Isaiah 55

While sitting in the passes and permissions logistical RA orientation session last hour, I began to write random verses on my handout sheet and draw little pictures to illustrate them. (I was still listening, mind you.)
Among other verses, I began to write the "Seek ye the LORD while He may be found..." passage from Isaiah 55.
Since is it such a refreshing passage, I will actually just put it in here in its entirety:

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD,
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

While I was writing (and listening to the session, of course), the LORD allowed me to notice a small conjunction whose significance I had never noticed before. You have "let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts"....so there are these vile sinners leaving their sin...and turning to the Lord. The Lord then says that He will be merciful to them and will forgive them. I am accustomed to that thought (sadly enough, I often take it for granted). But the next word is what the Lord used to capture my thoughts (and yes, at that point I quit listening--briefly). "For." Why will God extend this abundant pardon (the pardon that I so frequently casually expect)? "For." Because. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways." God says, "Because I am so transcendently above you, I forgive." "Because I am absolutely and beautifully and sovereignly higher than you and your ideas and ways, the wicked and unrighteous may turn to Me for mercy." "Because the gulf between My level and your level is mirrored by the gulf between the heavens and the earth, you have hope and can place your expectation in returning to Me and finding forgiveness."
God does pardon. God does forgive. And it is because of His excellent greatness. His untouchable transcendence. His magnificent superiority.
How incredible! The LORD is so, so great and greatly to be praised. Yes, indeed: His greatness is unsearchable.