"Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted."
Job 36:26 NLT
"But they don't have mouths. How can they drink?"
An intelligent question from my four-year-old grandson. I was teaching him
lessons about growing flowers and a garden by letting him plant a flower and
vegetable garden in our backyard. I dug the holes; he dropped the seeds.
As each flower and vegetable came up, I explained what they were called,
what they would produce, and how they would produce it. When the squash
bloomed, I showed him where the squash would grow. I explained how the corn
would produce ears.
One day as I was watering the flowers, he asked what I was doing. "Giving
the flowers something to drink. They get thirsty just as you do," I said.
"But they don't have mouths," he insightfully replied.
I took the opportunity to explain how flowers and plants drink: through
their roots and some through their leaves. My answer satisfied him. He had
learned something else he hadn't previously understood.
Job had many things he didn't understand, among them why God was allowing a
whole list of bad things to come into his life. Although he continued to
trust God, the trials didn't seem to match what He thought about God. And
what's worse, God never explained. I've never faced the type of trials Job
did, but I've had my share and I've also had my share of fail-to-understand
episodes.
Remembering God is sovereign helps me persevere. In my grandson's eyes, I
probably am too-though he has no idea what the word means. Job refused to
curse God, as his wife told him too, and chose to believe God was in
control.
As my sovereign guide, God's ways are higher than mine-and often beyond my
ability to understand. This should call forth greater faith in me, as it did
Job, rather than cause me to lose faith in Him.
God operates in a realm I've never entered-nor can I understand it. I live
in time; He doesn't. Though outside of time, He created time, created me in
time, and often operates in time with me. Job chose to continue worshiping
God even though he lacked understanding. He believed God was working for his
good-although it appeared otherwise.
Job's response to his lack of understanding should be ours. When you can't
understand God's actions, trust that He loves you and has your best in mind.
Prayer: Father, when we can't see Your hand, help us to trust Your heart.
Martin Wiles
Hodges,
South Carolina, USA
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