God Winks at Us. He Also Rolls His Eyes at Us.

Yes, God winks, performing miracles we hardly notice. We often call them coincidences. But have you ever considered how many times the Almighty also rolls his all-seeing and brilliant eyes with snow-white eyebrows when he’s looking at you?

When Squire Rushnell wrote When God Winks at You: How God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence, he created an international phenomenon.

Through his book, the former television president and CEO who created programs for young people, including “Schoolhouse Rock” and the “ABC Afterschool Specials,” has provided hope, encouragement, and good reading for millions of readers.

God Rolled His Eyes throughout Scripture

As comforting and uplifting as it is to appreciate the times God winks and intervenes in our lives in wonderful, unexpected ways, Scripture is also full of times when you could say he rolled his eyes, annoyed and baffled by how and why his people could do what they did, disregarding his commandments and turning from him.

It used to be, rolling one's eyes was a sign of flirting. But in the past 50-60 years, this type of body-language, non-verbal communication, has come to indicate a sarcastic, annoyed reaction.

Picture God Being Annoyed

Can you picture God, the creator of all that exists, and possessor of your life in his mighty hands, as being annoyed with you?

If you survey Scripture, especially the Old Testament, you'll find dozens of such coincidences you could call God Winks, in addition to the obvious spectacular events such as the parting of the Red Sea, and even creation itself.

In many of the same scriptures, you’ll also discover instances when God is clearly disappointed with his chosen people, who turned again and again to other gods, even after the one true God helped them for generations.

My guess is he first rolled his eyes when Adam and Eve messed up the “good thing” they had going for themselves when they ate the apple from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Perhaps God the Father, in his infinite wisdom, felt it was time to do more than roll his eyes. Maybe this is why he sent his only Son to become human and show us how to live, and gave us the Holy Spirit as our helper.

Sure, you and I still give God plenty of reasons to roll his eyes. But we also have plenty of opportunities to celebrate and praise him when he winks and intervenes in our lives in wonderful, unexpected ways.

In God’s Words

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

In the Words of Others

“I claim the holy right to disappoint men in order to avoid disappointing God.” Aiden Wilson Tozer

“Disappointment and failure are not signs that God has forsaken you or stopped loving you. The devil wants you to believe God no longer loves you, but it isn't true. God's love for us never fails.” Billy Graham

In Your Words

Describe a time when God could have been rolling his eyes at you. Why do you think he would have been reacting that way? How do you feel about that now?

Visit the Old Testament and select three instances when Israel, God’s people, turned their back on him, causing him to roll his eyes. Are there any similarities to your actions?

Recall ways God has intervened in your live in wonderful, unexpected ways. Take time to celebrate and praise him for his involvement in your life.