The Mind and Ways of God

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor 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 ‭(NASB)

If you’ve been in the church for any amount of time, you’re probably familiar with this passage. From the pulpit to the pew, it’s a famous declaration made about the nature and character of God. I’ve often heard it used in the context of things that we do not understand, mostly concerning tragic or troubling things. In fact, I can’t begin to name the times that people have attributed horrific events to God, following it up with “his ways and thoughts are higher.” Not to mention the times that I’ve witnessed people stating that God had actually performed such atrocities in order to teach the victims a lesson.

Listen, I totally agree that there are certain things in life that are just beyond our comprehension or ability to bring under logic and reason. In fact, I think the more we realize that we’re all swimming in a vast ocean of mystery and beautiful uncertainty, the healthier we will be. However, I have a tough time when we use this passage in a way that makes God out to be some kind of monster who puts illness or disease or disaster on his creation.

Whenever our “theologies” somehow make God out to be dark, mean, mad or sad, we need to allow Holy Spirit to search out what we’re actually saying and believing to be true about God.

WHAT ISAIAH IS NOT SAYING

Every scholar and student would agree that one of the best ways to steward a passage is to read it in context. Otherwise, we will miss what the author is saying and addressing. When we neglect contextual reading, it’s kind of like walking into a conversation mid-sentence, thus providing the opportunity to draw all kinds of crazy conclusions.

When we look at the context of Isaiah’s prophecy, it’s undeniably clear that he’s speaking in the midst of God releasing promises of mercy and compassion. In fact, in the verses leading up to his declaration of the thoughts and ways of the Lord, Isaiah is giving some of the most groundbreaking points of the new covenant (what many translations call “The Future Glory of Zion”). Not only that, but if we go back just two chapters (53), he speaks of the Suffering-Servant who would come and rescue the people from their sins (one of the most famous passages concerning the cross). A chapter later, he declares promises of restoration, saying things like “The sons of the desolate will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman…you will spread to the right and to the left. Fear not, you will not be put to shame; and do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced” (54:1, 3, 4). I encourage you to read these chapters in their entirety, to see the kindness of God at work.

Allow me to cut to the chase…

The Isaiah prophecy of "My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways not your ways" (but are "higher") is not some behind-the-back statement that God says of himself to justify his own darkness or twisted actions. On the contrary, it is the declaration that his ways and thoughts are transcendent in kindness and mercy. They are quite frankly, incomprehensibly good—beyond what we, in our own human frailty, can even begin to imagine ("too good to be true"). As I stated earlier, a simple contextual reading would prove this to be true—seeing that, leading up to this declaration, he is extending mercy and help to a nation lost in the aforementioned darkness (see Isaiah 55:1-7).

To say that God executes such dark, retributive, vindictive motives and then backs it up with “my ways and thoughts are higher” would be like me saying to my kids, "Listen, I'm gonna punish and execute vengeance on you, but it's only because my thoughts and ways are higher than yours." Wouldn't you say that I was justifying my own twisted, narcissistic motives. I imagine you might even call me a borderline psychotic parent...would you not?

Although the far-reaching goodness and compassion of the Triune God is often obscured by a fallen and non-contextual mind, Gods ways and thoughts are still higher, better and far beyond what we can even begin to comprehend. As a matter of fact, they proceed from the same God who extends Their life and says "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters" (55:1). Friends, this is the One whom Christ came to reveal and release inside of the human race.

Beloved, let us shake loose from any dark views we have of the Father, Son and Spirit. May we awaken to the goodness and mercy of the Abba revealed in Jesus. Maybe then we can begin to know and step into the mind of Christ.

Apparently, he, the Greater Isaiah, knows something much higher and more beautiful that we have yet to discover!

-RA