Defining God

How can something finite define someone infinite?

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to claim that we know all there is about God. We demand an explanation for the things we cannot understand, so we foolishly try to convince ourselves that we know the answer. Man, if we could really see just how limited our thinking can be...

Consider the book of Job in the Bible. I find the last 9 chapters very fascinating. Elihu, the youngest dude among Job's friends, redirects Job's misunderstanding of the afflictions he experiences. Then starting in chapter 38, the Lord speaks to Job. He asks him:

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions
And stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations,
And who laid its cornerstone
As the morning stars sang together
And all the angels shouted for joy?" (v. 4-7) 

"Have you explored the seas from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!" (v. 16-18)

When we try to define God, we are making Him out to be much lesser than He actually is. We limit His power, His grace, His mercies, His justice, and His overwhelming love to fit our definition of who we think God should be. We come up with our own traditions & rituals and say that those are the only ways we can be right with Him. We take the church building and say that He only resides within those four walls. We look at the Bible and say He is only contained on those printed pages.

Despite our lack of understanding, God never falters in His sovereignty.

I love JJ Heller's song, "Small". Essentially it talks about the way we minimize God; "People wish that You were more like what they wanted You to be. Eventually they won't have much of You at all in their theology." The chorus of the song is a pretty good representation of my heart's response to all this:

I don't want to make You small
I don't want to fit You in my pocket
A cross around my throat
You are brighter than the sun
You're closer than the tiny thoughts I have of You
But I could never fathom You at all 

Let's stop putting God in a box and start pursuing a personal relationship with Him. When our love for Him grows (just as His love is already enough for us) our stubborn pride diminishes and we'll begin to see Him for who He really is.