Awesome God

Awesome God

By Bermie Dizon

Mindoro is one of the islands of the Philippines that holds much promise. It is green and heavily forested. It has a lot of potential for growth. In fact, a number of our church members have migrated to Mindoro to live there. Then, a strong earthquake came, intensity #7. The ground began to move and shake. The roads started cracking. Bridges fell. Then the tsunami, or huge tidal waves, hit the shores of some towns. People, especially children, were drowned. Watching the television broadcast on the news made me feel sick. It also made me remember the powerful earthquake that hit Luzon back in 1990 and the volcano explosion in ’91.

When our lives begin to shake, when the very foundations of where we are standing seem unsure, we human beings can be thrown into confusion. Many of our countrymen are wondering where they would cling in such troubled times. Nothing seems to be safe anymore. Even the earth we are standing on seems to be unsafe at times. The government, despite its efforts, cannot be depended on.

Times like these remind us more forcefully than ever that the church of God needs a more realistic view of God. Many times, when troubles come to our lives, our God becomes too small in our views. Probably because we are too overwhelmed with the horrendous problems that hit us. God seems very far. We tend to look at God in a narrow view where he sits on his throne so far away in the third heavens. Probably with gray hair and looking rather old and ancient. Is that our image of God? I think so. Many of us grew up without having a clear idea of what is God’s nature. If we have such a limited view of God, it can be very discouraging when we are affected by intense and powerful problems of this life.

Today let us have a glimpse of our Incomparably Great God. I said, "glimpse" because that is really the truth. With our finite and limited minds, how can we fully comprehend an infinite eternal mind?

Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke to his people about himself. We will now go through these verses. In a troubled society about to collapse, with a king who is very wicked, Jerusalem’s future was bleak; with people wavering and doubting about their safety; with the people of God looking for other gods to save them, God thundered to the people who He really is.

ISA 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! :10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. :11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. :12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

The largest seas in the world, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Antartic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea are nothing but a handful of water in God’s hands. Yet have you tried riding a ship or boat into the seas where you cannot see the land in any direction? You feel so small and so helpless. If the ship sinks, the smaller you will feel. To God, all those seas are like water in our palm.

The distance between the planets and stars is very far in our perspective. How far are galaxies from other galaxies? If you are traveling with the speed of light, you won’t reach the other end of the universe in your lifetime. But the Bible tells us that God measures the diameter of the universe with the span of his fingers. Yet God can even count the number of dust on earth. Whenever we go up a mountain, we are overwhelmed by its majesty and its bigness. But with God, even the tallest mountain is very insignificant in size. Nothing in nature is a threat to God. There is no tidal wave, a volcano or typhoon that can intimidate our great God.

:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? :14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?