Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11 NAS95)

“Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11 NAS95)

There are notable songs in Scripture: Deborah’s song at the defeat of Siserah (Judges 5); Hannah’s song at the birth of Samuel (1 Sam 2); certainly the heavenly songs around the throne as the final defeat of the devil approaches and culminates (Revelation 4,5,15. But one of the greatest songs belongs to Moses after the defeat of Pharaoh at the Red Sea (the story is in Exodus 14; the song in Exodus 15). And in this song, he asks a critical question: “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD?"

Our brains seem to depend on comparisons in order to understand something or to attach appropriate value. So when we come to phrase like “one of a kind,” the first thing we tend to do is compare it with something else. But that’s a bit of a contradiction, because if it is truly “one of a kind,” then it is beyond comparison. It reminds me of when people say, “it’s kind of unique.” No, it’s either unique or it’s not. It’s either “one of a kind,” or it is not.

And so what Moses is saying when he sings this song and asks this question is that our God, the LORD, is one of a kind. He is unique. He is beyond comparison. He is not, then, bigger than …; or stronger than …; or wiser than …  No, His magnitude and strength and wisdom are of a whole different order, so much so that they cannot be compared to mere created monsters or men, galaxies or geniuses. In the Creator department, there is only God. In the created/creature department is all the rest, not to be compared with the Creator.

A person can sing a sweet song to a loved one who is more special in his heart than any other girl. That’s fine, and there are plenty of love songs. But they don’t match this hymn of praise, which includes words like “majestic” and “awesome” and “wonders.” These are the things that truly take our breath away; things that inspire a godly fear; things that truly get our attention and stick with us.

And these truths have practical application. Note this verse: Psa. 35:10 All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like You,Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?” When we are up against those who, by comparison, out-match us, we look to our God who is out-match-able. And it makes a difference, deep down in our bones. A proper fear  and love of this God will drive out fear of earthly despots, whether they operate on the world stage or whether they live next door. This is the God who never disappoints, because He never suffers in comparison to anyone or anything that is better. He is worthy of our worship, and worthy of our songs.

Perhaps a closing verse will help sum up: Psa. 86:10 For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.

Note regarding the picture at the top of page 1: In bicycle racing, the French use a term called “hors catégorie” which designates a mountain route as “beyond classification.” Perhaps we could think of God as “hors catégorie”