Humanly – Webster’s International Dictionary
In a human manner; after the manner of men; according to the knowledge and wisdom of men.
Humanly comes from the root word human, belonging or relating to the character of man, being a man, and having human form or attributes.
How many times have you heard or said, “We are doing all that is humanly possible?” I’ve been hearing this a lot lately in the Seattle area where I live, amdist the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak. Basically, at the ground zero Coronavirus center in the U.S. where the death rate is rising daily, it appears that the best consensus of the CDC and medical minds is that it originated in China and has quickly and unrestrictedly spread throughout the world. Scientists around the world are trying desperately to develop a vaccine to protect the humans with educated false reliance to stop what seems an epidemic spread of Covid-19. How it is spread, what appeases a human to this health alert?
Listening to the hysteria, I am reminded that our confidence doesn’t lie in mankind but in God alone. I am steadfast certain that I don’t trust mankind’s best efforts to ensure my well-being to keep me alive. In other words, “doing all that is humanly possible” isn’t our full hope and promise.
The very phrase, “Doing all that is humanly possible” speaks to the limitations of our humble knowledge and educated guesses. We got excited and filled with expectation in our new human efforts from some successes at restraining efforts of an alarming situation, health, natural disaster, and impending danger. What we are hearing is we as humans have limited ability to sustain life. Then, are we admitting that there is something more than “all that is humanly possible” to embrace? Yes we are. What would that mean? Where would we turn to alleviate our hopelessness beyond human knowledge? Beyond human ability? Beyond human hope? At this point, we begin to “lean not to our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6) but to trust in the Lord and acknowledge His ways. We have a God Who is an ever-present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46). He is our refuge…a place to run to…a place to be safe…always there. This is concrete and without limitation. This removes “humanly possible” to Almighty God Who makes ALL things possible (Matt 19:2).
Shouldn’t our trust be in our Omnipotent God? The Creator of all that was, is, or ever will be?
“Humanly” defines our frailty as humans. It gives the conditional disclosure to what mankind can promise. We are thankful for the medical technology of our age, the educated accomplishments we have developed and introduced. The life-changing help we have been able to contribute and distribute. But…are all in need of defense and supernatural intervention beyond “all that is humanly possible.”
We thank you Lord for your living word and instruction. We pray the 91st Psalm over our lives. We thank you for your loving kindness and protection for us.
God has no limitations. Choose wisely. The level of our need determines our desperation to find God, the answer.