God’s Ways are Always Higher Than Ours

Often we are unable to realise the ways of God, as we expect God to do things in a human way. Even after God had divided the Red Sea and provided the Israelites the food of the angels it was still hard for Moses to believe that God was going to provide meat for Israelites. Was Moses aware of God’s sketch to divide the Red Sea? Did Moses know from where the Mannah showered every morning without fail? No he was not aware of these.

Even after experiencing God’s mighty power Moses could not believe He is going to provide meat for Israelites for a month. This is the human mind. Moses was thinking of animals and fish and wondered about the infrastructure and logistic that would be required to fetch them in the wilderness. While Moses was estimating the volume of the requirement, God had fetched huge number of quails through the wind.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Again in the second book of kings we can see the same human attitude.

“Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.” – 2nd Kings 7:1-2.

The Psalmist says “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalms 46:10. Prevailing condition does not allow us to understand God’s ways. If we are unable to figure out God’s move let us be quiet and let God move. God’s ways of saving His people are unique. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit:but the upright shall have good things in possession. – Proverbs 28:10.

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. ’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”  – 2 Chronicles 20:17

The greatest understanding is that it is not us but Him. He took all our sickness and inequities on Him and died for us on the cross. This basic understanding gives us the courage to stand firm in our faith. Now, the verse says ‘hold your position’ . We are positioned in this world to worship our Lord even amidst hostile condition. God expects that His people should magnify His name. If we do this God will take care of the rest. We read in 2 Chronicles verse 23 that the enemy armies fought among themselves and had lost the battle.In our life too, we may be wondering why God has allowed certain things? If we understand the way He works we will not ask this question.

Once a woman was suffering from a chronic disease called Ulcerative Colitis, a disease in larger intestine in which food does not digest because of the wounds in the intestine. Whatever she ate would come out with blood. Doctors told that they could try treating this disease but could not find cure for it. She had been suffering for more than seven years and became thin. God’s people were praying for His touch. Suddenly she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Starting the treatment for cancer became complicated, because of her weak stomach.

‘You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.’ Deuteronomy 7:21-22.

Before the treatment started this was the word given to her by the Lord. Prima Facie she could not understand what God was trying to convey to her. It did not seem to be a promise for healing. She asked God to explain? God spoke that this cancer will have cure through a course of treatment and it is going to cure her ulcerative colitis too. In her state she was unable to understand the plan of God. The surgery in her breast to remove the lump went on in the presence of the chief doctor of Gastro Department. After that she sat with the chemotherapy doctor for planning the treatment.

She started explaining the chemo doctor about her – Ulcerative Colitis – expecting that she may consult with the Gastro specialist as the oncology surgeon did. But she said do not worry this chemotherapy will simultaneously and completely heal the Ulcerative colitis too. At that point of time only, she started understanding what God told through His Living Word. Amidst the tear of agony, a tear of realisation of His promise rolled out on her cheek. No doctor will administer chemo for a non cancer patient. But it was necessary for the cure of this seemingly incurable disease – Ulcerative colitis. His ways are different. She had completed her cycle of treatment in March 2012 and got healed of both the chronic and cruel disease.

Through this, We can understand Paul’s experience recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:10.

However, this does not mean that God won’t heal in a direct way. But it is His Grace!