#133 "God's Not Trying To Be Funny"
February 5, 2008
"When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, He said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at Him." (Matthew 9: 23-24)
If you would have told me a few years back that I would be writing the 133rd installment of something called "Tuesday's with Jesus", I would have laughed at you. If you would have gone on to tell me that I would be preaching and teaching the Bible, and speaking at conferences and before groups, well, I would have laughed even harder. When God gives a dream or a vision, when He gives you a promise, when He speaks...it's no laughing matter.
When Sarah was eavesdropping on her husband's conversation and overheard the Lord tell Abraham that she would bear him a son, she laughed. She lied and said she didn't...but the truth is, she laughed. When an angel told Lot that God was fixing to destroy Sodom because of its wickedness, he told his sons-in-law and they thought that he was joking. I believe that it's implied here that they laughed. Some joke! When King Hezekiah sent couriers with letters to invite the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover again, he told them that if they would return to the Lord, God would release their captive relatives and bring them back from Assyria. "But the people scorned and ridiculed" the couriers. Nehemiah had it in his heart to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. His enemies laughed at him. Job referred to himself as a "laughingstock" among his friends, during the intense trial that God allowed to invade his life. And when Jesus told the crowds that a dead girl was not really dead...they laughed at Him.
I believe that God means what He says. "God is not a man that He should lie". (Numbers 23: 19a) How dare we laugh when God speaks? Whether it is the word of God, the Logos, on the written pages of your Bible, or the Rhema word given just for you, by the Holy Spirit...God's word is truth. He doesn't lie and we shouldn't laugh.
God, in His infinite mercy, forgives us for our disrespect and unbelief and often fulfills His Word in our lives in a good way. Sarah had Isaac. Jesus raised the young girl from the dead anyway. But His word will always be fulfilled. It never returns void. (see Isaiah 55: 10-11) The mocking sons-in-law perished in Sodom. Nehemiah and the people finished the whole wall in an astounding fifty-two days and their laughing enemies were disgraced and afraid. God's Word is no laughing matter.
Do you laugh when God says that He is your Provider and that all your bills can be paid? Do you laugh when God says that He is your Healer and that you can be free of your disease? Do you laugh when that certain something you've been longing for seems unreachable? Do you think that it can happen for someone else, but never for you? Does having a peace that passes understanding in the midst of chaos make you laugh? Has God placed a dream or a vision in your heart to accomplish something great for His kingdom that just seems ridiculous and impossible? Do you laugh and say, "you can't be talkin' to me!" But He is talking to you! Through His written word and through His Holy Spirit. If God gives you a command and a promise...obey and receive the promise! Let's stop "dissing" God by laughing and by our unbelief. I don't know how to word this in any simpler fashion... JUST BELIEVE GOD!
Sarah thought she was sneaky, hiding at the entrance to her tent and laughing at the promise of God. She thought that no one heard her laugh. But the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh?" (see Genesis 18:13-14) God hears us when we laugh. He sees our unbelief. He might be asking you, right now..."why do you laugh?" And just like He spoke to Sarah, perhaps He is speaking to you, and saying "Is anything too hard for Me?"
Love,
Donna
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