[22] It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; [23] who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. (ESV)
God’s transcendence is largely dismissed by the modern world, yet today we deeply need the transcendence of God.
In this passage the prophet Isaiah gives us snapshots of God’s transcendence. God is truly transcendent, beyond our world. By comparison, we are like insects. God makes our most powerful and influential leaders “as emptiness.”
This stands in stark contrast to modern perception of humanity. We see ourselves as the saviors of the world. We will heal the ozone layer. We will reverse climate change. We wonder whether there are any hurdles that our science and technology cannot overcome.
Let’s be clear. When God gave Adam and Eve dominion over this planet, we became the caretakers of this world. We demonstrate love and respect for God by caring for the environment. But this responsibility must not become an idol.
That’s why it is so healthy for us to embrace God’s transcendence. God can use his transcendence to keep us grounded. While we seek to solve the earth’s greatest needs, we still acknowledge our need for God. While we do our best to manage the planet, we keep in mind that God sustains this universe. As we are told about Jesus in Colossians 1:16-17:
[16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
(Monday Meditations are based on the appointed Scripture readings from the LCMS lectionary for the coming week with topical devotions mixed in from time to time.)
Kevin Wilson 360 