Unfathomable Grace

There is an old rock song performed by The Police that goes:

Every breath you take; every move you make; every bond you break; every step you take; I’ll be watching you.

Every single day; every word you say; every game you play; every night you stay; I’ll be watching you.

Oh can’t you see, you belong to me; how my poor heart aches, with every step you take.

Every move you make; every vow you break; every smile you fake; every claim you stake; I’ll be watching you.

I don’t know if members of this rock group had a personal and saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, but this I do know — like the birds, bees, beasts, and bushes, through their chirping they proclaimed much truth about the Sovereign God.

Allow me to prove my point …

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With many words come much sin. This is certainly the case with Job, his wife, and his friends. However, in the midst of much sorrow, much sin, and several misapplied truths, certain jewels of theology are proclaimed by Job and his fellows. One such beautiful statement is found in Job 12:7-25:

But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Oh friends, the heavens, the earth, beasts, birds, bushes, and fish proclaim the glory of the Lord. Look at them afresh and notice the creativity, variety, complexity, order, and beauty. Then realize they are all affects of the Cause, creations of the Creator, or ministers proclaiming truth about the Sovereign God. And what do wise created beings know? They know that “the hand of the Lord has done this.”

Friends, consider for a moment what the scriptural text teaches the hand of the Lord is responsible for:

• Every living being
• Every breath man takes
• Tearing down
• Shutting a man in
• Withholding the waters
• Flooding the land
• The doings of the deceived
• The doings of the Deceiver
• The humbling of counselors, judges, kings, priests, elders, and princes
• The exaltation and destruction of nations
• The revealing and removing of understanding and light

All that occurs — blessings, curses, joys, sorrows — comes forth from the heart, head, and hand of the Sovereign God. He is the one who easily controls every aspect of every part of his vast universe. Yes, every breath man takes, and every move man takes, God is ordaining, orchestrating, and watching,

Therefore, knowing this with our heads and heart …

Why would we complain? The Sovereign God sees none of our inherently good desires, thoughts, words, and deeds. Do you know why this is true? It is because we are sinners and have no inherent righteousness. In addition, he sees all of our inherently wicked thinkings and doings. And he sees these not in part or after the fact. With his all-seeing eye, he sees them before they come to pass. And where can we go from his presence with our iniquity? There is nowhere to go to hide from the everywhere-present Judge. God sees all our sin, and there is nothing we can do about it. He owes us nothing but justice. And instead of granting us the holy, swift, hot, and wrathful sentence we deserve (earthly hell followed by eternal hell), he has granted us many merciful and gracious blessings in this life. Zophar said it right in 11:6, “Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.” On this earth, none of us are getting what we deserve, and that is a good thing. All of us are not getting the damnation we deserve and are receiving some measure of delight we deserve not. There is no reason for us to ever complain. We are not getting the bad we deserve, and we are not getting the good we deserve. We are getting the good we do not deserve.

Why would we fret? The Sovereign God is in control of every facet of everything, Whether it be the universal bodies or our earthly body, whether it be the Deceiver, the deceived, or the delivered, all are moving and being in accordance to God’s sovereign all-controlling will. There is no need to worry. All has been foreknown and foreordained. All is being providentially governed and orchestrated. Nations are no more to him than ant colonies. Presidents and legislators are no harder to move than wheat or chaff. He does what he desires with enemies and friends, and we are his friends, so why the uptightness, anxiety, and worry. Father knows best. Father does best. And he does not require us to understand why he does what he does. But he does urge us to trust him.

Why would we be arrogant? What makes us think we are good enough to accomplish anything great? Why should we take credit for any grand thing we have accomplished?

• Who gives us our country?
• Who gives us freedom and choices?
• Who gives us world-power status?
• Who gives us our parents and grandparents?
• Who gives us our education?
• Who gives us favorable relationships and head starts?
• Who gives us the Holy Scriptures?
• Who gives us the Holy Spirit?
• Who gives us our new heart, repentant soul, and enlightened mind?
• Who gives us the Fruit of the Spirit like wisdom, industry, perseverance, and self-control?
• Who gives us entrepreneurial ingenuity?
• Who gives us customers?
• Who gives us profit?
• Who gives us spiritual gifts?
• Who gives us visitors?
• Who gives us converts?
• Who gives us members?
• Who gives us leaders?
• Who gives us church quality and quantity?

All we are and have is a gift from God. There is never a time to haughtily look around at brothers or down at others. With humble joy we should look up to God with thanksgiving. All men deserve nothing. All men get something. And God’s men get everything in the world to come.

Why would we be pessimistic? Let us be free, bold, daring, and entrepreneurial in our daily worship. In our nations economy, there are bear and bull markets. In our God’s economy, there are downward and upward trajectories. So, whether enduring the hard providence of God or delighting in his sweet providence, keep moving, shaking, rocking, and rolling for your Lord. His will cannot be thwarted. His kingdom cannot fail. He has great and mighty things in store for you — perhaps on this earth — for sure in paradise. Seek his face, seek his friends, and stand resolute in your day of despair, and keep your eyes on him to see how the Sovereign God will right the wrong in your life.

Friends, there is an old hymn written by a redeemed friend of God, and it goes, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.” Stop doubting God’s love, wisdom, or power.  And please, stop proclaiming your character, knowledge, skill, and success. Your Sovereign God, with his eye and hand, have been and are watching and working in every aspect of every thing in every day of your life. The hand of the Lord is responsible for all you are, have done, and will do. Enjoy salvation. Enjoy your spiritual filling. Enjoy your perfect position and relationship. Enjoy glorifying God, and do so with bold humility, gratitude, and hope.