“But Thou, O Lord, dost laugh at them; Thou dost scoff at all the nations” (Psalm 59:8).
Was it Erma Bombeck who once said, “Know how to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans.”
Or was that Joan Rivers?
Anyway. It’s right on the mark.
The writer for Our Daily Bread tells this: I was washing my car one evening as the sun was preparing to kiss the earth goodnight. Glancing up, I impulsively pointed the hose at it as if to extinguish its flames. The absurdity of my action hit me, and I laughed.
I get a kick out of seeing how prophecy experts bend over backward trying to locate the United States–as well as whatever country happens to be giving us headaches at the moment–in Scripture. As though our moment in history is so huge and our place in God’s plan so essential, how dare anyone suggest He could have planned the grand sweep of history without our being given a starring role.
As if.
Isaiah 40 has a good word on this.
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. (40:15-17).
How clear is that?
Once while prayer-walking the United Nations in New York City, I was struck by two tidal waves rushing by in opposite directions. On the one hand, a common citizen like myself stands in awe of that magnificent place. Leaders from all across the world come there, I think to myself, and they hammer out the huge problems of this day. Surely, if we would pray for peace, we must intercede for all who work in this place.
And on the other hand…