Beyond Human Understanding

Today’s meditation is based on 2 Corinthians 9:8, which reads, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (ESV)

We will dwell on the words, ‘God is able’ and study the scriptures to see how we can with faith comprehend this truth, and apply it to our lives. In the earlier message we considered the fact that God is able to keep us from stumbling or faltering. Often times we wonder if we can overcome all the problems that come our way, and if we will be able to stand faultless before the presence of the Lord. God’s word reminds us that we have a God who is able to keep us from falling. When hard-pressed by certain circumstances that surround us, there is a doubt if God is able to keep us protected. Let’s be sure that God is able to make us stand firm no matter how huge or how complicated our trials may be. Not only does God deliver us, He also elevates us to a higher level.

Whenever people find fault with us, they do so not understanding our situation in its entirety, and sometimes they harbor bitterness against us based on someone else’s opinions. Every time someone brings an accusation against God’s own, God takes note of it. We read in the bible about Daniel, and also about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as to how they were falsely charged. They were unjustly punished and thrown in to the Lion’s den and the fiery furnace. Though their enemies who plotted against them thought everything was over, the Lord intervened to do the impossible. Not only did God deliver these men from all these deadly perils, He also honored them, and elevated them to higher positions. As children of God if there are those who malign you, speak ill of you and spoil your good reputation, remember that God will not remain silent for He will intervene on your behalf, and also deal rightly with those who falsely accuse you. Let us be bold as children of God, and say it over and over again that our God is able.

God is able to do far more abundantly

We read in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,..” (ESV)

Many times we think that it would be good if certain things happened for us as we desire, some of which we speak about openly, and others which just remain as a thought only. The verse mentioned above reminds us that God is able to do far more abundantly, even more than we ask or think, and that too according to His power that is at work within us.

Let me explain this with some examples from the bible. We will study the life of the patriarchs of faith namely Abraham and Jacob.

When we study the life of Abraham, we realize that he too was not too firm in his faith as he started out, was sometimes confused and also sought God for his needs.

Abram’s problem

We read in Genesis 15:1-2, After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” (ESV)

Though God assured Abram that He was his shield and also his exceeding great reward, Abram was only consumed with the thought that he was childless. Though we refer to Abraham as the Father of Faith, we see that at this point in his life, he was lamenting like any other ordinary man.

There are so many promises that the Lord has given to us, but in spite of this we often keep grumbling about one or two things that are lacking in our lives. God’s word reminds us that we have a God who works to do far more exceedingly more than we can ask or even imagine.

God gives Abram the bigger picture

We read in Genesis 15:5, And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (ESV)

God brought Abram out of his tent, and made him look up at the night sky. Abram was travelling like a nomad, and the Lord had to remind him of His greater plan for Abram’s life. Though Abram was a wealthy man who had it all, the fact that he had no child made him feel disgraced. The Lord made Abram look up at the night sky, and gave him the job to count the stars in the sky. I imagine Abram in obedience to the Lord would have tried to count the stars from various directions, and found that it was an appalling task. God had to remind Abram that while he was pleading with God for one child, God would give him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. The God who gave this promise to Abraham was the Almighty God who was well able to do it, and He fulfilled it just as He said.