02272021 God Is Great

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our great God. There is no one and no power greater.

Lesson #27. God's greatness is beyond our comprehension. Job gave an extended description of God's greatness in 26:5-14.

Even the evil spirits tremble before God, unable to escape His power and presence (vs. 5-6). God stretched out the universe in the middle of space and hung the earth on nothing (v. 7). God keeps the water encapsulated in the clouds (v. 8). God makes clouds thick enough to hide the brightness of the moon (v. 9). God has created night and day, so that sections of light and darkness are constantly progressing around the globe (v. 10). The heavens (storms?) tremble at God's commands (v. 11). God can quiet the raging storms of the sea (v. 12). He speaks storms into silence and calmness (v. 13). He controls every creature (v. 13).

Pondering these acts of greatness leaves us in awe of God's power. He established the vastness of systems that men cannot begin to comprehend. He keeps the entire universe in order. He controls powerful natural elements that man has no hope of controlling. No being, either natural or supernatural, is able to stand before Him. We are amazed by what we see of God's power.

Yet we see so little. Our understanding is so shallow. Job declared, "Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?" (v. 14). We are amazed when we see only the smallest bits of God's greatness. We can't possibly comprehend or appreciate even what we do see. How much more must God be doing that we can't see or comprehend?

Yes, God is incomprehensively great. What does that mean for those who are suffering? It means everything!

It means that God is great enough to prevent suffering and probably has stopped many trials before they started. It means that God is great enough that He could have prevented this one if it had been His plan. It means that God is great enough to stop this one any time He chooses. It means that God is great enough to manipulate this one and keep it confined to the boundaries He determines. It means that God is great enough to use even something hard to accomplish His good purposes. It means that God is great enough to sustain us even on the hardest days. It means that God is great enough to reveal His glory through the suffering. It means that God is great enough to encourage, instruct, and call others through our experience. It means that God is great enough that someday He will end all suffering and will forever bind Satan and sin and evil.

God's greatness is a great comfort and stabilizer in the midst of trials. We don't need to solve things on our own. We don't need to figure things out on our own. We don't need to survive on our own. We don't need  to achieve victory on our own. Thank God that we have the mighty creator, sustainer, and controller of the universe at our sides! May the great God support and sustain you this week.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA