Statistical Analysis
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Isaiah 40:12-18
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has instructed him? Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the isles like fine dust. Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?
The area of Earth: 510,072,000 sq km, or 196,939,900 sq miles*
The diameter of Earth: 12,756 kilometers *
Age of Earth: 4.55 billion years (plus or minus about 1%)*
*Source: ask.com
These facts tell me several things. First of all God is really, really old! Since He made the Earth, He has to be older than 4.55 billion years. I’m 49 years old. I can’t even calculate how small a fraction of time that is relative to the age of Earth, let alone to God’s age. So you’re probably thinking I’ve really gone off on a tangent this morning! How does any of this relate to God? What does any of this have to do with my life?
Well . . . I often find myself overwhelmed with life! Not because of terrible, bad things that happen, just life itself. Just living every day can be tremendously challenging, stressful, and can test our faith sometimes. In my case, I’m almost 50 years old. My youngest child will graduate from high school in a week. I spent an hour on line, and then on the phone with my daughter last night as we begin to plan her wedding next year. And in a few days my husband and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary! These are some major milestones! And yes, I am joyous! I am, ecstatic, grateful, thankful, overjoyed. And I feel very, very small.
This morning when I read these verses, I took a deep cleansing breath. Isaiah had no idea how big Earth was when he wrote this psalm. For me, knowing these facts, nothing changes. Huge. That’s all Isaiah knew, and that’s all I need to know. Unfathomable. Think about it. God breathed our 196,939,900 sq. mile planet into existence at least 4.55 billion years ago! He spoke. And it existed. Before: nothingness, a void, a vacuum. He breathed: water, land, vegetation, animals, primordial man. You may be thinking, “Wow! Now I feel really small!” And that may not seem a comfort to you. To me, though, I am glad to be in the hands of one so mighty!
And in all of this, He bothered to make me. And He sent His Son to save me from my sins. That kind of love is unimaginable! The area of Earth – that I can calculate. God’s love? Incalculable!
My prayer today is that you realize your tiny existence and your greatness through God. And that you remember God cared enough about you to send Jesus.
Mary
