to walk, to make one's way…

Job 11:7-12

⁷ “Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
⁸ It is higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
¹⁰ If he passes through and imprisons
and summons the court, who can turn him back?
¹¹ For he knows worthless men;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
¹² But a stupid man will get understanding
when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!

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Webster’s defines relate in the following way;

intransitive verb

1 : to apply or take effect retroactively —usually used with back <the law relates back to the initial date of decision>
2 : to have relationship or connection <the readings relate to his lectures>
3 : to have or establish a relationship <the way a child relates to a teacher>
4 : to respond especially favorably <can’t relate to that kind of music>

We, as God’s children, are to have a relationship with him.  We are to relate to him.  But that is a rather daunting task as shown in the scripture from Job above.  I often wonder how I am supposed to understand anything about God, let alone be able to relate to it.  I find myself looking at verse 12 and just nodding in agreement.

But God provides me a smart little reminder that we can still have a deep and meaningful relationship, and reminds me through His Son that he is more than willing to put things across on my level, so that I might try to understand.

He reminds me with my children.  When I see how closely I am bonded with them and how deep and meaningful the relationship is between us, and then realize just how different we are.  The mind of a child and it’s goals, fears, identity, burdens, and how that child even loves is so different from what I think from moment to moment.

But God shows me a miniature scale version of His tenderness and coming down to His child’s level to relate to me.  I think of how small the difference is between my children and myself when I kneel down to talk to them in a way they can understand.  I realize that the distance is small, because after all only a short span of years and they will stand eye to eye with me and speak and think of the same things.

I’ll never grow into God’s awareness, ability or wisdom like my children will catch up with me.  It makes His kneeling down to my level just that much more amazing and I realize how lucky I am that I can relate to Him.