Our understanding of blessing has faded with our awareness of the presence of God. Blessing is the pronouncing of God's favor. It includes the gifts that God gives as evidence of His love and favor. But blessing is more than gifts. It is the bond of favor that joins God's people with Him.
This bond of favor is reflected in Abram's relationship with God. He could call on the name of the Lord who revealed to him (Genesis 12:7-8), he could pray for others: for Sodom and here for Abimelech (Genesis 20). Abram's being blessed became a blessing to others. In other words, Abram was a friend of God. His name was made great and he witnessed to the great name of God.
In Genesis 21, God's promise to Abraham was kept. Sarah bore a son whose name was given by God: Issac - Laughter. At the circumcision of Issac, Sarah laughed again - not in unbelief but in incredulous joy (Genesis 21:6-7). God promises the impossible and performs His promise. "In Issac, shall they seed be called" (Gen 21:12) Issac was the heir of the promise.
In the fullness of time, God's promised Son was born. When the angel announced the birth to Mary, she whispered in amazement (Luke 1:34). But the answer she received was the same one God had given to Sarah, "No word is impossible with God!" (Luke 1:37, Gen 18:14). Need we wonder that Jesus should say, "Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad?" (John 8:56)
Abraham's strengthened faith clung to the promise, and his joy welcomed the birth of Laughter. So too, he could look ahead to the day when all of God's promise would be fulfilled in his Seed.
References
Edmund Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery - Discovering Christ in the Old Testament
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