Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Aug 7th He is the One and Only!

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 37 – 40 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – John 7 – 8; Psalms 31 – 35; Proverbs 7)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 48:1 & 2

Read the “0807 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Forsaking Future Generations.“

“12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? … 18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? … 25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.” (Isaiah 40:12-14, 18, 25)

Did you notice in chapter 40 the number of times that God asks us to search our minds and consider if there are any that could possibly compare to Him? You can search all you want, but you will not find His equal. He is the One and Only! I love what it says in Isaiah 44:

“8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:8)

Apparently, God made a search Himself and could not find another God.

Notice some of the verses in this passage and what they teach about God:

1. All knowledge, wisdom, and counsel is contained in God. Notice vs. 13 & 14 (above). God does not have a teacher or a counselor because He is omniscient. There is nothing that God does not know. That is why we need to be in tune with Him. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Our knowledge and understanding is very limited, but God can give us the wisdom that we need to navigate through life successfully. Of course, that wisdom is found in the Word of God. Do you need wisdom? I know I do. Ask God to direct you through His Word, and through His Spirit, help you connect all the dots to figure out how to apply the knowledge He gives you.
2. All power is contained in God. He not only created all things but he also sustained all things, and he will never run out of energy. “28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31). He is also the Source of our strength. Are you weary? Ask God for strength.

If God is the only God, then why is it that we finite humans are constantly trying to elevate ourselves to take His place? We need to submit to His infinite power and knowledge, and then exalt Him as the only One worthy of honor and glory. And then, why do we value the opinions and positions of other finite men, instead of looking to God?