Silhouettes - Job 26:7-14

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?" Job 26:7-14 NIV

When I was living in France years ago, my friends and I had a summer eve's picnic on the grounds of a 17th century chateau, Vaux le Vicomte. After enjoying a wonderful evening of fellowship amidst the backdrop of this candlelit chateau, we headed back to Paris reluctantly leaving behind this beautiful sight. Darkness had begun to settle across the fields, while a remnant of the setting sun lingered off in the distance. As we drove away, one of my friends commented on the simple beauty of three trees. The details of the trees were lost in the growing darkness, but their silhouettes contrasting against the fading sunset captivated our attention. It was a stunning sight!

Silhouettes can have an alluring, almost mysterious, beauty to them and are sometimes the subject for pieces of art. (Anyone else have a silhouette portrait of yourself or one of your kids?) Lovely as they may be, silhouettes don’t capture every last detail, rather they merely trace the outer limits of an object, person, or surface.

Looking at this trio's silhouette, Job’s words flooded my mind. “And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!” Truly, this side of eternity we see but a silhouette of God.

All the incredible things we see, know, hear, and experience of the Lord are but the outer fringe of Him. They are merely a silhouette - the outer limits of His love, grace, might, power, strength, mercy, and wonder... Can you imagine what He must be like in His fullness?! Jesus came to show us. He embodied the fullness of God in flesh. However, the sin in our hearts and in the world around us have much the same effect on our spiritual vision as on the night of our picnic: much is lost in the darkness. Oh, but one day soon we will come face-to-face with Christ and the Light will outshine the darkness! We shall see more than a silhouette of the Almighty as the radiance of His glory will come into full view.

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

Friend, there is so much more to the Lord Almighty than we can even begin to fathom. Reread the passages above and remember Who your God is. Remember His power, His might, His tenderness, His love, His forgiveness, His grace, His patience, His beauty and His countless wonders. And remember: what we can see and understand now... these are but the outer fringe, a silhouette.

Truly, how faint the whisper we hear of Him…