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““For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
God’s Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways
Christians have a bad habit of quoting scripture out of context. How many times have you heard someone say “God’s ways are higher than our ways” when they are trying to make sense of a confusing situation?
Here’s the actual context of that statement
Isaiah 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! 2 Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. 3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant— My loving devotion promised to David. 4 Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.” 6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. BSB
What “way” of God is higher than ours? Mercy and forgiveness. This passage is actually a beautiful promise or provision in the Lord as a result of the work of the Messiah. He’s prophesying through Isaiah what life will be like under the New Covenant. He’s not giving a cliche explanation for random a confusing life event.
Eye Has Not Seen, Ear Has Not Heard
How about this one?
1 Corinthians2:9 Rather, as it is written: (Isaiah 64:4) “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Have you ever heard someone say this in an attempt to console someone? Or maybe you’ve seen this passage posted on social media as some sort of attempt at comfort for someone who is going through a rough time.
Keep reading…
10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.
Paul cites an Old Testament truth but follows up with a New Covenant treatment of that idea. Because we have God’s spirit dwelling within us, we can know what God has prepared for us. He wants us to know His will for us so we can co-labor in faith with Him. God doesn’t want you to be confused about what He’s doing in your life. He wants you to be able to hear Him clearly, so He did something about it, through Christ He made a way to put His spirit in you so He could commune with you from within.
I go into much more detail about these ideas in this sermon, I hope you have time to watch it.
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