There are many who claim to know God who do not know Him as they should. They may know of Him while not truly knowing Him in the sense of accepting and surrendering to the Sovereignty of His Will. Though the Jewish leaders claimed to know God, in view of their rejection of Jesus, He stated they did not know the One Who had sent Him. (John 15:21) And to some who claimed God to be their Father, Jesus told them they were actually of their Father the devil because they were not truly seeking to carry out the Father’s Will, but rather that of the devil. (John 8:41-44)
In a psalm of Asaph we read. . .
“(16)But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? (17) For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. (18) If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. (19) You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. (20) You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. (21) These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.” (Psalm 50:16-21 ESV)
The ESV footnote on verse 21 notes the possible translation of “you thought that the I AM was one like yourself.” That is the expression used by God in His conversation with Moses as he was called to go bring the nation out of Egypt where we read. . .
“(13) Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” (14) God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”” (Exodus 3:13-14 ESV)
In my mind, have I thought of God as being too much like me? Have I attributed mere human characteristics to Him in relation to my own expectations? Do I have a concept of God that is skewed by my own desire of what I want Him to be? Do I want the God I want — that I have conjured up in my own mind — or the God Who Is? It is the God Who Is I can fully trust as His ways and thoughts are much higher than mine. (Isaiah 55:8-9) That being true, I can take Him at His Word even when I might not fully understand what is behind His commands because I can know that in His Sovereign Wisdom they have my best in mind. Therefore, I will continue to be drawn to the God Who Is, knowing He is able to ultimately bring me into His eternal Heavenly presence!
Have a great day COMING TO KNOW AND SO FULLY TRUST THE GOD WHO IS!
Carl
