s time to get to work?