BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.... AND YOU ARE NOT....



"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”    Psalms 46:10, NIV

Apparently this was a message I needed to hear this week, because it seemed every time I picked up something to read this verse popped out at me; along with the not-so-subtle reminder that I am not God. Of course, I know that, I thought to myself. So why all the reminders? I began to think about that: He is God; and, I am not God. He is God. I am not God. Was I trying to be God? It is an easy trap to fall into, especially when things aren’t going the way we think they should.

Look at the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach, telling the people God was going to destroy it because of their wickedness. Instead of doing what God told him to do, however, Jonah got on a ship headed in the completely opposite direction! God wasn’t having it. He stirred up a great storm, until, finally, Jonah was thrown off the ship into the sea. The sea immediately became calm, good news for the sailors; Jonah, however, was swallowed by a great fish.

For three days and three nights, Jonah had time to think about what had landed him in the belly of this great fish. Finally, he prayed, telling the Lord he would preach God’s message: Salvation comes from the LORD. In response, God commanded the fish to throw up Jonah on to dry land; and, then, for the second time, God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach. (See Jonah 1-4)

This time Jonah did what he was told to do. He preached, and the whole city repented and turned to the Lord. Seeing their repentance, God did not destroy them. You would think this would make Jonah happy, wouldn’t you? But he wasn’t. As a matter of fact, he was absolutely furious, praying,

“…Isn’t this what I said LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing  to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:2, 3 NIV

In our present-day language, it might sound more like this,

I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I just knew this was going to happen! I knew You are gracious and compassionate, full of love! I knew You didn’t want to destroy them! And now look what’s happened! It’s just as I thought it would be; You made me come preach, they repented, and now you aren’t going to destroy them! They don’t deserve your compassion! They don’t deserve Your  forgiveness! I’d rather be dead than see this city spared! Just kill me now, Lord, just kill me now!

Have you ever felt like Jonah? That someone didn’t deserve God’s grace? His love? His compassion? His forgiveness? That you wanted God to punish them, not bless them? I suspect that we have all harbored such thoughts at one time or another. When David disobeyed God and ordered a census to be taken, God gave him a choice as to his punishment: three years of famine, three months of being overtaken by the sword of their enemies, or three days of pestilence in the land. David’s response is telling,

“...I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”  I Chronicles, 21:13 (Emphasis mine)

God is infinitely more loving, more merciful, more compassionate, more patient, and more forgiving than we are. How thankful we can be that it is God, not man, who is our judge! How thankful we can be that God is God and we are not! I’m afraid if I were God, I would have already zapped out of existence rude drivers who poke along and dangerous drivers who cut in front of me, not to mention all of the politicians whom I deem to be deceitful and corrupt. And then there are the people who hurt us or our loved ones to consider. Do they deserve mercy? Forgiveness? Love?

Be still and know that I am God – and you are not. I take great comfort in knowing that He is God. I also take comfort that I am not (although I apparently need to be reminded of that from time to time!), and, no offense intended, I'm also glad that you are not. He is God. May we exalt His name forever!

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

Have I ever wanted God to punish someone rather than forgive them?
   Do I trust God’s love and mercy?
    Do I pray for those who have hurt me?

Do I pray for those who have hurt someone I love?

What does it mean to you that He is God and you are not?
     

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,
 

Syandra
 

Have you believed? If not, choose to believe what the Bible says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23, NIV

"He himself (Jesus) bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." I Peter 2:24, NIV

“Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12, NIV

“…If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9, NIV

Sin brought us death. Jesus, through His blood shed for us on the cross, offers us abundant life now and eternal life when we leave our earthly bodies behind. I would love to hear from you when you accept what Jesus has done for you, or if you have questions.