A Joyful Family

May 11, 2025

A Joyful Family #

Gen 17:15-20

Gen 18:1-10

Gen 21:1-6

Introduction

We have some interesting passages that we are going to look at tonight, but in the end, we will see, it is a Joyful family! A joyful family consists of a family that is trusting in, and following God! You can only find joy through Jesus!

I. Abraham Laughs! (Gen 17:15-20) #

A. Announcements (15-16) #

1. God is conversing with Abraham! (Gen 17:1-3) #

2. This was not the first time! #

Gen. 12:1 ¶ Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

B. Amazement (17) #

1. Abraham KNOWS he is talking with God! #

Romans 4:19 “^19\ ^And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:”  

2. Abraham’s laughter is of joy, and delight! #

C. Answer (18) - Ishmael #

D. Annotation (19-22) #

1. “Sarah thy wife” #

2. “Son indeed” #

II. Sarah Laughs (disbelief) (Gen 18:1-15)(9-15) #

A. Discussion (9) #

B. Declaration (10) #

C. Disbelief (11-12) #

1. She restrained - laughed “within herself” #

2. She was reprimanded (13-14) #

3. She is re-assured (14) #

4. She reproved (15) #

III. Sarah Laughs with Joy (Gen 21:1-8) #

A. Devoted God (1) #

1. God is longsuffering #

2. Sarah did have faith! #

Heb. 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

B. Delivery (2) #

1. Final day #

2. Special – 91 years old #

C. Designation (3) #

D. Delightful time (6) #

Psa. 127:3-5, 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.