God Is Funny

God is a loving God! A caring God! A providing God! But have you ever taken time to notice His sense of humor?

Right from the beginning we see God actively involved in the affairs of man, noticing that man was alone, evaluating the situation, and taking active measures to remedy the situation. God declares, "I will make a helper suitable for him." God, Himself, who is all-knowing and all-powerful takes on this important assignment - not trusting it to anyone else.

As the story unfolds, we see God bringing before Adam all the animals He had created to find if any were suitable. God watched as Adam named each one, and He must have been amused with the names Adam came up with. Names like "Hippopotamus", Orangutan", "Duck-billed Platypus", etc. It seems as if Adam wanted very much to impress God with his intellect and prove to Him that he was quite capable of thinking for himself.

But in the end, it was God that declared that none of them were suitable for Adam (And aren't we glad He did!). In His infinite wisdom, God made Eve. And Adam, in wonderful amazement, cried, "Wo... man!"

Now, it hit me while I was performing a wedding and reading this passage of Scripture, that God is hilarious! There's no doubt that when God made woman she was beautiful. She was smart. She was soft. She was sweet. But suitable??? Everyone knows that man has more in common with dogs than women! What was God thinking? Man and monkeys could have lived together in peace and harmony. But man and woman?

Consider the differences. Women eat quiche. Men eat edible things. Men appreciate the importance of a big screen T.V., women don't. Men speak in sentences. Women speak in paragraphs. Men like to sleep at 2 a.m.. Women like to talk about where their relationship is going at 2 a.m. Women put things at the bottom of the stairs to take up the next time they go up. Men have to step over it all. When men want something - they ask for it. Men use "I" and "me" when they should really use "we" or "us". Women use "we" or "us" when they should really use "I" or "me".
We're different! But God says we are suitable. And I can't forget the fact that God is all-knowing and all-wise. Nor, can I forget that we were created for His enjoyment.

"You created everything, and it is for Your pleasure that they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NLT); The Lord takes pleasure in His people. (Psalm 149:4 TEV); He delights in every detail of their lives. (Psalm 37:23 NLT) Watching us try to understand one another must be something along the lines of America's Funniest Homemade Videos in heaven.

It is not cruel. It is wholesome entertainment similar to watching our children take the bottom role of paper towels from a big stack on display at the store. Or, turning their cup over when all the ice is stuck at the bottom - until it breaks loose and crashes on their face. We laugh. God laughs. It's funny! It's a learning process. Until... out of frustration we lose our tempers and begin to hurt each other.

God commands us to love one another. And I feel compelled to remind you that He has determined that we are suitable for one another. Left to our own choices, we would be living with hippopotamuses. God knows what is best.

"He takes pleasure in those who honor Him; in those who trust in His constant love." (Psalm 147:11 TEV) Do we trust Him?

These difference that we speak of are not exclusive to men and women. There are differences between co-workers and relatives, neighbors and classmates. And what about all the different cultures of people - all of whom were created in God's image. And God says we are suitable for one another.

It's enough to make you think that God is crazy! But He's not crazy. He just has a good sense of humor. He enjoys watching us figure out how to get along. And, if we get frustrated... let us remember that He commands us to get along.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

Love your neighbor... The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:14-15)

Love your enemy... "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..." (Luke 6:27)

Next time you get frustrated by the people you are surrounded by, whether it be your spouse, your parents, your children, your in-laws, your co-workers, or whomever... Remember, God knows best. And God says, "You are suitable." So don't lose your temper. Just look up and tell God, "I get it."

Go Bless,

Pete Baumgartle, Lanesville, IN

"Sometimes we forget that the opposite sex is opposite." Gary Chapman