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The Lord Is Greater Than The Universe He Has Created
12Who
else has held the oceans in His hands and measured off the heavens with His
ruler? Who else knows the weight of all the earth and weighs the mountains and
the hills? 13Who can advise the Spirit of the Lord or be His teacher
or give Him counsel? 14Has He ever needed anyone’s advice? Did He
need instruction as to what is right and best? 15No, for all the
peoples of the world, are nothing in comparison with Him—they are but a drop in
the bucket, dust on the scales. He picks up the islands as though they had no
weight at all. 16All of Lebanon’s forests do not contain sufficient
fuel to consume a sacrifice large enough to honor Him, nor are all its animals
enough to offer to our God. 17All the nations are as nothing to Him;
in His eyes, they are less than nothing—mere emptiness and froth.
18How
can we describe God? With what can we compare Him? 19With an idol?
An idol made from a mold, overlaid with gold, and with silver chains around its
neck? 20The man too poor to buy expensive gods like that will find a
tree, free from rot and hire a man to carve a face on it, and that’s his god—a
god that cannot even move!
21Are
you so ignorant? Are you so deaf to the words of God—the words He gave before
the world began? Have you never heard nor understood? 22It is God
who sits above the circle of the earth. (The people below must seem to Him like
grasshoppers!) He is the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and
makes His tent from them. 23He dooms the great men of the world and
brings them all to naught. 24They hardly get started, barely take root,
when He blows on them and their work withers, and the wind carries them off
like straw.
25“With
whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.
26Look
up into the heavens! Who created all these stars? As a shepherd leads his
sheep,a
calling each by its pet name, and counts them to see that none are lost or
strayed, so God does with stars and planets!
27O Jacob, O Israel, how can you say that the Lord doesn’t see your troubles and isn’t being fair? 28Don’t you yet understand? Don’t you know by now that the everlasting God, the Creator of the farthest parts of the earth, never grows faint or weary? No one can fathom the depths of His understanding. 29He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. 30Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. 31But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.[1] (Isaiah40:12–31)
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God’s People Are Set Free Through The Proclamation Of His
Greatness.
How could the
Jews know that God would set them free from oppressive enemies such as Assyria,
Babylon, and Persia? How could they know that God would fulfill His promise of
restoration, freeing them from the Babylonian captivity and returning them to
the promised land? How can any people know that God will rescue them from
the bondages and enslavements of this life? from the captivity of sin, death,
Satan, and hell?
Isaiah
answered these questions. Remembering who God is—keeping in mind His awesome greatness—will give assurance.
God is omnipotent, which means
all-powerful. He is also omniscient,
which means knowing all things, including the needs of His people and what must
be done to meet those needs. And God is omnipresent,
which means He is present everywhere. Possessing all power and knowledge and
being present everywhere means that God can literally do anything, meeting
every need of every person who truly follows Him. He can fulfill what He has
promised. He can set His people free.
To assure God’s people that God will fulfill His promises, Isaiah declares that God is greater than anything on the earth or anything scattered throughout the universe or even beyond. Seven comparisons are made:
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a. The
Lord is greater than the universe He has created (v. 12). Note the
descriptive pictures that show just how great God is:
Ø
all the waters of the earth are nothing more
than a drop of water in the palm of God’s
hand
Ø
all the heavens—the stars, sun, moon, planets, the entire universe—measure no more than the
width of God’s hand
Ø the weight of the earth—its dust, mountains, and hills—is known by the Lord and the Lord alone
The point
being made is that God is the great Creator. He and He alone created the
universe. He is far greater than
the universe itself. The universe with its multiplied billions of heavenly
bodies were created by the Lord. He is omniscient and omnipotent, possessing
the knowledge and power to do anything. And He used His knowledge and power to
create the entire universe. This fact means …
·
that God is far
greater than the universe He has created
·
that atheism and agnosticism are baseless
beliefs upon which to build one’s life
· that unbelief is a dangerous position to take against the Creator of the universe
V “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His
person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (He. 1:3).
V “In the beginning, God created the heaven and
the earth” (Ge. 1:1).
V “Thou, even
thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made
heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven
worshippeth thee” (Ne. 9:6).
V “Of old hast, thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands” (Ps. 102:25).
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b. The
Lord is greater than any counselor or teacher (vv. 13–14). God’s knowledge,
understanding, and justice are infinite. Therefore, He has no need for a
counselor or advisor, since there is no being anywhere in the entire universe
who can add to His knowledge, understanding, or spirit of justice. God is
totally self-sufficient:
Ø
He needs no counselor to advise or instruct Him
about what to do (v. 13).
Ø
He needs no one to enlighten Him or teach Him
the path of justice or show Him what to do (v. 14).
Ø He needs no one to impart knowledge or understanding to Him.
The Lord is
greater than all counselors or teachers combined throughout all generations of
human history. The Lord is totally self-sufficient, knowing exactly what to do,
how to do it, and when to do it.2
V “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are
His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of
the Lord? or who hath been His counselor? Or who hath first given to Him, and
it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him,
are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Ro. 11:33–36).
V “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than
men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Co. 1:25).
V “For who hath known the mind of the Lord,
that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Co. 2:16).
V “He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him” (Da. 2:22).
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c. The Lord
is greater than all the nations of the earth in all their power and glory (vv. 15–17).
In comparison to God, the power and glory of all nations throughout history are
nothing more than a drop of water in a bucket or a piece of dust on a set of
scales (v. 15). Of course, the nations of the earth are important to
God. What nations do—how they rule and exercise their power and care for their
citizens—matters to God. But when the power and glory of nations are matched
against the omnipotent glory of God, the nations fade into insignificance. If a
person were to search the earth for something valuable enough to offer God, the
individual would find nothing. Even the forests and animals of Lebanon would
not be enough to make a sacrificial offering worthy of Him. Nothing among the
nations could ever be offered to God that would be worthy of His glory. God’s
greatness—His power and glory—supersedes all the power and glory of all nations
for all of time. There is nothing in heaven or earth worthy of His greatness.
In comparison to God’s significance, the importance of nations is worthless,
less than nothing before Him, total vanity.
V “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as
though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all
things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the
face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the
bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might
feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: For in
Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets
have said, For we are also His offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring
of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or
stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God
winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath
appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all
men, in that, He hath raised Him from
the dead” (Ac. 17:25–31).
V “Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all, and in thine hand is power and might, and in thine hand, it is to make great, and to give
strength unto all” (1 Chr. 29:12).
V “He divideth the sea with His power, and by His
understanding, He smiteth through the proud” (Jb. 26:12).
V “I know that thou canst do everything and that no thought can be withholden from
thee” (Jb. 42:2).
V “For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust” (Ps. 103:14).
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d. The Lord
is greater than all the images and false gods of this world (vv.
18–21). No idol or false god can even be compared to the Lord. Comparisons
are ridiculous. Idols and false gods are nothing more than man-made objects,
the creation of people’s imagination. A skilled craftsman using metal, gold,
silver, or wood creates these gods from images he pictures in his mind.
Note the
four questions asked in verse 21. Scripture clearly says that a
people—an individual, a family, a tribe, a community, a nation—should know the
truth, for they have heard the truth from the beginning of human history, ever
since creation. Therefore, a person is without excuse if he or she worships a
false god rather than the Lord Himself, Who is the Truth. The truth is
twofold: there is only one living and true God, the Lord Himself (Jehovah,
Yahweh). And God alone is the Creator of the universe. He is far greater than all the images and
false gods of this world.
V “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We
also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn
from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein” (Ac. 14:15).
V “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of
God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or
stone, graven by art and man’s device” (Ac. 17:29).
V “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them;
for God hath showed it unto them. For
the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an
image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the
lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who
changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Ro. 1:18–25).
V “The heavens declare the glory of God; and
the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1).
V “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see His glory” (Ps. 97:6).
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e. The Lord
is greater than all the people of the earth (vv. 22–24). When the Lord
sits enthroned above the earth, looking down upon the people, they appear as nothing
more than grasshoppers in His sight. The Lord is so great that He can stretch
out the heavens that He created and spread them out like a tent in which He
lives and demonstrates His presence and glory. In comparison to the rulers and
judges of this earth, God is far greater.
He alone judges the great, the powerful of this earth. If their works have been
evil, He erases and makes their works useless. They are nothing more than
plants that are sown in the ground. As soon as they take root and appear, their
lives and positions of power are snuffed out. Blasting them with the fury of
His breath, the Lord causes the great and powerful to wither away like a plant
or to be swept away like chaff by a whirlwind (vv. 23–24).
V “John answered and said, A man can receive
nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (Jn. 3:27).
V “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Co. 3:5).
V “Shall mortal man be more just than God?
shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, He put no trust in His
servants; and His angels He charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust, which is crushed before the moth? They
are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish forever without any
regarding it. Doth not their
excellency which is in them go away?
they die, even without wisdom” (Jb.
4:17–21).
V “What is
man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart
upon him?” (Jb. 7:17).
V “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy
fingers, the moon, and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that
thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Ps. 8:3–4).
V “Nevertheless man being in honor abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish” (Ps. 49:12).
V “But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased” (Ps. 115:3).
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f. The Lord
is greater than any being in the entire universe (vv. 25–26). To whom can
the Lord be compared? Who is His equal? No one. The Lord alone is the Holy One. He alone created all the
heavens of the starry sky (v. 26). No one else is great enough nor has
the power to create such a vast universe. Note that the Lord Himself is
speaking. He challenges the reader: “Lift up your eyes and look at the heavens
above and ask yourself: ‘who created all these?’ ” Certainly not some
little god, a piece of wood or metal created by the imagination of a corrupt
human being, the Holy One, the Lord
Himself who created everything. He is so great that He not only created the
stars of the heavens, but He also named them and calls them by their names. It
is His power and His power alone that established the laws of the universe that
keep the stars functioning according to those laws. Again the Lord is far greater than any being in the entire
universe. He alone is the Holy One,
totally set apart and distinct from all other beings. Any person should be able
to stand out under the starry sky at night and understand this fact: the
universe did not happen by chance. It has been created by the Holy One, the Supreme Being who is
totally set apart from all other beings in the universe.
V “And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master,
thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He”
(Mk. 12:32).
V “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We
also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn
from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to
walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, He left not Himself without witness, in
that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling
our hearts with food and gladness” (Ac.
14:15–17).
V “Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee” (2 S. 7:22).
V “And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven
above, or on the earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy
servants that walk before thee with all their heart” (1 K. 8:23).
V “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?” (Ps. 89:6).
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g. The Lord
is greater than any trial or temptation (vv. 27–31). Due to the
Jews’ oppressive enemies as well as their hardships and sufferings, they were
complaining and accusing God of forgetting them. They felt as though God were
far away, unconcerned about their welfare or else unaware of their hardships.
But the Lord knew, and His heart reached out in compassion to His people.
Stirring Isaiah to encourage them, the Lord gave four assurances to His people:
Ø
He is the everlasting God, the Creator of the
whole earth (v. 28). Thus He oversees the earth and knows
everything that is happening. Because He is everlasting—no beginning and no
end—He is able to oversee and control all events of human history.
Ø
He never faints or becomes weary in overseeing
the earth and His people. Again, being everlasting, God is always available to
help those who truly trust and obey Him.
Ø
He strengthens both the weary and the weak who
trust Him (v. 29).
Ø He will renew the strength of all who wait on the Lord (vv. 30–31).
No matter
their chronological age, the Lord will strengthen them with more energy and
vigor than even young men have. Note this fact: the word wait does not mean sitting around doing
nothing. Rather it means to hope in
the Lord, praying, and trusting the Lord to meet one’s need (Is. 26:3–4;
30:15). Also, the word renew
means to exchange, such as exchanging old clothes for new ones.3
The believer who truly places his hope in the Lord will renew his strength, and
exchange his weaknesses for the Lord’s strength (2 Co. 12:9). The Lord
will build up the believer, empower his spirit to soar above the trials and
temptations that afflict him, to soar just like an eagle above the earth. A
believer who truly hopes in the Lord will be strengthened so that he can run
through the problems, hardships, trials, and temptations of life. And he will
not grow weary. He will walk victoriously, triumphantly, and not faint (v. 31).
V “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions,
as the heathen do: for they think
that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye, therefore, like
unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him”
(Mt. 6:7–8).
V “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness; and all these things [housing, food, clothing] shall be added
unto you” (Mt. 6:33).
V “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient
for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I
strong” (2 Co. 12:9–10).
V “Now unto Him, that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us” (Ep. 3:20).
V “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear,
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Ti. 1:7).
V “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the
violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (He. 11:33–34).
V “But I am
poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh
upon me: thou art my help and my
deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” (Ps. 40:17).
V “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I
will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Is. 41:10).
V “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Is. 43:1–2).[2]
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a 40:26
As a shepherd leads his sheep,
implied.
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
2 Stanley M. Horton. The Complete Biblical Library, Isaiah. (Springfield, MO: World Library Press, Inc., 1995), p. 311.
3 Warren W. Wiersbe. Be Comforted. (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), pp. 111–112.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ISA.40.12-31.nlt
All pics from Ansel Adams
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