Frustration and failure are the necessary products of limited capacity. A human walks away from a challenging endeavor, having “done all that he or she could do.” Every day, we experience a measure of disappointment when “all that we can do” is not enough to achieve what we desire.
The Bible refers to God as “Almighty” 57 times. Psalm 115:3, in response to the mocking of unbelievers says, “He does whatever He pleases.” In Isaiah 46:10, the Lord says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Whatever God is, He is infinitely. He cannot be mostly good or mostly holy or powerful over most things. He is almighty or He is not God. He is not contingent and He cannot be hindered. Nothing rivals His rule. As Job was suffering intensely (Job 9:12), he affirmed that no one is able to say to God, “what are you doing?” Theologically, we refer to this as His sovereignty.
People interject ridiculous questions to this aspect of the character of God. “If God can do anything, can He draw a square circle?” “Can He create a stone so big that He cannot move it?” “Can God create another God greater than Himself?” God can do anything that is in keeping with His nature. These are nonsensical notions, and unworthy of who He is. The Bible gives us a few examples of things that God cannot do. These things are against His nature. Titus 1:2 says that God cannot lie. James 1:13 says that God cannot tempt to sin. Malachi 3:6 and James 1:17 says that God cannot change.
This brings us into a challenging realm of manifold questions. Why does God allow evil in the world? The Bible makes it clear that although evil is in this world, God restrains it as He wills (2 Thessalonians 2:7). We see instances in the Bible where God restrained people from wickedness that they were intent on committing (Genesis 20:1-3). “Is man’s free will beyond the reach of God’s sovereignty?” If that were the case, man’s will would be almighty over God. This is the very question that is raised in Romans 9:19. “Who has resisted His will?” The answer of Romans 9:20 is a sharp rebuke to such arrogance. “Who are you to reply against God?” We must embrace what God has revealed about Himself, even when it is beyond our capacity to understand. In Job 42:2-3, Job repented of demanding to comprehend that which is beyond human capacity.
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