Dear Ones:
In God’s dealings with us, as with Israel, He often asks questions. When it comes to concepts of Him, He asked Israel: “To whom then will you liken God? or what likeness will you compare unto Him? (Is. 40:18) He goes on later to ask: “‘To whom then will you liken Me, or shall I be equal,’ saith the Lord.?” (v.25) Why does He ask such questions? It is because we need to understand that, “…all nations before Him are as nothing: and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity.” (v.17) Very often in Scripture, the Lord uses the subject of “grass” to illustrate how very small, frail, and fleeting our lives are compared to Him. “The grass (all flesh) withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God abides forever.” (v.8) God uses comparisons in our world to give us some idea of Who He truly is. In light of His Eternal nature, wisdom, and power, (…not to mention His love), we need to see, and grasp, that we are very, very small. The dangerous result of our “smallness” is that we tend to form ideas of God that are not true. It is with these speculations and imaginations, that man fabricates “creations of God,” idols, that he worships. In doing so, he pursues God in vain, for God blesses the truth, the “…word of our God, (which), abides forever.”
The comparisons that God uses in speaking to us, sometimes causes a problem for us. The knowledge of the overwhelming greatness of God, can make us feel that we are just swallowed up, and lost, feeling very keenly our littleness, nothingness. This is why God says to Jacob (Israel), “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak O Israel, ‘My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgement is passed over from my God?'” (Is. 40:27) The Lord addresses this very real concern of Israel, that she is forgotten, lost, and past over, by reminding her of Who HE is: “…have you not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth faints not, neither is weary? There is no searching His understanding.” (v.28) What does He want her to grasp? Simply, that God is not limited by the weakness and fragility of man. He is not affected by a lack of strength. He knows no weakness, thus He is always available, and willing to come to the aid of those who truly trust Him. He KNOWS all, as He understands and sees all. He IS mindful of Israel, and all of her children. He is NEVER forgetful.
God then comforts, and encourages Israel to trust Him. He reassures her by saying that, “…He (God) gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength.” (v.29) The issue here is that, though He is INCOMPREHENSIBLE, He is accessible, compassionate, and present. “They that wait upon the Lord (…in expectant faith), shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” (v.31) The eternal God is here declaring that He is looking, and waiting, to reveal Himself to one who knows his littleness, limitations, and helplessness. He is willing to intervene in the soul, spirit, and body of the one who will truly look to Him, and trust wholly in Him. God reveals Himself as the Almighty in order for faith to touch the hem of His garment, and know the healing and blessing, which Christ alone bestows. “Be it done unto you according to your faith.” Is our faith entirely set in Christ, or have we in our smallness, and weakness, adopted ideas of God which are not worthy of Him? Have we understood that He is completely willing, and able to meet us where we are, where we live?
Dear Father, in light of Your eternal greatness and wisdom, ever give us to know, and grasp that “…the Son of God, (who) loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) Give us grace to be lost in Your greatness, but found in Your love…everlasting, unchanging love. And in that love, enable us to live and glorify You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad