God’s Ways and Thoughts Are Higher Than Ours | Isaiah 55:8-9

Isaiah 55:8-9 opens with a striking declaration that sets the stage for our reflection: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." These verses draw a sharp contrast between God’s ways and ours. In this article, we discuss this contrast and why it is always better to forsake our own way and follow God instead.

Yes, God’s Ways and Thoughts Are Higher

In Isaiah 55:9, God goes so far as to illustrate that His ways and thoughts are as high as the heavens are from the earth in comparison to our ways. Let's take a moment to ponder that. The distance between the heavens and earth is so vast that it's impossible to measure. So, we cannot even begin to imagine how much higher God's ways and thoughts are than ours. We must understand that God is righteous and there is no evil or malice in Him. All that He does is right, true, pure, just and done out of love. This is because God is not a man; He is Spirit and, therefore, incorruptible.

Our Ways and Thoughts Lead To Destruction

Our ways and thoughts, on the other hand, aren't particularly great. Because of the sinful and corruptible nature of our flesh, we can be cruel, deceitful, destructive, and even deadly. Many times our ways lead us astray, diverting us from the righteous, holy, and pure ways of God. Proverbs 14:12 reminds us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way is death.”

If we believe that pursuing our own path will not lead to harm, we are sadly deceived. The prophet Jeremiah, speaking on behalf of God, had much to say on this matter. In Jeremiah 17:7, he declares, 'Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.”' Here, we learn that turning away from God to rely on our own strength or making a human the centre of our trust curses us because we will not be able to see or experience the goodness of God. This message is echoed in Galatians 6:7-8, where it is made clear that sowing to the flesh, which includes trusting in ourselves and acting against God's will, leads to destruction.

Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

In verse 7, Jeremiah affirms, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” This reinforces that we should not rely on our own ways. Consider this: before being born again, we lived in unrighteousness, pursuing worldly and fleeting pleasures. In that state, we failed to recognize how degrading, futile and destructive these pursuits were.

Similar to how the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil appeared enticing to Adam and Eve, so do the ways of the flesh entices us. They deceive us, making us believe that what is rotten looks pleasing and is good to consume. The fall of Adam and Eve exemplifies the profound difference between God's ways and ours. Numerous examples throughout the Bible emphasize this too, underscoring the need to rely on God, as He sees what we cannot. He truly knows what is best. That is why we should never rely on our own understanding but instead put our complete trust in God, recognizing that He is wise and all-knowing. By doing so, God promises to direct our paths when we abandon our ways and choose His ways instead.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

God’s Desires for Us Are Greater Than Our Own

It is important to understand that God is a remarkably humble God. Unlike humans, He doesn't seek to arrogantly assert His power over us or control us by dictating what we should do. Instead, God wants us to draw near to Him so that He can teach us and advise us in the way we should go while watching over us with His loving eye. God is our Father. He only has plans to prosper us and not for harm. How do we know this? Well, His Word continually tells us that He desires to protect and deliver us from evil. Furthermore, Jeremiah 17:7-8 gives us a glimpse of what a person who trusts God can hope to enjoy.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) - “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

In conclusion, Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us of the undeniable gap between God's ways and our own. It calls us to humility and trust in God's guidance and understanding, which leads to life. Therefore, choosing to follow God, is the wisest decision any human can make. This is not always an easy thing to do, but it is certainly worth it. Our own ways, when relied upon, often lead to death and destruction. So let’s choose life because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Scripture References:

Bible Gateway passage: Isaiah 55:8-9 - New King James Version

Bible Gateway passage: Jeremiah 17:5-9 - New King James Version

Bible Gateway passage: Proverbs 14:22 - New King James Version

Psalm 32:8 NKJV,NIV - I will instruct you and teach you in - Bible Gateway

Bible Gateway passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - New King James Version