Shall We Still Have Pleasure?

A UCC Daily Devotional by Rev. Talitha Arnold

Sarah laughed to herself, saying “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” - Genesis 18:12 (NRSV) 

  

I was only 7 or 8 when I learned the story of Sarah laughing at the angel’s news of a baby in her future. However, Sunday school focused on the joy of a new child, not on the pleasure of creating one. It wasn’t until I read the same verse from the Good News Translation in high school—“Sarah said, ‘Now that I am old and worn out, can I still enjoy sex?’”—that I realized there was more to Sarah’s pleasure than what I’d been taught.

 

To be sure, a new baby can be a source of great delight (though I have it on good authority that carrying and birthing that baby can be far from pleasurable). But we limit God’s creativity and blessings if we limit Sarah’s pleasure only to childbearing and childrearing. The ancient Hebrews knew that. They also knew that sexual desire and enjoyment were gifts from God. (Why else include Song of Songs in the canon?)

 

By the time the angels showed up at Sarah’s tent, she’d had enough sorrow to last a lifetime. Time and again, whether because her husband thought he’d heard the voice of God or because of famine or war, she’d had to pack up and move. Abraham twice gave her to powerful men, passing her off as his sister to save his own neck. And always there was the “barrenness,” casting a cloud over every moment of possible pleasure.

 

But now, this angel came with good news of great joy and great pleasure. No wonder this “decrepit,” “worn-out,” “shriveled up” (other translations of this verse) old woman burst out laughing—and nine months later, named the child “Laughter.”

 

Prayer

God of pleasure and laughter, don’t let us limit your blessings. Amen.