Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.
Isaiah 40:28 (CSB)

Have you ever confided your overwhelming anxiety or fear to a friend or spouse, only to receive a rhetorical question that lacks both validation and sympathy? Something like, “Why are you freaking out? Don’t you know *insert obvious truth*?” This kind of response is not the comfort we tend to look for when sharing our fears. Nevertheless, rhetorical questions can be constructive because they stop us in our tracks and make us face the undeniable and deeply comforting truths we have been ignoring.

Isaiah prophesied to a rebellious and idolatrous Israel. The Israelites continually looked to false gods and unrestricted pleasure to protect and satisfy them. Isaiah 1-39 calls for repentance and warns of God’s impending judgment. Chapter 40 begins a new section in the book: words of comfort to the faithful remnant who would return to Yahweh and survived the judgment. Rhetorical questions are used repeatedly throughout this chapter to calm swirling doubts, fears, and questions and to calibrate to God’s character.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth.” God has been ruling and reigning since before time began. We may witness political upheaval and tumultuous leadership, but God is different. There will be no end to his reign. Not only does the Lord have power and dominion over all things, but he also created all things. Everything is subject to his will.

“He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.” Amid trials, we often utter the phrase “I just don’t understand.” We spend countless hours and sleepless nights trying to understand the purpose of the problems we face. All of that striving to understand and the never-ending drive to problem-solve our way through often leaves us weary and discouraged. Yet, in this passage, we are reminded that the God who loves us and has power over all things is also not like us in that He does not grow weary. At the end of our physical limits, God’s strength and understanding are just beginning. There is no limit to his power.

Brothers and sisters, take comfort in our God. Bask in the glory of God; turn from your self-focused fears and earthly wisdom, and know that he has power over all things, His grace truly is enough to carry us through.