Good morning…
The prophet Isaiah does not stop at just two questions in Chapter 40 of his book in the Bible, like we identified in yesterday’s post. Isaiah actually fills the page with a plethora of question marks. Let’s revisit this ancient wisdom, as we deepen into God’s definitive answer to the hard questions in life.
Who measured the oceans in the palm of his hand?
Who used his hand to measure the sky?
Who used a bowl to measure all the dust of the earth?
Who used scales to measure the mountains and hills?
Who could know the Lord’s mind?
Who could be his teacher or give him advice?
Did the Lord ask for anyone’s help?
Did anyone teach him to be fair?
Did anyone teach him knowledge?
Did anyone teach him to be wise?
Look, all the nations in the world are like one small drop in the bucket. If the Lord took all the faraway nations and put them on his scales, they would be like small pieces of dust (v. 12-15).
Can you compare God to anything?
Can you make a picture of God?
Surely you know the truth, don’t you?
Surely you have heard. Surely someone told you long ago. Surely you understand who made the earth. It is the Lord who sits above the circle of the earth. And compared to him, people are like grasshoppers. He rolled open the skies like a piece of cloth. He stretched out the skies like a tent to sit under. He takes away the power of rulers. He makes the world’s leaders completely worthless. They are like plants that are planted in the ground. But before they can send their roots into the ground, God blows on the “plants”; they become dead and dry, and the wind blows them away like straw (v. 18, 21-24).
The Holy One says, “Can you compare me to anyone?
No one is equal to me.” Look up to the skies.
Who created all those stars?
Who created all those “armies” in the sky?
Who knows every star by name?
He is very strong and powerful, so not one of these stars is lost. Surely you know the truth. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever! He created all the faraway places on earth. He does not get tired and weary. You cannot learn all he knows. He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired (v. 28-31).
“Isaiah’s question, ‘Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?’ has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit,” says 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ERV).
Partnering with the living Christ, spirit to Spirit, we who trust in the Lord will become strong again. We will be like eagles who witness the growth of new feathers. We will run the race set out before our feet as our trust in the Lord grows thick within us. Empowered by God, we will walk, step by step, down the path opening before us. Strengthened from within, we will not tire in our daily commitment to fully trust the One and Only, the All-powerful, the Eternal.
What hard questions for God might you add to Isaiah’s extensive list?
In trust, we surrender as much as we understand about ourselves to as much as we understand about God in this moment. Spirit to spirit, all of our questions gradually melt into God’s transformative power. We become strong again, growing new feathers, buoyed by the God who never tires.
…Sue…
