A SARCASTIC GOD

I have always loved sarcastic humor. One definition of sarcasm is ‘a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to mock.’ A couple sarcastic comments I came across recently read, “When my son’s dog died, I tried to cheer him up by getting him an identical one. But he screamed at me asking what he was supposed to do with two dead dogs!” or “My parents raised me as a single child and that really annoyed my sister!” Those statements force us to see reality a bit differently than we would normally. In today’s Old Testament reading in Job 37-39 we find God, at times, sarcastically mocking Job regarding several things. God asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?...Who set its measurements? Since you know…” (38:4-5) And, “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning…?!” (38:12). Or, “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?.....You know, for you were born then and the number of your days is great!” (38:19-21)

God confronted Job even while he was suffering, not as a result of his own iniquity or because he was being disciplined but rather because God was allowing him to be tested. Job was not able to see all he needed to see in order to make the statements he, and his friends, were making. After the confrontation, Job responds, “I know that You can do all things and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted…I repent in dust and ashes.” (42:1-6) God had ‘put Job in his place.’ God had adjusted Job’s perspective. God had ‘open Job’s eyes.’ God had communicated to Job the fact that He alone is sovereign in a manner in which Job could understand. As puny, little humans we often forget we are simply moldable dirt and He is the creatively sovereign Potter. There were also times when Jesus used sarcasm to communicate His message. He would ask the Pharisees, “Have you not read…?” And of course, they would have read…even would have likely memorized the text He was referencing. Jesus was highlighting their willing blindness to the truths the Scripture revealed.

Who begs to be blind? Who holds blindness to be a blessing? Blindness is a hard path and can be caused by disease and tragedy. Yet often we, like the Pharisees, are willingly spiritually blind. We close our eyes and harden our hearts to biblical truth. And when our calloused hearts and blind eyes have rejected His truth, having given us His Word and reached out to us in His Son, the Lord mocks us. Oh that we would remain sensitive to His truth, His Spirit and His leading.