“All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me.” – J. I. Packer

We humans tend to think of God as human-like – just bigger, stronger, wiser, and holier. But that’s not good thinking. He is so, so different from us.

I hope this short series of “things God never says” helps us realize that God doesn’t say the things humans say or think the way humans think. Our Creator is different, and he’s outside of anything he’s created – including us.

So, when God, a being we cannot even imagine let alone understand, wants to communicate with us, is it any wonder we don’t always “get it”? Even when God took on a human body and came to earth to help us understand him and his plan for us, his disciples often misunderstood. They didn’t really grasp Jesus’s mission until after his resurrection.

God doesn’t give up. He continues to teach and reveal and guide. Jesus is the bridge between the knowable and unknowable God, the Holy Spirit enlightens us, and the Bible is God’s revelation of himself, and still he says, “. . . my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways . . .” (Isaiah 55:8).

But, what he never says to us as we struggle to know him is, “Why can’t you understand?” He knows all our limitations and views us with compassionate patience.

Paul says it’s like we’re looking into a mirror now, seeing images and reflections, but someday we’ll see face-to-face. Then things will become clear. Until then, we’re grateful that God still communicates, and that he’s patient with our dusty efforts to understand.

“As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.” – Psalm 103:13-14