It can be easy to underestimate God. A passage in the Old Testament describes how an enemy of Israel misapprehended the extent of God’s power: “And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord” (I Kings 20:28). God’s influence is not limited geographically – or in any other respect.
The Bible describes at least four aspects of God that are incalculable:
1. God’s ways are beyond measure. His wisdom is infinite. Zophar misunderstood the nature of Job’s suffering, but he had a fairly good handle on the incomprehensible magnitude of God. “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea” (Job 3:7-9). Human wisdom does not compare with God’s. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
2. God’s mercy is never-ending. The psalmist wrote, “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11-12). God’s supply of forgiveness is inexhaustible. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8-9).
When we consider the extent of His generosity toward us, it should prompt us to be more grateful to Him: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).
3. God’s love is infinite. Paul desired that we “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:18-19). But we will never fully grasp His love for us.
Jesus demonstrated His love on the cross of Calvary. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). His sacrifice for our sins ought to move us to trust and obey Him as His servants (John 12:32).
4. God’s presence is endless. You and I have a birthday, and later, one day our lives on this earth will come to an end. “[I]t is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). But God has no beginning or end. God told Moses he could refer to Him as “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:14). God is eternal. Moses later wrote, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2).
God is not limited by anything. And He can provide us with immeasurable blessings. He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).
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