The Infinite Nature of God: From Big, Small, and Everything in Between, ‘God is in the Details’

[David Newby]

‘How Great Thou Art’

When was the last time you considered the sheer majesty of God? Daily, we observe His wondrous works in nature and in the universe. We typically accredit God with being ‘great’. While that is generally an accurate description of God, the same is the ultimate understatement regarding God. For instance, do you frequently consider how small God is? If so, you’re well ahead of many people. If not, it’s about time to recognize that God is every bit as small as He is big. He fills the entire spectrum of our existence.

Realistically though, one cannot grasp the entirety of God’s enormity. We are only able to know or see what God allows us to know or see. Consequently, there is much about God, whether big or small, that is left unknown or undiscovered. God is truly great; just how great He is remains a mystery.

Primary Ways of Learning About God

God is not a complete mystery, however. He has made Himself known to us, and He has given us the ability to seek Him out and to learn more about Him. There are three basic ways that God has allowed us to discover Him:

• His Word (the Bible)
• Revelations of Him through the Holy Spirit
• Our minds (research, reason, and general learning)

Each of these elements is described briefly below.

The Word of God (The Bible)
God’s word, the Bible, provides us with an explanation of who God is and what He expects from us. Have you ever read a verse in the Bible to gain knowledge about that verse, only to revisit the same verse later and get a deeper understanding? That probably occurs all the time to you. God essentially takes us into a deeper level of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding as we continually read and study the Bible. As we first start out learning, we are fed ‘milk’. As we grow deeper and become more mature, committed, and pursuant of God we eventually are fed with ‘meat’ [See 1Corinthians 3:2]. See ‘God Still Gives Wisdom…’ after you’re done here for some great inspiration on growing in God through reading His Word.

Though as we read and study, the implications of some of the most profound Bible verses are revealed to us in due season. Unfortunately, there are still some things about God that we need to know which are only released to us in God’s timing. Moreover, there are some things about God we don’t need to know or may never know. Consequently, despite reading and studying, we will probably not ‘master’ the Bible, and everything there is to know about God from the Bible during our lifetime. There will still be some of God that will remain a mystery.

The Holy Spirit
In addition to Bible study, if we have a relationship with God, we are also given revelation of Him from the Holy Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, is responsible for showing us the nature and character of God. Without going into depth, to completely know the Holy Spirit is to completely know God. Even in knowing much about the Holy Spirit, there is still much left unknown. For example, sin separates us from completely knowing God [See Romans 3:23]. Alternately, even if people were perfect and without sin, one can reasonably argue that he or she may still be separated from the complete knowledge of God. Again, we are only given what God wants to give us in terms of our knowledge and understanding of Him. Here is another indication that God is much greater than we can ever imagine.

Reasoning, Our Brain, and Its Limits
A popular belief is that as humans, we only use a portion of our brains (1% - 10%). Even with that small amount of our brain’s usage as compared to its capacity, we have already learned a great deal about God. We have done scientific research. We have learned things in school. We have learned from experts, books, documentaries, and the like. Our minds have given us the ability to reason and understand the things of God as well as His creation of the universe. If the theory on our brain’s usage is correct, there is still about 90% of our brain that is not used. In short, our brains are not working at full capacity. Obviously, that indicates that in all our learning about God from a mental standpoint, we still lack a great deal of knowledge with regard to Him. We have much, much more to learn.

The Part of God That We Don’t See is There

As evidenced from the sections above about (1) Bible study, (2) revelations we receive from God through the Holy Spirit, and (3) our brain’s capacity, we still lack a complete understanding of God and His abilities. Hence, the ‘vexation of spirit’ relating to our wisdom, as discussed in Ecclesiastes 1 makes perfect sense.

The awesome thing is that given what we already know about God through the sources mentioned above, we see that He is much greater than we can imagine. Consider the proceeding cases.

Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full? There’s Air in There
Here is an analogy once mentioned by Dr. Myles Munroe:

Suppose you’re staring at a glass that is filled with water half way to the top. Do you view the glass as being half-empty or half-full? Most people will probably respond to the question optimistically. The average person will say the glass is half-full. Alternately, some will say the glass is half-empty. The reality is that the glass is full. Half of the glass is filled with water and the other half is filled with air.

We see the water with the naked eye. However, the air is invisible. Nonetheless, the air is still there. That said, there is much about God that is ‘there’ even though we don’t necessarily see Him there.

Size of the Universe
God is also larger than the universe. Our minds allowed us to estimate the size of the universe based on reasoning, research, and learning. However, in using our minds to estimate the size of the universe, much about the universe is left undiscovered. That’s because our minds are not operating at full capacity. Likewise, even if we operated at our mind’s full capacity, there is still the biblical element, and the Holy Spirit revelation element of God that would be missing. There is simply too much of God for us to discover all of Him, unless He allows us.

*Note: God is NOT the ‘universe’. He is its Creator, and He is much greater than the universe!*

Case of the Small God: ‘God is in the Details’

People tend to get caught up in the majesty of God, as in how GREAT He is. God is truly great. He is both omnipresent (everywhere all the time) and omnipotent (having unlimited power). However, God is every bit as ‘small’ as He is big. God is all encompassing, and His presence spans the entire continuum of our human existence and understanding. God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end [See Revelation 1:8]. He effectively covers all areas of life, from start to finish and from small to large.

Under the Microscope Lens
Briefly go back to your years in junior high or high school. Think about your Science (Biology) classes. Can you remember any of the times you looked through a microscope? If so, what was your first impression when you saw all of the little things happening under the lens? You may have been shocked to see that so much was occurring outside of the scope of your normal vision range. Things that could not be seen with your naked eye were showing up. Organisms were living and moving and you probably had no idea that they existed, similar to discovering a new civilization. Apparently, just as many things seem to be going on in the ‘small’ world as in the larger one.

*Note: Average microscopes are said to have a maximum magnifying power of 200 to 400x. This means the images you see through the microscope would be 200 to 400 times the size they are in reality. And God is even much smaller than that!*

Biblical Examples of Small Things Made Big

Some things in life are so small that they are actually large. Why? It’s simply because God is there and deeply involved with their protection, provision, development, maintenance, care, and much more. Consider a couple of biblical examples.

A Still Small Voice
In 1Kings 19, as Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel, God appeared to Elijah in a still, small voice. Although, a strong wind, earthquake, and fire preceded the small voice, God was not in them. Instead, He was in the small thing: the voice. See 1Kings 19:11-12 below:

1Ki 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Daniel and the Lion’s Den
Daniel 6 shows how God delivered Daniel from the lion’s den:

Dan 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Dan 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

*Note: There was never a time that lions threatened God, nor could lions pose a threat to God. However, lions did threaten Daniel in the lion’s den. Nevertheless, God dispatched an angel to deliver Daniel from his ‘small’ situation. Also see Daniel 3, where God left His throne to deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace.*

The Lilies of the Field
Matthew 6 depicts God as One who is deeply involved with the smallest things in life. He even considers the lilies of the field, which are said to be even more decorated than King Solomon in all his glory. See Matthew 6:28-29 below:

Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

The Hairs of Your Head Are Numbered
In Matthew 10:29-30, Jesus says that God even numbers the hairs on our head:

Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

God’s Rebuke of Job: God is As Large As He is Small
Please read Job Chapter 38-42 after you are done here. You will certainly be humbled, and gain a better understanding of the grand, infinite nature of God. [Side note: Job’s likely response to God in modern day times: ‘Oops’.]

In the book of Job Chapters 38-42, God demonstrates that He is the Almighty, and great beyond measure. In all this, God is still small enough to tend to the less noticeable matters of life, even as He turned the captivity of Job [See Job 42:10]. God is the Alpha and Omega, infinitely small AND infinitely large. Some reiteration: God is not just great in terms of being large. He is exceedingly great beyond comprehension, because He is also infinitely small.

An Application to Your Life: Your ‘Small’ Problems are a Big Concern to God
Here is some closing encouragement. If you are hesitant to take your small issues to God, keep this in mind:

*As a human, everything about you is small to God.*
Fret not over how small of a situation you’re in.

*If it’s important enough for you to consider, it’s important enough for God to deliver.*
He will be with you as you go through.

Takeaways
Finally, consider and apply these important takeaways:

• God is much greater than we give Him credit for—He is not just BIG; He is SMALL.
• God is not ‘too busy’, nor ‘too big’ to help you—‘God is in the details’.
• Get out of the ‘just’ mindset [See ‘God is Not a Just God’]—You don’t have to go to God just for your major problems. He is there for you all the time.
• Ask God for help and guidance in your small circumstances—Pray, believing, and God will show up.
• Make God your first point of contact for all your problems—He is your great advocate. Let Him direct you to provision, protection, deliverance, joy, peace, and victory.