GOD IS TRANSCENDENT

Read

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 

Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, is one of the most iconic mountains in the world. While Table Mountain is beautiful from below, the views from the top are even more breathtaking—Lion’s Head, Camp’s Bay, the Twelve Apostles. There’s nothing like standing on a mountain peak, looking down at the world around you. But at some point, we all have to leave the mountain peak and make the long trek back down to reality. 

Thankfully, the same is not true for our awesome God. As Creator, God is transcendent. That means that he is distinct from everything else in creation, surpassing the laws of nature. He dwells in the high and holy place, and there is no one and nothing in the world like him. He exercises control and authority in all of creation, and the miraculous becomes possible. 

In Exodus 15, Moses and the people of Israel lift a song of praise to the Lord after he miraculously parted the Red Sea and delivered them from the hands of Pharaoh. After seeing God’s transcendent power on full display, they sing, “Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” In defeating the Egyptians, the Lord also showed that he was mightier than the Egyptians’ gods. There is no obstacle or opposition too big for our awesome God! 

As we begin this week of prayer and fasting, you face your own obstacles and opposition to your faith. You may be praying for the salvation of a loved one, for healing for you or someone close to you, or financial breakthrough. Or you may be dealing with trials, temptations, and testings in your faith. You’re holding onto God and crying out for a miracle. Be in faith. Because God is above his creation, he can part a sea, make manna rain from heaven, and cause water to spring forth from a rock. Through him, we can trust that miracles can and do happen. 

Because God is transcendent, miracles are possible.

Reflect

1. Are you currently facing an obstacle or opposition to your faith? What is it? 
2. Do you find it easy or hard to believe that God can do a miracle in your life? How can meditating on his transcendence increase your faith?

Pray

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 

Heavenly Father, you are exalted in the heavens yet near to your children. I rest in the fact that you are transcendent and powerful. Through you, anything is possible. The Israelites saw your power on display when you parted the Red Sea, and I ask that you would move through the difficulties I face today. You alone are awesome in glorious deeds, and I thank you that you hear my prayers. In Jesus’ name, amen.