WHO CAN KNOW THE AWESOMENESS OF GOD [GOD IN A BOX]
- Key Verse
- “And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?” (Job 26:14-15)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
If we don’t listen for and follow God’s quiet whispers, how can we possibly understand His immeasurable magnificence and complete power?
Reflections
God wants to have a relationship with us. However, He shares only what our finite brains can comprehend. He speaks to us in a soft voice so that we must pause our busy lives to listen. How can I begin to understand the Being that created everything with a single thought when I can’t or won’t follow the soft voice He uses to teach and guide me?
Instead, we define God and our response to Him by what we see around us. We compare Him to things that we can comprehend, like an erupting volcano or deafening thunderstorm. In essence, we place God in a box that our human minds can understand. We further define the attributes of God’s box when we see a glimpse of His majesty in an autumn sunset or the expansive Milky Way. But situations such as the death of a loved one or job loss don’t fit our “God in a Box.” We wonder why God won’t conform to the box.
How much have I trivialized the Creator by trying to put Him in a box? We need to put aside our box(es) and reconsider how MIGHTY and INFINITE God is. God uses difficult situations to teach us to stop and learn to listen for His soft voice.
In 1,000 years it will not matter that I was out of work twice in a three year period. What will matter is how I learned to listen to that soft voice, how I grew in my faith of God’s grace/provision, and how I set an example for my children and others. During that time I started to understand what “grace alone” really means. God showed me that if I lost everything I would still have His grace, and that is all I really need.
God is softly speaking to you right now. Do you hear that quiet voice? Are you too busy? Too arrogant? Pause right now for 60 seconds and just listen for Him.
How can you grasp the awesomeness of the One that created everything if you won’t stop and listen to Him?
Discussion Questions
1. When was the last time you stopped for 15-30 minutes and listened to God’s quiet voice?
2. Have you ever put God in a box in order to try and understand Him? How did that work for you?
3. When was the last time you contemplated that this all powerful Creator loves you unconditionally, regardless of your love for Him?
Chip Smith
April 5, 2010 05:32 AM
Good morning Darrin. Thank you for this thought provoking log this morning: To learn to hear His voice. When I came to know Jesus, my life was radically transformed. As a result, those who knew me were not only skeptical, but turned their backs on me as well. It was not so difficult to loose my party buddies, but when rejection came from family, it was heartbreaking. During one event of intense ridicule and rejection, I cried out to the LORD for help. The room began to fill with his presence to such a degree that I did not think I would be able to survive. The amount of intelligence and love that I sensed from Him at that moment was so overwhelming that all that I was going through lost its power to hurt me. I experienced first hand what you are talking about and my finite brain was overwhelmed by only a glimpse of the awesomeness of Him who created it all. He truly is beyond our comprehension and yet He speaks to us in ways that help us understand how much He loves us. Have a great week.
MIkaela S.
April 5, 2010 07:57 AM
Thank you for the message. I do karate. I am not a black belt but I'm getting closer.
Diana Smith
April 5, 2010 08:09 AM
Darrin, Thank you for the reminder that God is beyond our comprehension and that we need to note his whispers as well as thunder claps. Subtle yet effective communication is a true sign of intimacy between humans. Dare I say, it is also a sign of a good animal trainer when communication and cooperation between species is executed without harshness or high pressure. If only I could give to God the attention and focus I expect from my dogs. That comes from practice, habit and conscious relationship. Hmmm......
Mark Sutton
April 5, 2010 08:21 AM
Darrin, Thanks for reminding me it's not about me, it's ALL about how much the Lord loves me and what he continues to do for me. Mark
Jo Newell
April 5, 2010 08:51 AM
Thank you, Darrin, for the long-range view. What will matter in eternity is not the trials, but how I trusted Him in them.
Terry Melle
April 5, 2010 09:46 AM
What Oswald Chambers said: "The voice of the spirit of God is as gentle as a summer breeze. So gentle that unless you are in complete fellowship and oneness with him, you will never hear it"
Danny Knox
April 5, 2010 07:47 PM
Hi Darren, I agree that I have a bad habit of trying to control my relationship with God instead of letting him control it. I see my circumstances and pray for God to respond. I am praying for my eyes to be open today to see how awesome God still is. Thanks for the reminder.