Who Is a God Like You?
Near the end of his prophecy, Micah asks, “Who is a God like you?” (Micah 7:18). The question is a play on the author’s name. “Micah” literally means, “Who is like Yahweh?” The obvious answer is, “No one is like the Lord God!” Micah may have been thinking about the false gods Israel was tempted to worship, but we could also apply the question to ourselves. Next to God, we pale by comparison.
Twice, the Bible declares that “God is not a man” (Num. 23:19; Hosea 11:9). Also, God through Isaiah says,
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (55:8-9)
Too often we try to make God in our own image, not realizing it should be the other way around (Gen. 1:26-27). Unless we turn to God’s word where he has revealed himself, we aren’t going to understand him. He is very different than we are. We can’t find him by looking in the mirror.
What qualities make him distinctive? After Micah asks his insightful question, he continues with a description of our unique God:
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old. (Micah 7:18-20)
Using this description, we’re going to learn more about God by contrasting his unique nature with our own. Five sets of qualities emerge from the prophet’s words:
His forgiveness vs. ours
His anger vs. ours
His desire vs. ours
His love vs. ours
His faithfulness vs. ours
Each lesson will teach us more about God by contrasting his divine qualities with ours. Also, we will be challenged to grow as we see the vast difference between him and us. Let us strive to become more like God who is above all others!
Some of the lessons come with a bonus section indicated by the heading “For Further Study.” These are not meant to be discussed during the open home meetings but can be studied independently at home in private devotions.
