The Otherness of Godਨਮੂਨਾ

God doesn't have a size because He is infinite

How does one describe the God who has given a name to each of the trillions of stars: "He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name" (Psalm 147:4; BSB)? He knows the names of the (current) more than 8 billion people on earth - He has a plan for each person's life. How does one describe the God who hears all prayers and knows how to answer each one? And that's just a small part of the earthly things that can be weighed, measured, and counted. Then we haven't even thought about God's transcendent, total otherness in terms of the dimensions of eternity. Some time ago, I read about the complexity of a potato. It was fascinating. If we cannot even understand the complexity of a potato, how could we think that we could even begin to understand that God is eternal and does not live within a framework of time and space? He has always been there and will always be there. A "god" the size of our capacity and insight is not someone big enough to help us with the impossibilities of life. We need a God who is God - the full definition of the word "God" - who knows, understands, and can do everything - who is reliable, loves us, and is gracious to us. We find this God in the Scriptures - the one we can call "the Completely Other One."

Otherness means that God acts and exists on a completely different level and dimension—morally, intellectually, spiritually, and in power. He is uncreated, the Creator who has always been there. When we are in God's presence, we become humble, aware of our limitations, and aware of our createdness.

God is transcendent. He exists outside and independently of the universe. He is not a better version of us - with more power, authority, wisdom, insight, etc. Exodus 3:14 (BSB) - "I AM WHO I AM." This name of God in Exodus 3:14 ("Jehovah") reflects His fullness, completeness, and that He does not change. For example, He knows not only more than we do - He knows everything. He has no questions, only answers. He cannot grow in knowledge of wisdom – He is complete. We are created. God is the Creator. We are temporary, but God is eternal. He is uncreated. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) - "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither 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."