Reflections: Does God Laugh?

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

~ Ps 2:4

I believe it was a story by Darlene Warren that I read that went something like this: Warren and her friend were touring the Vatican. They were in an older place, and Warren and her friend were cracking jokes. Suddenly, a nun behind them said, “Shhhh! No laughing!”

Understandably, Warren started thinking, “What? God doesn’t laugh?”

Think about a duck-billed platypus. Think about a flightless bird that swims in water and wears a tux.

Wasn’t Jesus fully human? I have to believe that He was amused when Zacchaeus was so short that he climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. I can imagine Jesus walking down the road, looking up in the tree and seeing him there! He probably found humor when a paraplegic’s friends were so bold as to break up roofing tile to lower him down so he could be healed. We read where Jesus was angry, Jesus wept and Jesus had compassion. Do we really think He didn’t laugh?

Still don’t think God has a sense of humor?

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

~ Nu 22:21-31

OK, I’ll admit that I have a point to make. However, you have some homework to do first. What is required to make people laugh?

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