By Doug Bell Romans 11:
33¶ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34“For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?”35“Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
36¶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
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Paul is talking about how God has blinded the Nation of Israel to the Truth, In order that the Gospel may go to the Gentiles. He gives us some startling facts and ends by saying, “26 and in this way all Israel will be saved...” (NIV). There have been many interpretations as to what all this means. My purpose isn’t just to tell you what I think they mean. But, to look beyond them to Paul’s exaltation of God at the end.
Oh, we can at times think we are so smart and understand the Bible so well! But, the truth is, we aren’t as smart as we think, and what we think we know is less then what we believe. And why is that?
Because God is greater than our feeble little minds can possibly comprehend.
33¶ “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
Isaiah 55:
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.“
34“For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?”35“Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
In fact, We are told in Deuteronomy 29:
29¶ “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.“ All we know or could ever hope to know about God has already been revealed to us in His Word. If we go beyond that, we’re in speculation. And that usually ends in Heresy!
Even in the New Testamen John tells us; John 21: “25¶ And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.”
I sometimes wonder if God smiles at our attempts to put Him in a box? To dissect, study, and examine His thoughts, ways, and actions. To think we have a ‘handle’ on the Lord God of Heaven! Remember that “The secret things belong to the LORD our God…” There are things we can’t possibly know the answers to until we get to Heaven (and maybe not even then!). In fact, it is my belief that if we study the things of God, we will always end in mystery! Why? Because God is “past finding out.”
No, Our calling in Not to Understand God. But, to Obey and follow Him in Faith. To Love and Adore Him, and Worship His goodness! Or as one of the creeds says,
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever. [b]
[a]. Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11
[b]. Ps. 16:5-11; 144:15; Isa. 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil. 4:4; Rev. 21:3-4
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May God help us to study, search, and seek “those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.“
But, always keeping in mind that all of
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God..” And May He give us the knowledge to know the difference!
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https://www.apuritansmind.com/westminster-standards/shorter-catechism/