When faced with obstacles that seem insurmountable—problems so immense that initiating a solution or even daring to trust in God’s ability to solve them appears impossible—where does one turn? We frequently find ourselves overwhelmed, allowing our concerns here on Earth to obscure the true nature of the Divine. Yet, the ancient prophet Isaiah, specifically in chapter 40, provides a crucial remedy: God’s laser, designed to shrink what we perceive as big, deadly, or insurmountable obstacles down to their proper perspective. By illustrating God’s incomprehensible magnitude, Isaiah 40 effectively expands our understanding of Him, correcting the common human tendency to minimize His power. This greater understanding of God’s immensity is essential for cultivating a bigger faith, allowing us to live more boldly and bravely.
The Limits of Human Comprehension
Our human understanding is inherently finite and small. To truly grasp the scope of the entities God handles in Isaiah 40, one must first confront the limits of comprehending large numbers. For instance, the difference between a million and a billion is startlingly vast, yet often intellectually conflated. A million seconds equates to approximately eleven and a half days. A billion seconds, however, is drastically different, stretching out to roughly thirty-one and a half years. If we further extend this to a trillion seconds, we are talking about 31,000 years. These numbers—millions, billions, trillions, quadrillions, and quintillions—are so unintelligible and hard to understand that they are designed essentially to “fry out your brain”. The ultimate point of this mathematical exercise is to establish that we cannot really comprehend these scales, yet the Bible speaks of them as if they are nothing for God.
To cultivate the necessary larger faith, we must look at the specific, enormous analogies God uses in Isaiah 40, helping us to envision a God far bigger than we naturally assume. Isaiah 40, verse 12, asks rhetorically: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the heavens with a span, and enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?”. These analogies present enormous things to contemplate, helping us realize that even these massive concepts are insignificant to an infinitely bigger God.
Measuring the Immeasurable Waters
The first measure God presents is the waters of the Earth. The Earth is already unusual among planets, with about 71% of its surface covered in water. Of this vast quantity, 96 to 97% is saline, or salt water. When one considers all the tremendous rushing rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams—including the deluge over Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls—this entire collection of fresh water accounts for only about 3% of the world’s water.
The total volume of water in the world is estimated to be about 350 quintillion gallons. A quintillion is a number represented by one followed by eighteen zeros. The staggering magnitude of 350 quintillion gallons is what the picture in Isaiah 40 states that God holds in the hollow of His hand—in that little space right here. This figurative language helps us grasp that God has no limits; there is nothing that can swallow up His enormity of presence. We struggle to hold even a thimble full of water in the cup of our hand, yet God holds the entirety of the oceans.
Spanning the Inconceivable Heavens
Isaiah 40 also speaks of God marking off the heavens with a span. Historically, a “span” was a measurement, typically running from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little pinky finger. More generally, it means the distance between a beginning and an end. God measures the entire heavens—the universe—with this insignificant marker.
If we begin our contemplation locally, the Earth itself looks like a tiny blue marble floating in space. When juxtaposed with other planets in our own solar system, like Jupiter, the size difference is nearly unfathomable. Expanding beyond our solar system, we arrive at the Milky Way—a spiral of millions and millions of stars and planets—where our sun and its solar system occupy merely one tiny spot.
The true scale of the heavens, however, is revealed when we consider the millions of galaxies that exist. Scientists using powerful telescopes have shown slices of the universe where thousands of galaxies have appeared. What is particularly stunning is the perspective applied to this image: this slice of the universe is approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length while standing on the ground. Imagine holding a grain of rice up to the sky and photographing the space behind it—all those galaxies reside there. And this is just one tiny area; the universe is still expanding. Yet, all of this incomprehensible, expanding vastness is measured off by God as a mere span of His hand. This analogy is designed to help us see God as vastly bigger than the daily problems that tend to dominate and hide Him from our view.
Weighing the Massive Mountains
The prophet continues his argument by stating that God has weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance. Mountains are things to behold; whether one considers the enormous mass of Mount Fuji, the famous perspective of Mount Kilimanjaro, or the hard rock and snow of Mount Everest, these geographical features represent staggering weight. Mount Everest alone stands at 29,000 feet above sea level. While we often weigh things in small, measurable amounts, such as a pound of walnuts, the mountains defy easy quantification. An estimate suggests that Mount Everest, considering its mass and height, weighs about 357 trillion pounds.
God is described as being able to take all of that weight—all the mountains, hills, and ripples in the earth’s crust—and simply place them on a scale to weigh them out.
Calling the Numberless Stars by Name
The sheer magnitude of God’s power is further detailed in His ability to command the stars. God directs us to “Lift up your eyes on high and see” the starry hosts, for gazing at the universe is for our good and helps us trust in Him. He “brings out their host by number, calling them all by name”. While calculations are constantly estimated, current figures suggest there are an estimated one septillion stars—a one followed by twenty-four zeros. This estimate is based on the idea of about one billion stars for every galaxy, with approximately two trillion galaxies currently known. These numbers are essentially designed to overwhelm the brain and enlarge the heart.
When Abraham was told to go outside and count the stars, and God promised his descendants would be as numerous, Abraham’s understanding of the cosmos was limited compared to ours today. The modern knowledge of science makes the immensity of this promise even more unbelievable, designed specifically to embolden us to trust in the great and big God of our lives.
The Paradox of Vastness and Intimacy
The entire purpose of comprehending God’s vastness is not merely intellectual; it is deeply personal. It gives us a sense of security, boldness, and confidence in our walk with Him. While the Bible emphasizes the extreme vastness of God, it simultaneously employs language reflecting His extreme intimacy, sensitivity, and caring.
In the midst of the analogies of cosmic power, Isaiah 40:11 describes the same God: “He will tend his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms. He will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young”. This is language of profound intimacy and caring, describing the universe-builder as one who attends to the feeble condition of His people.
This powerful combination teaches us that the God who measures the universe and weighs the mountains is the same God we believe in when we worry about an unpaid electric bill. Can God truly care about our electric bill? Yes. The God who can build the universe can ensure our electric bill gets paid, and He can handle both tasks simultaneously. The notion that our requests are too trivial to bother God with is misplaced; God can handle being bothered with all of our problems. This infinite power, coupled with intimate care, gives us permission to trust God even down to the smallest details of our lives. We cannot overwhelm Him if we place our faith and trust in Him.
Boldness, Trust, and the Insurmountable
Understanding God’s self-sufficiency is also liberating. Isaiah 40:14 states: “Whom did he consult and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice and taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding?”. The answer is rhetorical: God needed no counselors; He is His own consulting firm and is not looking to any of us to give Him permission or consult.
This perspective grants us permission to say, “I don’t know,” or “I will have to wait on the Lord to figure this out”. We do not need to have all the answers because we know that He does. Furthermore, this same vision that provides comfort is designed to help us pursue bold and brave things.
When we recognize that our problems are small relative to a monumental God, we are prepared to embrace what are sometimes termed Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG)—things that are impossible to accomplish unless the Lord is actively involved. This is the faith needed to tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges, such as global mission work. For instance, tackling the crisis of abortion on a global scale often feels like the universe itself—untrackable. Yet, God provides the boldness to go into the hardest places and trust that we will make a dent.
We have seen this in measurable terms: in Cuba, which once held the highest abortion rate in the world among countries of 10 million people or more, Christian efforts spread the gospel of life across the island. This movement resulted in a change in demographics, bringing the abortion rate down from number one in the world to number four. However, the problem remains overwhelming in other regions. India, with its 1.7 to 1.8 billion people, is now viewed as the primary challenge. Trying to change India seems like “eating an elephant” and an unattainable goal, separated by cultures, languages, and geography. It is truly insurmountable.
But this is precisely why we must return to Isaiah 40. The God who holds 350 quintillion gallons of water in the hollow of His hand and measures the expanding universe with a span is the God of the insurmountable. When we confront overwhelming challenges, we must look to Him to provide, remembering that our God is not too small to handle the biggest problems on Earth.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.