God is great - What does that mean?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

God’s greatness means He is entirely beyond comparison—His power, love, mercy, and wisdom are infinite and unmatched. Throughout the Old Testament, God is shown as the Creator who speaks the universe into existence and does wonders beyond our comprehension. His attributes—love, truth, mercy, and faithfulness—are described as immeasurably great. The New Testament continues this theme, revealing God’s greatness most clearly through Jesus Christ, who created all things and showed God’s immense love and mercy by dying for sinners. Because God is infinitely great, our response should be awe, trust, and wholehearted praise (Psalm 150:2).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God created all things with just a word (see Genesis 1). That is, He created something out of nothing. God’s great power is unlimited.
• The Bible uses the word “great” to refer to God’s characteristics. He is great in love (Exodus 34:6), mercy (Psalm 108:4a), truth (Psalm 108:4b), strength (Isaiah 63:1), and faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).
• God’s greatness is beyond our comprehension. Psalm 145: 3 says that His greatness is unsearchable. Being “unsearchable” means that it is so deep and expansive that we do not know how to even start understanding it.
• God’s greatness is in a category all its own. “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God …” (Deuteronomy 10:17).
• Psalm 86 talks about God’s unique greatness. It says that “There is none like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours” (Psalm 86:8). Psalm 86:10 and Psalm 96:4 repeat this thought.
• Idols (“gods”) are nothing, “...But the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5b). Being the Creator means that He can do anything and that puts His greatness apart from all other things.
• Job was reminded that “[God] does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9). Later in the same book, God, Himself, provides a list of things He does (Job 38–41). Just to name a few, He controls nature (Job 38:19–30), the stars (Job 38:31–33), and the weather (Job 38:34–38). He also knows every animal’s birth (Job 39:1–4), defines their nature (Job 39:5–30), and easily captures even the fiercest, giant creatures (Job 39:15–34).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• John tells the believer, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1a). John would go on to explain that that great love was demonstrated in the death of His Son, Jesus (1 John 4:9).
• Paul taught that God has “endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” (Romans 9:22b). “Much patience” means great patience, and He did that “to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:23). “Vessels of mercy” are believers. God showed (and is showing) an amazing amount of patience against sinners so that He can save some to show how great (“rich”) His glory is!
• God’s mercy that brought salvation to those who believe is described as great in 1 Peter 1:3.
• In Ephesians 3:20-21, Paul praises God who can do “abundantly” (greatly) beyond what we can even imagine.
• God’s limitless creative power was displayed through Jesus, by whom everything was made. As Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.” This means that every part of creation, seen and unseen, exists because of Him and for His purpose.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

God’s greatness is unimaginable. Because He is infinite, His power, mercy, love, patience, and faithfulness are also infinite. He created the universe with a word (Genesis 1:3), controls the hearts of kings (Proverbs 21:1), parts water (Exodus 14:21), floods the earth (Genesis 7:21–22), walks on wind (Job 9:8), defines eternity (Revelation 1:8), overturns mighty rulers (Daniel 2:21), creates kings from unknown shepherds (1 Samuel 16:12–13), stops the sun (Joshua 10:12–13), blinds the arrogant (Acts 9:8), gives sight to the repentant (Acts 9:18), makes sinner righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), and overthrows death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57). What can we do but marvel at just how great God is!

Psalm 150 extols His greatness, saying “Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:2). God’s greatness is “excellent.” That is, it is perfect. Praise Him for who He is and what He does. Praise Him for His great mercy towards you, a sinner!

UNDERSTAND

• God’s greatness is infinite and unmatched.
• God shows His greatness especially in creation and redemption.
• God’s greatness leads us to awe and praise.

REFLECT

• When was the last time you paused to consider how God's greatness is evident in your life or in creation around you? How do you see His greatness?
• How does knowing that God's love, mercy, and power are infinite change the way you approach Him in prayer?
• In what areas of your life do you need to trust more deeply in God's unmatched greatness rather than your own strength or understanding?

ENGAGE

• How does the Bible’s description of God’s greatness shape the way we worship Him?
• What are some ways we see God’s greatness revealed both in creation and in Jesus’ work of redemption?
• How can reflecting on God’s greatness encourage us during times of doubt, suffering, or uncertainty?