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s God have a sense of humor? That question has been debated over time with no real resolution. All we know is that God certainly created laughter and humor when he gave people personalities. Looking at certain Bible verses, we can surmise that God has a humorous side: “If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom” (Job 13:5). “A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day” (Proverbs 27:15). “Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool” (Proverbs 26:9).
One man in Scripture was actually given the name of “he who laughs” because of his mother’s actions. His name was Isaac. When his mother, Sarah, overheard that she was going to bear a child in her old age, “Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” (Genesis 18:12). The Lord was disappointed to hear her laugh. When he asked her about her actions, she denied laughing. When the baby was finally born, Sarah named him Isaac because, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (21:6).
There are several different types of laughter mentioned in Scripture. One type is that of Sarah, laughter of unbelief. We see this type of laughter displayed when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus. After Jesus told the crowd the girl was not dead but only sleeping, “They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead” (Luke 8:53). Sometimes we are guilty of that same laughter when we feel God’s promises could never help in our situations. We silently laugh in disbelief.
A second kind of Bible laughter is the laughter of a fool. “Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:6). A fool laughs without realizing his life is headed for destruction. Foolish laughter always tries to cover up a sad and lonely situation. Solomon wrote again, “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief” (Proverbs 14:13).
A third type of laughter mentioned in the Bible is God’s laughter. As he watches the actions of the world’s fools, God looks down from heaven and laughs. “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (Psalm 2:1-4). “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming” (Psalm 37:12,13). Jesus paid the ultimate price for all people, yet there remain many who reject his love and grace. In perfect justice the Lord must eventually look at these people as hopeless fools.
A fourth type of laughter is the laughter that can be heard coming from God’s people. This comes from the joy that Christians share over the knowledge of their salvation. Jesus promises his people that “blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:21) and that “there is a time to weep and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). This laughter will be that of victory, of celebration, and of singing and rejoicing. This will reflect the same joy the women felt as they left the empty tomb “filled with joy” (Matthew 28:8), the disciples felt after his resurrection: “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” (Jo
hn 20:20), or the disciples experienced when they saw Jesus ascend into heaven: “They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52).
Christians have a reason to be joyful. Sadly, many believers walk through life with sad faces. Such actions do not rightly display the joy found at the open tomb. The thought of Jesus’ resurrection etches a smile on our faces that reflects a burning joy in our hearts. Perhaps when we realize that, we could all wear the name Isaac: “one who laughs”!
This is the day the Lord has made! Smile.
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