Standing on the edge of the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon, I had never felt more insignificant in my entire life. “Surely,” I thought to myself, “Something greater than anything the world has ever seen created this.” It was as though God had taken His finger and created this majestic chasm, this beautiful masterpiece that would attract hundreds of millions of travelers in the coming centuries, separating the earth from itself.
But in this moment of fleeting insignificance, a prevailing hope festered in my soul that day that perhaps God took just as much pleasure in creating little ol’ me as He did this enormous canyon.
As humans, how is it possible for us to appreciate the greatness of who God truly is through our own frailties and understanding? The truth of the matter is that we simply cannot, at least not without the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s Scripture reading is in Isaiah 40: 12-18
12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? 14Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?
15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. 16Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. 17Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. 18With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?
As God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, He invites us today to contemplate the majesty of who He is. This passage paints a vivid picture of the immeasurable greatness and supremacy of the Creator of the universe. It calls us to pause and reflect on the awe-inspiring nature of our Heavenly Father.
Verse 12 presents a breathtaking image of God measuring the waters in the hollow of His hand, weighing mountains and hills, and holding the dust of the earth in a basket. These vivid metaphors convey the enormity of God’s power and control over all creation, reminding us that every aspect of the natural world is under His sovereign rule.
Verse 13 reinforces our understanding of God’s wisdom and knowledge. It asks the rhetorical question, “Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as His counselor?” The answer, of course, is no one. God’s understanding is beyond human comprehension. He is, after all, the source of all wisdom and knowledge.
Verses 15 to 17 serve as a stark reminder of the insignificance of the nations and their collective power when compared to God. They are like a drop in a bucket, regarded as dust on the scales and valued as worthless. No worldly power or wealth can ever match the majesty and might of our God.
Verse 18 challenges us with an important question: “With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him?” The answer is clear – there is nothing and no one that can be compared to our God. He stands alone in His glory and majesty.
Isaiah encourages us to humble ourselves before the incomprehensible greatness of God. We’re prompted to recognize our dependence on Him and to find solace and confidence in His unmatched power and wisdom.
As we meditate on these verses, let us approach our Heavenly Father with reverence and gratitude, knowing that He is our rock, our refuge, and the One who holds all things in His hands. It is in our realization of these things that we find comfort, hope, and assurance in His power, splendor, and majesty.
Former Blackout Artist 