Yes, God Laughed!
Life is unpredictable, full of twists, turns, and detours we never saw coming. But have you ever thought that maybe some of those challenges are seasoned with divine humor? What if laughter isn’t something separate from holiness, but actually a reflection of God’s heart? When we trace laughter through Scripture, we find that it often comes right at the intersection of impossibility and promise… the very moment when YHWH shows He’s still in control.
Genesis 18:10-15 tells the story of Abraham and Sarah. YHWH appears and says that Sarah will bear a son, though both she and Abraham are far too old and far past the childbearing ages. Sarah overhears and laughs. The Hebrew word there is צָחַק (tsachaq), which means to laugh, to rejoice, or to play. It can even carry the sense of “to dance with joy.” Sarah’s laughter wasn’t disbelief alone, it was a nervous chuckle of “how could this possibly be?” But God heard that laughter and responded with a question that echoes through every age: “Is anything too hard for YHWH?”
In that divine question lies both gentle humor and holy certainty. God’s laughter isn’t mocking, it’s redemptive. It reminds us that human logic will never box in divine power. When YHWH told Abraham to name their son Yitzchak (יִצְחָק), it meant “he will laugh.” The very name carried the sound of laughter, a living testimony that every promise YHWH makes, no matter how absurd it seems, will be fulfilled in joy.
Centuries later, Psalm 126:2 reflects that same joy: “When YHWH restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.” The Hebrew phrase “our mouths were filled with laughter” uses that same root, tsachaq, showing that laughter and restoration go hand in hand. When God brings healing, release, or renewal, laughter bubbles up as a byproduct of His presence. You’ve heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine”? It has been scientifically proven!!! YHWH created laughter, so why wouldn’t it be the best medicine?
There was a time in my life when that kind of laughter came in the middle of what felt like a complete disaster. I had just lost my job, and fear crept in fast. How was I to support my family? I couldn’t see beyond the disappointment. But as I met new people, went to interviews, and stumbled through more than a few awkward moments, something strange happened. I started to laugh. Not because it was easy, but because YHWH kept showing up in the most unexpected ways. I laughed with new acquaintances, about our clumsy interview stories, and little by little, the laughter made space for faith. That path led me to a job that was far better than the one I’d lost; proving once again that God’s laughter is always rooted in purpose.
Proverbs 16:9 reminds us: “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but YHWH establishes their steps.” We map out our lives, but He’s the one who decides where those steps will really lead. And sometimes, His redirection comes with a wink of divine irony.
Think of Jonah. YHWH sent him to preach repentance to Nineveh, but Jonah ran in the opposite direction. The Hebrew text even emphasizes the downward spiral. He went down to Joppa, went down into the ship, and went down into the sea. You can almost hear the rhythm of rebellion. And then came the great fish, swallowing him whole; a moment equal parts both terrifying and comical. Jonah’s attempt to escape ended up being the very thing that brought him back into obedience. That’s divine humor at its finest! What Jonah thought was a detour, became the doorway to destiny.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything, there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Every chapter, joyful, painful, or confusing, is part of YHWH’s design. When we learn to laugh in the middle of those seasons, we’re not making light of our struggles; we’re acknowledging the light in them. Laughter becomes faith in motion, a visible sign that we trust the One who writes the script.
Sometimes I imagine YHWH smiling at our plans, our calendars, our checklists, our little blueprints for how things “should” go. And then, with perfect timing, He rearranges everything! Not to frustrate us, but to align us with something far better. That’s His laughter… it’s the joy of a Father who knows the ending before the beginning.
Now, let’s talk about what it means when Scripture says that God laughs. In Psalm 2:4, it says, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh.” The Hebrew again is yischaq, from the root word, tsachaq. But here, it’s used in the context of the nations raging against YHWH and His Anointed One. This isn’t a light chuckle; it’s the laugh of divine authority, the assurance that no power on earth can overthrow His plan. It’s not mockery, it’s sovereignty wrapped in confidence.
And here’s something beautiful: that same root word of laughter, tsachaq, connects prophetically to Yitzchak, the promised son of Abraham, who prefigures the greater Son, our Meshiach, Yeshua. When Yitzchak carried the wood for his sacrifice up Mount Moriah (Gen 22), it foreshadowed Yeshua carrying His cross. Out of that obedience came resurrection joy, the ultimate laughter of heaven defeating death. In that sense, God’s laughter is resurrection laughter, the triumphant sound of promises kept and victory won.
Even in our New Testament, joy and laughter remain woven into faith. Luke 6:21 shows Yeshua saying, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” The Greek word is γελάω (gelaō), meaning to laugh with joy. It points to the same pattern: sorrow now, joy later; struggle now, laughter soon. It’s the rhythm of redemption.
When we learn to laugh with God, not at life but through it, we enter into that same rhythm. We recognize that even our detours, our mistakes, and our fears are part of His divine comedy, a story that ends in glory.
So where in your life might YHWH be inviting you to laugh with Him? What situation looks impossible right now? Could it be the setup for your own Yitzchak, your own miracle child of promise?
Remember, laughter isn’t the opposite of reverence. It’s the sound of hope reborn. It’s the echo of faith that says, “Even this, Lord, even this You can redeem.”
Seek joy in your journey. Let your laughter be worship. Because sometimes, heaven’s laughter is the signal that something miraculous and wonderful is about to happen. And as you walk with your eyes lifted and your heart full, don’t forget, like the 5 virgins, (Matthew 25:1–13) keep your wicks trimmed and your lamps filled with oil.
OUR KING YESHUA IS COMING!
image by chatgpt at my description.