God Is God

I went for a beautiful walk this week up the hill from where we live. After plentiful rains, the literally acres upon acres of yellow-green mustard plants glistened in the sun. Bright golden fields of Brown-eyed Susans were punctuated by the royal purple of lupine and phacelia. I looked for my favorite—mariposa lilies—on the way up to the top, but did not find them in their haunt from two years before when rains were also abundant.

After enjoying the view across the Pacific to Santa Catalina Island, I headed back down the trail. My friends the mariposa greeted me with their delicate lavender hues. Once again, I was amazed at God’s greatness in His creation.

Later this week, some of our family had health problems. They are wonderful Christian believers, but found it difficult to get over the coughing and congestion that can hit a body at times. I started to feel poorly myself, and then had an honest talk with the Father. I had been schooled in some circles to depend on “my believing” to make everything alright. I thought of how Jesus Christ ministered healing to so many, as he simply trusted his Father for the support and power he needed to do God’s will. Then I remembered something basic and important: God is God.

Isaiah 40:12-14 [Moffatt Translation]:
Who ever measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or ruled the skies off with a span, or held the dust of earth inside a measure, or weighed the mountains in a pair of scales, the hills within a balance?
Who ever moved the mind of the Eternal, or gave him lessons and advice? Who ever was called in to give him counsel? Who ever taught him how to act, or showed him what to do?

Our loving heavenly Father is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Neither you, nor I, nor any other person could cup his hand and measure out the oceans, seas, and rivers.  We can’t take a ruler and measure the sky or weigh mountains on a scale. But do we occasionally try to give Him lessons and advice? Do we think we know better than God, and try to provide counsel and show Him what to do? Sadly, we may.

But God is God.

Isaiah 40:25,26,28,29 [Moffatt Translation]:
“To whom will you compare me, then, and equal me?” asks the Majestic One. Lift high your eyes, look up; who made these stars? he who marshals them in order, summoning each one by name. For fear of him, so mighty and so strong, not one fails to appear.
Come now! Do you not understand, have you not heard, that the Eternal is an everlasting God, the maker of the world from end to end? He never faints, never is weary, his insight is unsearchable; into the weary he puts power, and adds new strength to the weak.

I get weary and weak, and even sick. I need His strength to get me through life’s challenges. I am thankful that God is my Father. He fills the night sky with countless stars, and knows the name of each  one.  Our Father is so mighty and strong that every star plies its course dutifully to His will. He gave His only-begotten Son for me. And as I trust in His sufficiency through Christ, I will be able to do my best each day and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 [Moffatt Translation]:
But those who wait for the Eternal shall renew their strength, they put out wings like eagles, they run and never weary, they walk and never faint.