Just how Big Is God?

Several of us have experienced receiving a notice in the mail or in an email that we have won some fabulous dream vacation. The catch is that usually one would need to spend have a day looking at some resort property that the vacation people want to sell. If we do that, our trip and all the amenities will be paid.

As you might have guessed, I’m not a fan of such trips. Most of the time, those places are probably locations where I would most likely not care to spend vacation time. To invest in such a thing, would be foolish for me.

In this short section of Jeremiah, which we’ll be looking at today, we see that Jeremiah is told to invest in what many of us might have considered unwise.

We need to look at a little bit of background information which is found earlier in the chapter. Jeremiah had just bought a plot of land that was located in the land of the Israelites. Even while they were going to be captive in Babylon, Jeremiah was told by God to invest in property that he would be able to enjoy later in his life.

With that in mind, let’s consider the local situation at the time. This was just prior to Jerusalem being totally destroyed. It is during this time, we find Jeremiah offering up the prayer we’re going to study to day. As we look through this, it is almost as if Jeremiah is going over a history lesson to remind himself of God’s power and leading.

During this message today, it would be helpful if you would keep reminding yourself over and over the following sentence, even if you have to do it out loud.

Nothing is too difficult for God!

Jeremiah spends time trying to get the people’s attention by pointing out three specific things about God’s power.

1—God’s power can be seen in the past.

2—God’s power can be seen in the present.

3—God’s power can be seen in the future.

God’s Power Can Be Seen In the Past. - 32.17-23

We read in this part of Jeremiah’s prayer a review of some history. He spends time touching on some high points in God’s powerful activity.

First of all, Jeremiah recognizes the Lord is indeed sovereign. God is in charge even when it seems as if He may have stepped out for a bit. God‘s plans do not depend upon man’s plans. God can do as He pleases, and He is perfectly just and righteous in all He does. There is nothing or no one that is greater than the Lord.

It would do each of us a great deal of good if we would recognize the effect of the sovereignty of the Lord. Too often, we relate to God, as if He were someone who might actually be fallible. The reality is that God is sovereign. He is above all and in all.

We also see that it was the Lord, who made the heavens and the Earth, as the creator. How was this done? The only thing that we are told is that He spoke and it came into being. The Bible says that His great power and outstretched arm were involved. We know that this is symbolic language, as God is spirit. God did not need an evolutionary process. Just because humanity cannot comprehend such a complex universe coming from nothing instantaneously, does not mean that God could not create all that there is from nothing in a moment. As if to emphasize this, Jeremiah states, “nothing is too difficult for you.”

We also read that not only is God capable of supernaturally, instantaneously, creating the entire universe, but he is also capable of being the perfect judge.

Read Jeremiah 32:18–19 “who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The Lord of hosts is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds;”

There is nothing that escapes God‘s eyes. Nobody will be overlooked in His loving affection. At the same time, nobody will be missed who needs to be punished. God‘s plans and his methods are incredible and perfect. You and I cannot see the big picture, but God does. Just as the people of that time, we also see through blinders, only those things which impact us. But according to the last part of verse 19, God is not oblivious to what is going on around this world. Nobody is able to fool God, for His eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men. As a result, there will be reward given to everyone, according to what they have done and how they have lived.

Jeremiah goes on to some specifics about the people‘s homeland and how they ended up at the Promised Land. Whether we feel as if God has gone on vacation or are wondering if He really is all-powerful, this is a helpful reminder to reflect on the many miracles and blessings that have occurred in our lives that have brought us to where we currently are. Jeremiah takes time to reflect on the incredible miracles that took place in Egypt while they were still slaves, getting them ready for their long journey to their new home.

Notice that Jeremiah is fully aware that God‘s hand of blessing and the miracles were not just for the Jews, but for all mankind. Those powerful miracles were not just for one particular event, but they continue, as God in his sovereignty, directs the affairs of mankind. He also recognizes that God‘s punishment is not only upon those who oppose the Jews, but it came up upon the Jews as well, when they chose to be disobedient.

What a reminder for us, as well. God is able to bless abundantly, even today. His blessings continue, just as He has blessed our parents and generations before that. As God‘s people continue to step out in faith and live for him with wholehearted obedience, God wishes to bless and bring glory to His name. At the same time, when we feel that we can choose to live according to the world’s philosophy and stop trusting in God, but rather trust in our own wisdom, He can very easily remove His hand of blessing. The frightening part of this scenario is that God could also enact discipline upon His church today. If followers of Jesus Christ, do not allow the church to be the church as he designed it; growing, witnessing, sharing, loving, serving, and caring, disciple can take place. We see this take place in Revelation 2-3.

God’s power can be seen in the present. - 32.24-25

Jeremiah 32:24–25 (NASB95)

‘Behold, the siege ramps have reached the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence; and what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it. ‘You have said to me, O Lord God, “Buy for yourself the field with money and call in witnesses”—although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ ”

One might find these two verses somewhat frustrating, as we notice that Jeremiah was observing what was currently taking place at that time. Again, we are reminded of the fact that Jeremiah had been told to buy a plot of ground for his family and he obediently did so. We can probably imagine the question marks that may have occurred, in not only Jeremiah‘s mind, but many others. We can conjecture that those questions were part of his thinking, even as he wanted to trust God with all of his being. For all practical purposes, it would have seemed like throwing money away. It would almost seem foolish. However, as we see with Jeremiah, because God had told him to do this, he stepped out and obedient faith.

God’s Power Can Be Seen for the Future. - 32.26-27

Jeremiah 32:26–27 (NASB95)

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”

When we have acted in obedience, yet things do not seem to be right, just like Jeremiah and many others, we need some assurance that God is still in charge. We need to know that God knows and that He cares about what we are doing.

That is what these two verses provide us with. After Jeremiah had reminded himself in his prayer regarding God, His sovereignty and power; after Jeremiah had gone through the brief history lesson beginning at creation, going through the exodus, then concluding with their current situation; we find that God does bring assurance.

Listen again to Jeremiah 32:27 ““Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?””

God, once again affirms that he is sovereign. Then he asks that rhetorical question which is to be obviously answered in the negative, “is anything too difficult for me?” Of course not!

Jeremiah had been given assurance that since God was in charge and was all-powerful and capable of anything which would glorify Himself, the purchase of land was a good thing. Even though it may have seemed foolish to all who observed, it was what God wanted Jeremiah to do. Even though it may have brought question upon question as to the need or the wisdom; because God told Jeremiah to do it, it was right.

Conclusion

I wonder today, as to how many of us might feel that God‘s arm is too short, or that He is limited, or there are things that are too difficult for Him. Now I recognize that most of us would not say that out loud; yet sometimes our actions show what our real belief is.

Let me give an example. The Bible states that we need to give of the first fruits of our crop to the Lord. We need to step out in faith and set aside that money immediately for the Lord‘s work, rather than waiting to see if we have any money left over. God’s arm is certainly not too short. However, some have denied the power of God and the sovereignty of God by withholding from God what belongs to Him, while satisfying their own personal desires.

Is there anything too difficult for God? Is his arm too short? Sometimes we think and act as if it is. I understand that as good biblicists, we want to be careful to count the cost before we proceed on any project or ministry opportunity. Yet, like the world, some of us find ourselves more able to trust in the finances which we can count right now in order to get by, rather than exercise faith in God to meet our needs.

What a wonderful example we read about in Exodus 36:2–7: “Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it. They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.” So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.” If we truly believe that God is able and sovereign, we should never have to beg God‘s people for finances. There would be so much given that we should have to tell followers of Christ to stop.

Most of us should stand amazed at what God can do through His people when they are obedient. If each of us gave, according to how God has blessed us, can you imagine what God would do as we step forward in obedience in faith and proclaimed to our community that Jesus Christ is the answer!

If you will do a quick look through the four gospels, you will discover that Jesus talked about finances even more than He did about heaven or hell. We might wonder why that would be? The answer is given by Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That is more than just a great Bible verse for memorization. It truly is an indicator of how big we think God is.

Do we doubt God’s sovereignty and abilities? Of course not! Let me encourage us to be a people who live in light of the fact that there is nothing too difficult for God. Let us be obedient as we live in faith for Him.

Just how big is God in your life? Be encouraged that whatever is happening in your life: Nothing is too difficult for God!