Yahweh's Use of IRONY



Of course we know that God says in Isaiah 55, that He doesn't think quite like we think. Now, I realize that for a great many humans this is a difficult idea to come to grips with... or for most humans... to even consider period.

"What... God doesn't think like we think... how could He be so... thoughtless?!"

One small difference is in the way God deals with "evil" events and intentions... as in the following passage:

John 11:49-52 "Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.'

"He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." (ESV)

Notice how John reveals that Caiaphas really doesn't have any earthly idea that he has become a prophetic voice for Yahweh? John is pointing out the extreme irony of Caiaphas' logic. Caiaphas is saying what he says for one purpose, yet the Holy Spirit is directing his thoughts and words for an entirely different and quite opposite purpose... Yahweh's purpose.

YahShua(Jesus) was indeed to die for Israel, but certainly not in the way Caiaphas was speaking. Can you almost see God smiling as Caiaphas speaks... sort of an all knowing, gently, wise, winking smile? It becomes a pure delight to learn to see God's hand guiding the least suspecting of human instruments.

Consider the famous Cyrus of Persian historic fame, the Cyrus that led the defeat of Babylon, and becoming a vessel of God's in the deliverance of the Old Testament Israel. Cyrus has no earthly conception that God was using him for God's own purpose.

Cyrus was as self serving and generally wicked as any earthly ruler has ever been, yet Cyrus was a totally unsuspecting instrument in the hand of God.

Isa 45:1-6 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: "I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other...."

Notice how in verse one that God calls Cyrus His Anointed? That word there is the Hebrew word, Messiah. God in this instance actually calls Cyrus His Messiah. Are you catching the Divine Irony here?

We also see in this majestic irony of God's enjoyment, His great Sovereignty in the dealings of humanity. One more illustration?

Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Joseph, after all the evil things perpetrated against him by brothers, supervisors, etc... truly evil things with evil intentions... has this to say to his quaking rotten brothers whose very lives are in his hands. "You meant evil...God meant it for good..."

Joseph, through all his various trials, had learned something of the way God thinks and reasons. Not quite like normal human reasoning... is it? But, I must confess that God loves His way of thinking... Yahweh delights in His thoughts.

We... are confounded.

In these days, and the coming days of difficult national and world wide trials, may we learn to laugh with God in the face of the great evils planned for us. God has not changed in the way He thinks, in the way He plans... and rest assured... Yahweh has a plan, and is working His plan.

Regardless what world leaders, or your next door neighbor, or your conniving associate, etc... may think they are planning and doing... what they are actually doing is working the good plan of God in the midst of their deceit.

Getting that ironic, gently twist in your smile yet?

XtnYoda, shalomed