August 9, 2017 Devotions
Your G-d is Too Small – Old Grumpy Man 

“Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”So God created humankind in his image,in the image of God he created them;male and female he created them. God blessed them…” Genesis 1:26 – 28a 

I have a friend whose daughter always refers to me as “Mr. Grumpy”. I have this nickname due to my overly pious look on my face when I am in deep thought. However, when children are asked to describe G-d, they often depict an old man, with a long white beard and hair, wearing a long white robe – and usually wearing a look of severe piety. Now, where does this idea come from? I believe we can thank cartoonists, children’s books, advertisers, and of course, to a child, anyone over the age of thirty is ancient. So G-d must be the oldest of us all. And, to add fuel to the fire, many older more seasoned citizens sit in coffee shops and complain about the “youth of today and their new-fangled gadgets and devices” – in other words, they seem to confirm the idea that the older you get, the grumpier you get.

When we think of G-d in this manner, we are doing what is called giving “Anthropomorphic” images to G-d – assigning to G-d human features and characteristics. Now, some of the more astute Bible readers will comment “But doesn’t the Bible speak of ‘G-d’s right hand’ and the “Right arm of G-d’?” Sure it does! But in trying to understand our G-d, this divinity that is beyond our understanding, ancient and contemporary writers must use images that the human mind can comprehend. Giving G-d human characteristics, like the Grumpy old man with white hair and beard may make G-d seem large and in charge, but really it only diminishes how “un-describable” G-d really is. What is G-d? When Moses asks G-d what he is to tell the Israelites when they ask him “What is G-d’s name?”, G-d tells him to say “I AM has sent me to you”. G-d’s own description of G-d’s self is a verb, not a noun. Making G-d a thing makes G-d much too small. G-d is action – movement – presence in the act of being – but also present in the smallest wafer, and tiniest cup of wine, and the drops of water from the baptismal font. And yet, G-d is so large G-d fills the entire cosmos with G-d’s presence. We can assign the old man with the white beard and hair to Father Time and Santa Claus. G-d, you see, is much, much more. (Theme from “Your God Is Too Small, J. B. Phillips)

Pastor Dave