There are many wonderful stories in the Old Testament which really give us comprehensive pictures of God's nature and character. They help us grasp a great deal about what matters to God, how He thinks and much more.
One of my favorite places in the Old Testament is in the book of Judges, which tells the story of how God used 12 different people over a span of more than 300 years to save Israel. Why did Israel need to be saved 12 times in the span of just a few hundred years? Because they forgot God and "did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord." Put another way, Israel and it's people became sinful instead of righteous - which got them into all sorts of trouble. And God had to pick a hero on 12 different occasions to salvage things for them. (He did this each time Israel "hit bottom" and cried out to God - finally returning to the Lord.)
In Judges 10:18, an angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah and his wife, who asked the angel it's name. (Being a manifestation of God Himself, they didn't realize the angel was God.) Look at the angel's response to this question. He said, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond your understanding." Really? Can you imagine?
What point was the angel making here? Well several places in the Bible tell us that we cannot fully comprehend the ways of the Lord. We're told that He doesn't think like we do, knows much more than we could ever know, and that we - in our broken, human form - would not be able to even face Him (His glory would be to great). The angel was simply saying that His name, which would reveal much about Himself, is mysterious beyond our human ability to comprehend. He was saying that His name is too wonderful for humans to even imagine.
Have you considered that? Are you aware that, even as a Christian, the nature and character of God are still beyond your human ability to understand or even imagine?
We talk about God being great. But folks, let's face it, His greatness goes beyond anything that we could ever be referring to when we speak of Him. How is that possible ... that there could be a greatness beyond human comprehension or imagination? But God tells us there is. It is found in His name. It is found in His nature and character.
The next time you hear someone say that God is great, remember this angel's words to Manoah and his wife. And try to imagine the things that you cannot comprehend or imagine.
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