There are more possible chess games than there are atoms in the known universe.

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Yes, you read that right.

The number is called the Shannon Number and it’s 10 followed by 120 zeros.  Look at it for a second….

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10000000000000000000000000

00000000000000000000000000

00000000000000000000000000

00000000000000000000000000

00000000000000000

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The number of known atoms in the universe is 10 followed by 80 zeros. If you lined up just one inch of hydrogen atoms side by side, you’d have around 250 million atoms.

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Another way to feel the gap:

-A million is 10⁶

-A billion is 10⁹

-A trillion is 10¹²

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But 10⁸⁰and 10¹²⁰ are so far beyond named numbers that even “trillion” is microscopic by comparison.

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In the book of Job, we see a man go through what seems to be arbitrary and punishing circumstances. We see pain, suffering, injustice, and eventual restoration. Over the year’s, I’ve found myself trying to understand the why behind these circumstances.

Why would God allow satan to test Job?

What was the point?

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Sure, read a commentary and you might say, for God to demonstrate His power and glory.

But what do we really understand? Job surely didn’t, and he asked God why.

God responded with a set of questions that should sober us all.

Here are a few highlights from chapter 38:

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⁴  “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

⁵  Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

⁶  On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

⁷  when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

¹⁶  “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

or walked in the recesses of the deep?

¹⁷  Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

¹⁸  Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?

Declare, if you know all this.

³⁶  Who has put wisdom in the inward parts

or given understanding to the mind?

The gap between 10⁸⁰ and 10¹²⁰ is hard to grasp.

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The gap between Creator and creation is greater still.

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If He laid the foundation of the earth…
If He set the measurements…
If He governs what we cannot comprehend…

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Then He is not guessing with your life.

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And Scripture makes it plain:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

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We are not sovereign. We are not all-knowing.

We are loved.

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All things means the things we understand and the things we don’t. The wins and the losses. The testing and the restoration. We don’t see 10¹²⁰ possibilities. He does.

And He is working.  

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Rest there.