Who Knows?
By Susan Klein
“Oh, the depth of the
riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the
Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it
might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are
all things. To Him be the
glory forever. Amen.”
Romans 11:33-36
(NASB)
As our church reads
together through the first five books of the Bible, we revisit the God of the
Old Testament. Clarification: He is the same God in the New Testament, and He
is also the same God today (Hebrews 13:8). That said: How do we wrap our little
pea brains around some of the things we find recorded there about Him?!!
Just when I think I
have a comfortable grasp of God’s character, I read things like, “I will harden
his heart,” which God said of Pharaoh, or “I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” And, how about, “He punishes the children and
their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” WOW! Doesn’t that seem a tad unfair?
Therein lies the
predicament; we believe God to be “fair,” as we define fair. We conceptualize Him by human standards, wanting to
accept the aspects of Him that make us most comfortable and explain away those
that leave us unsettled. Who doesn’t love to read, “He will never leave you nor
forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6)? But, how do we feel about, “Anyone who beats
their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies…but
not if the slave recovers…since the slave is their property” (Exodus 21:20-21)?
Even our cultural norms can be stumbling blocks to our understanding of this.
Not just once, but
four times in the Old Testament, we are reminded, “Our God is in heaven; He
does whatever pleases Him” (Job 23:13; Psalm 115:3, 135:6; Daniel 4:35). That
is “sovereignty.” That is having supreme authority to do what glorifies Him,
having ultimate jurisdiction, dominion and control.
As Job came to
understand, we don’t have to (nor do we) know everything about God. We just
can’t explain some of His ways, though we feebly try. We must accept them in
faith, believing He is rightfully doing what He deems necessary.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Which passages or aspects of God
are unfathomable to you?
2. Are you willing to “let go” of
the struggle, and be at peace with letting God do His thing?
FURTHER
READING:
Susan is married to Mark, and
has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and
tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at
Oakwood and also co-leads a small group.
