View source for I am God--and not man!.

'''Back to [[GOD'S NATURE]]'''
----
<p>("http://gracegems.org/C/Smith.htm">James Smith, "Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860)
&quot;I will not carry out My fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Israel. For <strong>I am God — and not man</strong>; the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath!&quot; Hosea 11:9 <br />
<br />
Thus spoke the Lord, when assigning a reason for not executing the fierceness of His wrath upon guilty and rebellious Israel. A God can <em>do</em> — what a man cannot; and a God can <em>bear</em>— what a man cannot. God always acts in accordance with the <em>grandeur</em>, <em>glory</em>, and <em>greatness </em>of His nature. <br />
Every <em>thought </em>of His heart, <br />
every <em>word </em>of His mouth, and <br />
every <em>work </em>of His hand — <br />
is <em>worthy </em>of Himself!<br />
<br />
If we bear this in mind, it will . . . <br />
  fortify our minds, <br />
  strengthen our faith, <br />
  and comfort our souls. <br />
<br />
Why does God not cut down the wicked immediately? Because He is God — and not man. <br />
<br />
Why does He chasten His people so greatly, and allow them to suffer so much? Because He is God — and not man. <br />
<br />
Let us meditate on this declaration of our God for a few moments.<br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I am infinitely patient, and not soon moved to take vengeance upon My sinful and rebellious creatures! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I am ready to forgive, and receive back the returning prodigal to My heart and home! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I receive great sinners, taking to My heart, and putting among My children — such despicable ones as no one else would notice or regard! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I pardon again and again, not only first offences — but repeated transgressions, forgiving and forgetting them forever! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore bear with such numerous affronts, such gross ingratitude, such inexcusable conduct — in My own people! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God, and not man,&quot; and therefore I invite, entreat, and beseech such base backsliders to return unto Me, and prove the power and freeness of My forgiving love! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I save freely, fully, and forever — such degraded, depraved, and desperate sinners, to the praise of the glory of My grace!<br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I remain faithful to My promises and covenant engagements, amidst all the changes and faithlessness of My fickle people! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I give such rich, costly, priceless gifts — to the poor, destitute, and unworthy sinners!<br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I hear, accept, and answer, such poor, imperfect, and worthless prayers — which, no one else could tolerate, much less approve! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore I work such wonders — wonders in providence, and wonders in grace; wonders in the world, and wonders in the heart! <br />
<br />
&quot;I am God — and not man,&quot; and therefore, I have prepared such mansions, and will confer such a glorious kingdom — on sinners who have no claim upon Me, nor the least reason to expect any good thing from Me!<br />
<br />
Yes, because He is Jehovah, and changes not — therefore we poor, sinning, changeable creatures are not consumed!<br />
<br />
Believer, to you the Lord says, <em>&quot;I am God — and not man!&quot;</em> Therefore <em>expect </em>from Him as God — and <em>act </em>toward Him as God! He can do exceedingly and abundantly, above all that you can ask or think! Do not measure His heart by yours — but remember that as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His <em>thoughts </em>higher than your thoughts, and His<em>ways </em>than your ways!
----
'''Back to [[GOD'S NATURE]]'''