The Humor of God

 - By "Sister of Theophilus”

Bet you never gave much thought about our Heavenly God being a teaser, have you?! But He is!!! And I hope no one thinks I am being disrespectful because I am not! You’ll find God’s humor frequently in scripture if you look for it. Even in his creation, God’s humor is evident. Just watch a monkey. And God has fun with me quite often. Today was one of those days:

Lately (I'm not sure why. It may be because of my eyes or my reflexes) I have become a nervous driver. Seattle area traffic, the persistent rain, slick roads, a car that doesn't respond as well as it used to--all these things have contributed. I am sure. So, following a pattern taught me by a much younger friend years ago, I ask God for help with EVERYTHING these days--in detail. I think God likes us giving details when we pray.

See Philippians 4:6 NKJV “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.;”  

Revelations 8:3-4 shows that incense in the temple represented out prayers to God “Then another angel having a golden censor came and stood at the altar and he was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended before God…”

And Leviticus 16:12-13 shows the incense was to be beaten fine before burning it and presenting it to God, picturing our prayers being broken down into detail, I believe. “Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of incense beaten fine…And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord…”

Today, I had to drive to a nearby town and I was expecting (according to our dependable weatherman) snowy slush mixed with rain.   I didn't want to cancel my appointment so, once again, I asked God for specific things: dry road top where I am at the time, if He doesn't want to provide dry, then make sure my car doesn't slide. I asked for plenty of space between cars for merging onto some busy highways in our area. (I've told Him how important this one is to me. Space between cars is often rare.)

I asked for overall safety and protection for me and drivers in the cars around me. Well folks, He gave me ALL THIS--both coming and going. It didn't surprise me. However, IN ONE SPOT He did surprise me. I was entering one of the Interstate Highways (and I had mentioned this area to God) and He gave me almost 1,000 feet of merging space in front and behind me. I started laughing and said out loud, "AWWW, come on now! You know I'm not THAT bad of a driver!!!"

Does God tease? Well, He certainly did with me. And what about the account of Balaam’s donkey?

See Numbers 22:27 – 30 NKJV “And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’ …” The conversation continues with Balaam conversing with the donkey! Check out the rest of the story. Don’t you find this funny and revealing of God’s humor?

Another story comes to mind from many years ago. A friend of ours, in his young adult years, was on his way from Shreveport, LA to an east coast destination to observe the fall festivals assigned by God, the Feast of Tabernacles. He was making good time until he pulled into a highway rest stop but then his older automobile refused to restart. Frustrated he began pacing up and down the rest area searching for a bumper sticker with our church group’s name on it—knowing a fellow church member would be willing to help.

As he paced, he prayed, “Dear God. Please let me find a bumper sticker. Please help me find a bumper sticker!” After a few minutes, he looked down at the ground beneath his feet—THERE was a BUMPER STICKER! I guess he forgot to ask God to make sure it was attached to a car. It was a fun story for years to come. Need I say that, in very short order, a car did pull into the rest stop with that style of bumper sticker attached and, of course, he got the help he needed. God does like to have fun with us from time to time, just like the loving Father that He is.

I am always excited by the way God answers prayers! I tell Him "THANK YOU!" constantly!

You’ve heard the song “Awesome God” by Michael W Smith. It has only four short lines for lyrics but it summarizes much of the book of Psalms:

“Our God is an awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power and love

Our God is an awesome God"