A different perspective
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isa 55:8-11
I have a vivid memory of the first time I travelled to Europe looking out the window at 40,000 ft and marvelling at the vast size of the planet as I gazed down on the mountains below. They seemed so small and yet the aircraft was somewhere over the Himalayan snow-capped alps. Somewhere down there, the world’s tallest mountain Mt Everest, was stretching heavenward and yet from this aerial perspective seemed almost insignificant.
I couldn’t help but ponder these verses in Isaiah where we are reminded God’s ways and thoughts are higher and indeed radically different to ours. His viewpoint is vastly higher than the 40,000 feet at which my perspective was challenged.
The Bible says He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (1 Cor 1:27). Is it any wonder therefore, Jesus never healed anyone the same way twice? Is it such a surprise then He made mud from spittle to heal a man’s eyes (John 9:6), or simply took Peter’s mother-in-law by the hand and her fever left (Matt 8:15).
He made an axe head float by throwing a stick into the pond (1 Kings 6:5-7); turned a poisonous stew into a palatable meal with a handful of flour (2 Kings 4:39-41); caused the sound of an army marching in the tops of poplar trees to signal victory by God’s people over the enemy army (2 Sam 5); or turned 6 waterpots of 20-30 gallons each full of water into the best wine the host of the wedding had ever tasted (John 2). Nothing is too hard for God!
Whatever you are facing today, may I encourage you to think on these things and the vast number of other miracles recorded in His Word. In the words of the song, “We worship the God who was, We worship the God who is, We worship the God who evermore will be, He opened the prison doors He parted the raging sea, My God, He holds the victory…” (House of the Lord Phil Wickham 2021). The God of the heavens and earth, the Creator and sustainer of life knows you intimately knows your circumstances and knows the end from the beginning.
His Word never returns to Him void so we can trust Him to accomplish all His Word says He will do for us, through us and in us. What does His Word say about you and your life?