There are portions of Scripture that make me laugh. Two of my favorites are when the Israelites tell Joshua they will follow him just as they followed Moses (Joshua 1:17). They never listened to Moses. That’s why he was constantly asking God not to destroy them (Num. 11:2, 21:7; Deut. 9:20, 9:26, etc). If I were Joshua, I would have laughed in their faces.
Then there’s God instruction to us not to give blind people bad directions (Deut. 27:18). You would think we should know that, but there are those among us who think misleading the sightless as a great source of humor. God doesn’t think that’s funny. Of course, the verse applies to our treatment of the spiritually blind as well. We shouldn’t mislead them in any way either.
But, what makes God laugh? George Carlin explained humor as a surprise, a play on words, or a story one person believes is being told but a different story is actually expressed. Once the listener to the story realizes the stories are different, she laughs at being fooled. Since God can’t be surprised or misunderstand a story, what could make Him laugh?
In Psalm 59:1-8, David talks about his powerful enemies. To God, though, they are of so little consequence He laughs at them coming against the chosen of the Omnipotent God. Psalm 2:1-4 is similar in that God laughs at the nations which come against Israel. David was confident that God would overcome his enemies, shouldn’t we be as well?
We are God’s children and under God’s protection. Who can come against us (Rom. 8:31)?
Sometimes we feel persecuted, alone, overpowered, even overcome with evil. We should check to make sure our motives and life align with God’s commands. If they do, then like David, we should know God laughs at those who come against His children and let God take charge. Jesus sees any persecution we suffer as persecution directed at Him Personally (Acts 26:14).
We serve a God who loves us and is proud of us. Tony Campollo once said that God has a wallet with your picture in it, and when He’s talking with the angels, He turns the conversation around to mention you and pulls out His wallet (maybe a vague reference to Isa 49:16).
While that is a metaphor, it does point out our misconception of God. We often think He is ashamed of us. We forget that He sees Jesus’ righteousness when He looks at us. He is a proud beaming protective Father happy to support us in seeking His righteousness. So, next time you’re persecuted for righteousness sake, just smile and remember God thinks that’s funny.
Joshua 1:17 (ESV)
17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses!
Deuteronomy 27:18 (ESV)
18 “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Psalm 59:1-8 (ESV)
1
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me;
2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5 You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”
8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
Psalm 2:1-4 (ESV)
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Romans 8:31 (ESV)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Acts 26:14 (ESV)
14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Isaiah 49:14-16 (NASB)
14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, And the Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 