Veteran preacher, Haddon Robinson, told the following a few years ago: “H. G. Wells was no friend of the church, but sometimes he served us well. Years ago in the New Yorker, he told a story about an Episcopalian clergyman. (He could have told it about a preacher from any denomination.) This Episcopalian bishop was the kind of man who always said pious things to people. When troubled folks came to him, he found that a particularly helpful thing to say, if said in a right tone of voice, was, ‘Have you prayed about it?’ If said in just the right way, it seemed to settle things.
“The bishop himself didn't pray much; he had life wrapped up in a neat package. But one day life tumbled in on him, and he found himself overwhelmed. It occurred to the bishop that maybe he should take some of his own advice. So, one Saturday afternoon he entered the cathedral, went to the front, and knelt on the crimson rug. Then he folded his hands before the altar (he could not help but think how childlike he was).
“Then he began to pray. He said, ‘O God--’ and suddenly there was a voice. It was crisp, businesslike. The voice said, ‘Well, what is it?’
Next day when the worshipers came to Sunday services, they found the bishop sprawled face down on the crimson carpet. When they turned him over, they discovered he was dead. Lines of horror were etched upon his face. What H. G. Wells was saying in that story is simply this: there are folks who talk a lot about God who would be scared to death if they saw him face to face. “
Robinson’s observation about this priest reminds me of a book J.B. Phillips wrote many years ago titled, “Your God Is Too Small.” We should consider whether our view of God is smaller than the view contained in Scripture.
As we have considered the early chapters of The Story in Genesis and Exodus, we come across some amazing looks at God. The early revelations of God should cause us to consider whether our view of God is big enough — or if we would be scared to death if we saw him face to face. The discussion is a critical one to have because one day we will see God face to face.
Here are some observations the early chapters of the Bible make about God:
- The Bible opens with these words: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” That ought to tell us everything we need to know about how big, how majestic God is. God then created every aspect of creation. If God could do that, he is indeed beyond our comprehension.
- Noah experienced a God so great that he can cause the entire earth to be flooded, yet he saves one family with whom he reestablished the human race.
- Abraham believed in a God so great that he went when God called him to a place that he knew nothing about. Then when called him to sacrifice his son, he believed that God could even raise him from the dead.
- Joseph believed in a God who could turn his horrible circumstances into events that would save God’s people.
Those are only a few glimpses of God from the opening of God’s Story. We will see much more about God. Make sure your God is not too small.
