July 12

We got questioned a lot in today's reading:

"Do you not know?"

"Have you not heard?"

"Has it not been told to you...?"

"Have you not understood?"

"Who created all these?"

"Who has understood the mind of God?"

"To whom, then, will you compare God?"

We were reminded of the greatness of God who created the heavens and the earth in comparison to which the human life is as vulnerable as grass. We were also reminded that even though God justly punished the sin of Judah and Israel, He was quick to comfort them and remind them how much He loves them:

"He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11)

Have you not heard what happens when you are gathered in God's flock? When you surrender to Him and are God's sheep? He carries you close to his heart! Everything He does is for our good, everything He does is because He loves us. I do forget this sometimes, I really do. I get into the thinking that God has a big master plan for the world (which He does) and my relationship with Him just fits somehow in that plan. And then God would tenderly remind, like He did to His people back then through Isaiah, that it is the master plan that facilitates the relationship you and I have with God! That it has been God's plan all along to make it happen. The God who created the mountains which cannot be weighed on the scales, also created you, who is as fragile in life as the grass, He created you to care for you and love you. He gathered you form 'the ends of the earth,' and from 'the farthest corners' to be His. All that God has done from Creation till now leads you to Him and carries you close to His heart. So that you will be gently shepherd by Him: the unbound, great, extravagantly loving God. It blows me away every time!

These are great verses to just ponder:

"Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 20:28-31)