Who Is In Control

“He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’” Acts 1:7 (NIV)

"’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘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

A famous story, whether true or not, tells us about the faith of the inventor, scientist and farmer George Washington Carver. One day he was walking among his fields pondering God’s great creations while he prayed. He asked God to share with him the knowledge of how the universe works. God responded, “Your brain is not able to comprehend something so vast.” He then asked God to explain how the solar system works. God replied, “Your brain is not able to comprehend even that.” George then asked God to share with him how this planet called Earth works. God responded again that he was not able to comprehend even that. Finally looking down at his crops, George stoops and picks something off one of the plants and says, “God, this peanut, could you teach me all about this peanut.” To this God replied, “Now that is about the size of your brain.” And he shared with him the knowledge about peanuts. Carver is famous for discovering over 300 uses for peanuts including cosmetics, dyes, paints, gasoline and nitroglycerin.

Sometimes we like to question God’s right to control things, including our own lives. It is in times like this that God has to remind us politely that we are not nearly as smart as He is, nor do we have the authority and power that He commands.

Look at how God responds to Job beginning in chapter 38…

Even in the midst of such great turmoil as Job was experiencing, God is telling us that He is in control. C.S. Lewis said it this way:

“God whispers to us in our pleasures,
He speaks in our conscience,
But He shouts in our pains.
It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
C.S. Lewis

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