{"id":65556,"date":"2019-11-10T22:44:21","date_gmt":"2019-11-10T20:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=65556"},"modified":"2023-06-05T16:16:40","modified_gmt":"2023-06-05T13:16:40","slug":"a-moment-of-comic-relief-from-the-tragedies-of-prophecy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/a-moment-of-comic-relief-from-the-tragedies-of-prophecy\/","title":{"rendered":"A Moment Of Comic Relief From The Tragedies Of Prophecy"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[384,475,946],"acf":{"old_id":"65556","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":46656,"related_cahpter":"348","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Being created in the image of God includes being able to laugh at ourselves","content":"

In Isaiah chapter 14, Isaiah is prophesying the downfall of Israel\u2019s enemies. Arguably one of the worst among those enemies was Nebuchadnezzar, leader of the Babylonian empire who was known for his unparalleled cruelty. In addition to his extraordinary evilness, the book of Daniel (spoiler alert) recounts that Nebuchadnezzar was also a vehicle for some quasi-level of prophecy himself (granted for the benefit of the Jewish nation he ruled) and as a result had visions of his own grandeur. Nebuchadnezzar believed he was destined to become a divine being who would \u201craise his throne above the stars of God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was with amusement that I read, in 14:12, the following words of prophecy about the literal hell awaiting Nebuchadnezzar: \u201cHow you have fallen from heaven, you, the bright light of the morning!\u201d Is God being sarcastic? It is certainly a nice piece of irony and unexpected humor in Tanach, which sent me off on a tangent searching for more examples.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is the well-known bit of sarcasm of the Israelites in Parshat Beshalach when their escape from the Egyptians was not going as anticipated. In this episode the people complained to Moses: \u201cWhat, there weren\u2019t any graves in Egypt that you had to bring us here?\u201d And in 1 Kings 18:27, when Elijah the prophet is waiting for the priests of Baal to prove the worthiness of their gods, Elijah remarks: \u201cShout louder! After all, he is a god. Maybe he\u2019s in conversation, or detained, or on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and will wake up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For these, and more, check out the thread<\/span> here.<\/span><\/a> The discussion is worthy of a laugh-out-loud moment of relief from the gravity of these ongoing chapters discussing destruction, downfall and repentance.<\/span><\/p>\n

On a final note, I looked for sources of the well-known Yiddish proverb \u201cMan plans, and God laughs\u201d and found two scriptural possibilities:<\/span><\/p>\n

Proverbs 16:9 \u2013 \u201cA man may plot out his course, but it is God who directs his steps\u201d; and<\/span><\/p>\n

Psalms 13:10 \u2013 \u201cGod frustrates the plans of nations, brings to naught the designs of peoples.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know what the divine purpose of biblical humor is, but I\u2019d like to think that it\u2019s telling us not to take ourselves too seriously, and that being created in the image of God includes being able to laugh at ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

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