This verse should invoke two sensations in us. The first should be what Israel and Judah would have felt: a sense of dread, or at least a sense of seriousness, for God has summoned the nations to punish Israel and Judah with destruction (vs. 27-30).
Paradoxically, however, the second sensation should be one of humor. "...and [God] will whistle unto them..." Can you imagine the picture? God summons the nations like a man summons a dog. There is no question of Who is master and who is servant.
Look at God's dealings with Satan in relation to Job (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6). You could almost swear God is telling Satan to "sic 'em!" Satan, however, is apparently still on a leash (see esp. 1:12 and 2:6). The terror of God's judgment (or testing) is augmented by its juxtaposition to the humor of His sovereignty.
Perhaps this is why God laughs when "the kings of the earth set themselves...against the Lord." (see Psalm 2:1-4) Who are they kidding? Can a river rise above its source? Can the moon shine without the sun, or shine more than what the sun gives it? Can kings rise above the King of kings? The true inner workings of sovereignty and freewill are beyond us, but this one thing we know: God is in control, and to try and rise above that control makes even the Most High crack up.
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