Scripture: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” – Exodus 15:11
Explanation of Song: Isaac Watts (1674 -1748) is a writer of several well-known hymns, including “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Joy to the World”. He served as a pastor in England, and during this time, most churches were singing the psalms of the Bible, and as such, his hymns were criticized for deviating from the traditional singing of the Scriptures. In 1712, Watts suffered a breakdown due to the controversies over his hymn writings, and he asked to discontinue his pastoral duties, but his church refused to accept his resignation and hired an assistant pastor to help with the duties of pastoring the church. In 1715, Watts went on to eventually write a book of songs entitled, “Divine and Moral Songs for Children”, which contained the song, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”. The book sold 80,000 copies the first year and has continued to be sold ever since.
Application: Lately, I’ve been thinking about the enormity of God. Not in size, but in intelligence, power, and of course, love. It is impossible to grasp the comprehensive nature of God because we tend to comprehend new things through the lens of old things… things we have already figured out. For example, I can understand the intellect of a genius because I am familiar with the intelligence of students I have taught as well as my own ability to think and reason. Background knowledge helps us assimilate and process new information as we go through life. But understanding God? Nope. I cannot do that with Him. My divine background knowledge is limited to only what I read in His Word. I have nothing else with which to grasp how great God truly is.
His Intelligence
1 John 3:20 states, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” God goes way beyond “genius”. He knows everything! Matthew 10:30 states, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” How does God know how many hairs there are on my head? Not to mention, the hairs of the other 8+ billion people on the planet!
Psalm 50:11 states, “I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” Think about the scope of this verse. God knows ALL the birds and wild beasts! Not just the types of them… every single one! Matthew 10:29 tells us that He knows when one sparrow “falls on the ground.” There are over 1.5 billion house sparrows alone! Yet God knows when each one dies.
Psalm 147:4 states, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” Years ago, I took an astronomy class in college. Learning the names of stars and constellations was overwhelming for me, and that was before the Hubble telescope! Today, astronomers estimate there are over 200 billion trillion stars that are observable! Who knows how many there are that we’ve yet to find a way to view, yet God knows EACH one and has a name for them!
We can easily say God is omniscient, but in truth, this all-knowing characteristic is beyond our ability to grasp.
His Power
Take a look at the creative process for a moment. God created all things. We take that by faith, but consider this. He created everything simply by speaking them into existence. Psalm 29:4 records, “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” We read of the power in His voice in Mark 4:39 when Jesus spoke, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:16 tells of another occasion when the power of God’s voice was seen, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:” Perhaps one of the most spectacular vocal miracles happened in Bethany when Jesus demonstrated His power over death. “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:43-44).
God is truly omnipotent, but realizing the scope of His power is unattainable in this world.
His Love
Lastly, the everlasting love God demonstrates to this world is beyond understanding. Historically, we see humanity basically rejecting God again and again, embracing sin and ungodliness without batting an eye. Yet, God continues to love us. In fact, He loves us so much He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him that requires virtually no effort on our part. Simply an acceptance of what He chose to offer. God did for us what we could never do for ourselves. Our sins are erased by the blood of Jesus, God’s beloved Son, who took the punishment we all deserved. Through the death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus, God in the flesh, became the Saviour of the world.
God reached down to man with the gift of forgiveness and salvation through Christ’s supreme sacrifice, fully knowing He would experience rejection, mockery, and hatred from His precious creation. Why would He do that? He did it because He loves us. Period. We cannot grasp the vastness of His love because we are unable to experience that kind of love ourselves. Not one individual in all of mankind can offer that kind of love. It is the love of God alone.
This is only a tiny glimpse into the awesomeness of God. I cannot even begin to comprehend these qualities of God, and there are so many more… His mercy, His grace, His holiness… the list goes on and on. One day, my faith will become sight and maybe, just maybe, I’ll begin to understand who God really is and why He loves me so very much. Until then, I will simply accept and rejoice that I have a loving heavenly Father, a blessed Saviour, and a promised future with Him in heaven.
God is simply too incredible to fully understand, but then, that’s what makes Him God.
Memory Verse: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” – Psalm 139:6
Stretching your thoughts:
1. Take a moment to just sit and think about the enormity of our God and the truth that HE knows YOUR name and created you for a purpose.
2. How do you feel knowing that God, the Creator of all things and the One who sustains the entire universe, knows you intimately and loves you with an everlasting love?
I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord, that filled the earth with food.
He formed the creatures with His Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!
There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Your glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Your throne;
While all that borrows life from You is ever in Your care;
And everywhere that man can be, You, God, are present there.
(from “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”by Isaac Watts)