Just like Jacob’s name is significant and meaningful, characterizing God’s people as those who fight against him, so also Isaac. “Isaac” represents our frequent response to God’s ways: surprise, disbelief, laughter at the unexpected. By implication, God will do things we can’t imagine. Our expectations don’t map onto his plans. That’s good news.

We should more frequently laugh as we ponder the future—not in disbelief, but recognizing the good news that God isn’t bound by our imagination or limited by our expectations.