Who Has Measured the Waters?

In the Hollow of His Hand

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Paul praised God, who can do far more than we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Long before, the prophet Isaiah helped God’s people see how big their God is.

A gentle Shepherd. “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom” (Isaiah 40:11). The great God carries His little ones close to His heart.

Who measured the waters? “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand” (40:12)? Picture every ocean on earth. God holds them as easily as you hold water in your cupped hand.

A span. He “Measured heaven with a span” (40:12). A span is the width of a stretched-out hand, from thumb to little finger. To God the whole sky is that small.

Mountains on a scale. He has “Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance” (40:12). The biggest mountains are light to Him.

No one teaches God. “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him?” (40:13). No one has ever had to explain anything to God.

Who taught Him? “Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?” (40:14). The answer is no one. God’s wisdom has no teacher.

Big and gentle. The same God who measures the oceans gathers the lambs. He is not too big to care about you.

Bigger than our problems. When a problem looks as big as a mountain, remember that God weighs mountains on His scale.

Humble before Him. Seeing how great God is helps us see ourselves rightly. We do not need to act big. We can trust the One who is big.

Comfort. God says, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” (Isaiah 40:1). He shows how great He is to comfort His people, not to scare them.

Our biggest problem. Our biggest problem is sin. Every one of us has sinned, and we cannot fix it ourselves.

The Shepherd who gave His life. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is carried home.

What this means for you. Next time you see the sea or a mountain, tell yourself that God is bigger than this, and He holds you close.

Paul praises God as “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Isaiah 40 shows that greatness through questions that have only one answer.

The Shepherd first (40:11). “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” Before the questions about His power comes a picture of His tenderness.

Zeret (40:12). “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span.” A span is zeret (say: ZEH-ret), the width of a spread hand from thumb to little finger. The heavens fit within God’s hand-width.

Weights and measures. He “calculated the dust of the earth in a measure” and “Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance.” A hand, a measuring basket, a merchant’s scale: all of creation is small in His hands.

The God no one advises (40:13-14). “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him?” God has no advisers and no gaps in His understanding.

Questions with one answer. Only God can answer each question. The questions humble us and steady our trust.

Greatness and gentleness. The God of 40:12 is the Shepherd of 40:11. His power is never careless; it carries the weak.

Humility. Pride shrinks God and enlarges self. Seeing God rightly puts us in our true place, which is a safe place in His arms.

Prayer. A God this great is never overwhelmed by a request, and He answers in a wisdom no one can advise.

Comfort first. God says, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” (40:1). God shows His greatness to comfort a people who felt small, not to frighten them.

The dust of the earth. Every grain of dust fits in God’s measure. Nothing in creation is too large for Him to hold, and nothing is too small for Him to notice.

Praying to the One who knows. When we pray, we are not advising God. We come to the One who already knows everything, and we trust His way.

The greatest problem. Every person has sinned, and no human effort can measure out a payment for it.

The Shepherd’s cross. Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again the third day. Those who trust Him are gathered into His arms.

Application. Write down one worry that feels mountain-sized. Next to it write Isaiah 40:12, and pray about it with trust.

His Understanding Is Unsearchable

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Isaiah showed how big God is. Next he answered people who felt that God had forgotten them.

A sad complaint. “Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God’?” (Isaiah 40:27). Jacob and Israel here mean God’s people. They felt that God did not see their troubles.

God’s answer. “Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary” (40:28). God never gets tired, and He never stops paying attention.

The everlasting God. Everlasting means God has no beginning and no end. He was here before your problem began, and He will be here after it is over.

The Creator of the ends of the earth. God made every place, even the farthest corner. Nowhere you go is outside His world.

Unsearchable. “His understanding is unsearchable” (40:28). You could search forever and never reach the end of what God knows. He understands what you are going through better than you do.

Not hidden. The people said their way was hidden. God answered by showing who He is. Your way is never hidden from Him.

Strength for the weak. “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength” (40:29). The God who never gets tired shares His strength with tired people.

Day and night. People get tired and need sleep. God never does. You can pray to Him any time, day or night.

When answers are slow. Sometimes God does not explain everything right away. His understanding is bigger than ours, so we can trust Him even when we do not understand.

Tell a grown-up too. God sees every unfair thing. If someone is treating you unfairly or hurting you, tell God, and tell a parent or a grown-up you trust.

God sees our sin too. Every one of us has sinned. God did not hide from sinners. He sent Jesus.

The cross. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. Everyone who trusts Him belongs to God, who never forgets His own.

What this means for you. When you feel unseen, say Isaiah 40:28 out loud. Then pray, because your way is not hidden from the Lord.

After showing God’s greatness, Isaiah speaks to discouraged people who think their God has lost track of them.

The complaint (40:27). “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God.” They believed God either did not see or did not care. Both are serious charges against His character.

The answer (40:28). “Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary.” God answers doubt by reminding His people who He is.

Ein cheqer (40:28). “His understanding is unsearchable.” The phrase is ein cheqer (say: ayn KHEH-ker), there is no searching out. No investigation will ever reach the end of God’s understanding.

Everlasting. God has no beginning and no end. Our troubles have a start and a finish; He outlasts every one of them.

The ends of the earth. As Creator of the farthest places, God has no place beyond His reach. A believer far from home or in a hard place is still inside His world and under His care.

Never weary. Human helpers grow tired and need rest. God does not stop paying attention at night, on hard days or when the answer is slow.

Seen and understood. If His understanding cannot be searched out, nothing about His people escapes Him. The complaint “My way is hidden” cannot be true.

Power for the powerless (40:29). “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.” The tireless God gives strength; He does not demand it first.

Trust without every answer. God does not always explain His timing. He gives Himself, and His character is a firmer place to stand than an explanation.

Unfair treatment. God sees every injustice. If someone is treating you unfairly or hurting you, tell God, and tell a parent or a grown-up you trust.

Seen in our sin. The same God sees our sin. Every person has sinned, and no one can hide from Him.

Seen and rescued. Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again the third day. Those who trust Him are fully known and fully forgiven.

Application. When you feel unnoticed, answer the feeling with Isaiah 40:28. Then bring God your need.

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Complete all sections to finish!

Read each section and answer the questions correctly.