God Can Do Everything

After God revealed Himself to Job, I was blessed by his observation in Job 42:2:  "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."  Job said, "I know that You can do everything."  This is very different from Job saying, "I know you can do anything."  "Anything" and "everything" are both inclusive words, but there is a huge difference between the two.

Let's say I invite you into a shop and say, "You are welcome to take anything you want."  Though you are welcome to anything, it remains limited to a single thing.  It is quite another meaning entirely if I said, "You are welcome to take everything you want."  Not only can you have anything, but you can have everything you desire.  This is an offer without limitation.  Which is a greater claim:  to say you can do anything you want or you can do everything you want?  Everything, of course!

We say, "God can do anything!"  But it would be better to say like Job, "God can do everything!"  No purpose of God can be withheld from Him, and a God of such glorious power and goodness is worthy of all worship and praise!