Jump Start # 144 

Isaiah 40:18 “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?”

  We continue our study of looking at God from various passages. In our verse today, Isaiah asks a great question—who is like God? This thought is repeated in Isaiah. In 40:25, “To whom then will you liken Me that I would be his equal, says the Holy One.” And in 46:5, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God.”

  In Isaiah’s day, the thought was intended to show that the idols and false gods that Israel was running to was really nothing. These gods were fake. They had no life. A craftsman carved images out of a tree and the nation fell down and worshipped that man made image. If you follow the thoughts presented in Isaiah 40 you will find some of the most beautiful and powerful concepts of God. His creative work, His power, His nature are all described in wonderful words. The prophet declares, “The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary.”

  There is no one like God. There is nothing as Holy as God. There is nothing as powerful as God. There is no one as good and merciful as God. There is nothing as just as God. God is. He told Moses that His name was “I Am.” I AM God!

  The apostles grasped this in John 6. When Jesus stopped feeding the disciples many starting leaving Jesus. The Lord asked the apostles, “are you also leaving?” Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go for salvation.” In Acts Peter preached, “There is no other name under Heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” There is no one but God.

  Most of us understand that in theory. It is the practice that trips us up. So often God is the last one we go to. We’ll take our problems to family, friends, counselors and a host of other people, even listening to the advice of strangers on TV or the radio before we bow in prayer and give it to God. A hymn declares, “take it to the Lord in prayer…”Jesus said, “at all times you ought to pray and not lose heart.” Peter said, “cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” It was that same Peter, who years before in a boat in the midst of a storm, woke Jesus up declaring frantically, “Lord, do you not care that we are perishing?” He learned. God cares. He learned. There is no one like the Lord.

  God is not like man. He doesn’t act like we act, think like we think nor respond the way we respond. He is God. He doesn’t forget the promises He makes. He doesn’t change His mind. He forgives and lets go. He blesses when we do not deserve it. He thinks of us when we do not think of Him. He never gives up on you. He chases you to get you to come back to Him.

  Church services are not just a nice thing to do, nor a place where good people are, it is where one connects with the living God. The modern church in far too many places have left God and is interested in thrilling man and pleasing man and doing what man wants. It’s not about us, it’s about God. God ought to fill our hearts and our minds. We ought to want to praise Him, follow Him, obey Him and honor Him. Great is our God, the Psalmist would declare.

  Once you have met God through faith, you will never meet anyone else that is like Him!

Roger