This week in our study, “A View From The Top:  What Does God Say?”, we are looking at the characteristic of God that He is close.  Monday’s scripture was Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

Isaiah writes this in the context of contrast.  Earlier in chapter 41, he describes the collaborative effort of making of an idol.  Different craftsmen and skilled individuals are involved in various aspects of forming this idol while the last person “nails down the idol so it will not topple.”  God goes on to say that He is not like that.  The God of Israel was not made by committee, rather it was He who gathered His people to Himself and called them His own.  This was an important contrast because God is a living God that is with us — that is close at hand to strengthen and help in the midst of adversity. 

This message that God was giving through Isaiah is a message of hope.  God’s closeness in times of hardship and trouble should calm our fear and erase our worry.  As much as we may strive to put God in a box or nail Him down so that He stays where we think He belongs, it can’t really be done.  The “box” of the grave and the nails in a cross were unable to contain the living God.  It is this God that I worship and serve.  It is this God who is close to me when I recognize it and when I don’t. 

God doesn’t need me to prop Him up or nail Him down.  In fact, it is just the opposite.  I am the one who needs God to prop me up and nail me down so that I do not topple.  It is I who need God to plant my feet on solid ground so that I do not stumble.  The God that is close can do that. 

May you and I quit trying to nail down our God — if we can accomplish that, then our god is not “the” God.  May we draw near to Him and find that He is closer than we think.