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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Funny (10/04/12)
Back when my younger son was in middle school, a teacher wrote a note on his report card stating that he was “a master of the unexpected”. Well, that’s a God-given attribute I think because the God of the universe truly is a master of the unexpected. Look around you at the wonders of His creation.

There are times when he loves to razzle-dazzle us with the brilliance of his creative genius. Think of Northern Lights in the sky, or coral reefs teeming with life in the midst of the Caribbean. The sea lay tranquil in its robe of turquoise at the beginning of life on this planet. Then, with a joyful catch to His breath, God blew the playful dolphin into the sea to cavort with man and others of its kind. “It is good,” He said. “It is very good indeed.”

At times He has made us work to find the beauty as in the pearl that grows in the oyster or the diamond in the rough. These hidden treasures show us He has no intention of letting us lie around and become lazy, merely enjoying the wonders of this world. We must go to work in order to reap rewards that are well worth finding. Our God is a god of mystery and wonders beyond comprehension. I can picture Him sitting in the throne room of Heaven, nodding with pleasure as we study His Word or laughing with delight when we uncover one of the hidden treasures of His Kingdom.

Do you think God has a sense of humor? I solved that long ago when I read the story of Balaam and the donkey. There must have been explosions of laughter in the universe at Balaam’s reaction when the donkey stood up and spoke in a very indignant way, “What have I done that deserves your beating me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28 TLB) An angel stood ready to slay Balaam but because he repented our gentle Heavenly Father was willing to spare him.

The love of God is amazing, don’t you think? When I read the Old Testament for the very first time, I was dismayed to find it full of bloodshed and sins of every description. Now I see it as an example of a loving, forgiving God. Time after time, when men denied Him and sinned in incredible ways, God was always willing to forgive. In his anger with mankind, he could have gone off forever to create newer, more affable worlds. Or He could have simply blown us out of the sky. But no, He never gave up on this sinful world.

I know that when someone offends me, I want him punished right away. But God has a different agenda. With infinite patience he waits for us to bow our heads in repentance. Again and again, with loving kindness, He draws us into His bosom and says, “My beloved child, be not afraid. I will create you again, a new creature without a sinful nature.”

What is most amazing to me is the way Jesus, our living God, wrote the book on courage. Possessing power beyond our imagination, He could have simply destroyed his accusers. But no, He allowed men to lead him to an agonizing death on the cross and he offered forgiveness with His dying words. He paid the price for us and if that won’t humble you, I don’t know what will. Even to His loyal disciples, who had been forewarned of what would happen, it was totally unexpected.

But I’m not finished. What of His humility? If you ‘d been Creator God, would you have humbled yourself the way He did, coming to earth in the form of a tiny infant, born to humble parents, then growing up and travelling about on foot healing the sick and the blind? Wouldn’t you have worn a crown of jewels rather than a crown of thorns, rode about on a fine stallion and built a magnificent palace to dwell in? Jesus showed us the way to Heaven is the way of humility, faith and steadfast endurance and obedience to His will. Laugh if you will, you men of pride. But as for me, I will follow my savior, the Master of the Unexpected.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Noel Mitaxa 
10/12/12
I agree - God has a great sense of humour, and I like how you have brought a warm, positive challenge to wrap up the entry.
C D Swanson 
10/13/12
Great job with this piece...I enjoyed it immensely. I always tell others that God has a sense of humor.

God Bless~
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
10/18/12
This is a great piece. You bring up some thought provoking ideas. I have no doubt at all that God has a delightful sense of humor. Everything is so intrinsically designed perfect. No way it could be a coincidence when I look at the stars or see the birth of a baby. Such planning yet God created men to sexually peek at 18 to 20 but woman from 35 to 40 and who says God doesn't have a sense of humor? This was a great read. Well done.