Monday, February 11, 2019


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.”

Two years ago, as our church read together through the first five books of the Bible, we revisited 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 co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.