While it is certainly true that many of the images and ideas that humans hold about God would fall into this category, the Scriptures have a different tale to tell. The prophets and Jesus have a disturbing message for us: God is utterly unlike us; we cannot begin to fathom God’s thoughts or actions. We get into serious trouble when we try.

Isaiah’s words were directed to those who thought that everything was just fine and they were right with God. He invited everyone to start anew by putting aside evil and negative deeds and thoughts. God could then do what God does best and often — he would have mercy on them and grant them pardon. But the point had to be made loud and clear — God’s ways and thoughts are not only different from those of humans, they are of a radically different order and beyond the reach of human com-prehension or manipulation.

This pure image of God is unfortunately refracted through human fear, violence and desire to control. It would be beneficial to keep this in mind before we make definitive statements about God’s will or who is acceptable or not to God. Too often, people inappropriately connect God with natural disasters, plagues or famines, or use God’s name to justify power plays. Approaching God with a degree of silence, humility and openness to learn would probably result in many surprises.

At the beginning of this passage, the prophet exhorted his listeners to seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near. God is always near but sometimes is hard to find, especially when human minds and hearts have grown coarse, dull and no longer sensitive to the divine presence. That is why God often sends us prophets and teachers to challenge and shake us up a bit. Let us not be too quick to silence them or turn away in anger — it may be exactly what God wants us to hear.

For Paul, living in Christ and dying is gain. This represents a way of thinking uncommon for people — God’s ways are definitely different. Sometimes those who are always talking about going home to the Lord or dwelling in the courts of the Lord change their tune when illness or infirmity strike. But Paul’s point is well taken. The most important thing in the world is living in Christ, which is not the same as merely going to church. If we are living in Christ, then living or dying can be approached with a degree of detachment or equanim-ity. Paul would like to depart and be with the Lord but is content to stay in the body for the sake of others.

Nowhere is the distance between God and humans more evident than in the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The purpose of parables is to perplex — their endings always confound human expectations and do not conform to conventional wisdom. The vineyard owner went out into the marketplace early in the morning to hire day workers for his vineyard. In almost any major city, unemployed and immigrants can be found outside building supply stores hoping — often un-successfully — for a day’s wages.

In the parable, the owner set a wage with the first workers and returned several times during the day to hire more. Finally, at the end of the day he paid them off. Those who worked only an hour were paid first and received the same wage as those who worked in the heat all day long. They were outraged — and we would be too. It’s not fair!

But God does not relate to us according to human standards, for everyone is treated equally and impartially. We are not measured against one another and there is no ranking or privileged groups in the kingdom of God. The person who comes to the Lord late in life is equal in worth to the lifelong spiritual athlete. The heavenly banquet begins when everyone is present.

God is not ‘fair’ — thank God!