There is an old saying that says, ” We must laugh to keep from crying.” In other words the situation is so dire or sad that one must express himself in a way that they feel lets out tension or relief in place of extreme sadness. Back in the days of our messenger of the message for today, Elijah, we read about one of the most classic light moments in all of Scripture, let us read.
“At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. “Pray louder!” he said. “Baal must be a god. Maybe he’s daydreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up.” (1 Kings 18:27)
We found this amazing on several fronts. First Elijah was so confident, so sure of his relation with God, that he displayed almost a cocky self sure air. Yet it was a great brief comical display of God’s spokesman. There is no doubt that Elijah was deeply concerned yet he resorted to humor to relieve the tension and show the people their foolishness and blasphemy.
Today, we as Elijah messengers, as many know are under extreme pressure not only from the consistent and regular rejection from many of our beloved church members, but mainly from spiritual dark forces. This pressure is, at times difficult to take. Thus we can learn the lesson from our type- Elijah. Sometimes we just have to let out steam and for some of us, humor can be a good way to diffuse.
Let us read some of the lighter moments in Scripture.
Some men through out time can relate to the following —
“Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.” (Proverbs 21:19)
How about this classic one —
“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.
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.” (Numbers 22:21-35)
Or how about the time the Lord seemed somewhat amused at Martha–
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
SOP shows us that although our lighter moments indeed relieves tension, the heavier darker moments will be real.
“I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God’s approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them.
Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God and murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness.
As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.
I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people.
I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified.” (EW, p.269-270)
As a volunteer worker for the Lord’s Elijah message, personally after reading the above, we have never found a more perfect description of the trying “tough times” we must go through in order to get the victory! Sadly only few are willing to thus engage in this struggle, content to relax in the easy chair waiting for God to come whisk them away.
Speaking of Ellen White, the following is a good link to read some of her lighter moments and humor.
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/mol/Chapt9.html
The old saying goes “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Right now we are engaged in a GIGANTIC spiritual struggle! Are you enlisted in this fateful movement? Have you taken the field of battle? Those that are in this tough battle know all to well that at times “We must laugh to keep from crying.”
The enlistment time is almost over.
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