Sir Isaac Newton said “if I could explain God, I would not worship Him”. Isaiah 55 (KJV) “8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith 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.” Can we ever know what God will do? He reveals to us only what He wants us to know. He hides many divine secrets. He loves us and He is faithful but He remains sovereign and no one can fathom His depths. He will get all the glory and He is entitled to it. Whatever we do correctly is only by His grace. Many great giants of the Faith have gone to glory not knowing all the ways of the Lord, and many believed things that just were not so. When does He heal? Why does He sometimes not do what we think He will or should do? Why does He not stop all the things we consider harmful or evil? Why does He allow all that He allows? How does He answer prayer? In response to Job’s complaint regarding the terrible misfortunes that God allowed upon Him which satan instigated, the Lord responds – in Job 38 (KJV) –
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it, 10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? 36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
The Lord makes the point rather well, wouldn’t you say? So how should we act and react with the reality of such a God? Well, the best approach is to stick to what scripture actually says very closely when possible. When it’s not possible because something is not explicitly stated as an answer we seek, then we should utilize some of the cardinal principles laid out in scripture.
Some examples follow. First, He is always there with us no matter what happens or what it looks like from our foxhole – so keep praying and believing as best you can. Second, He is faithful to His children and He can always be counted on to be with us when we call – so believe that He hears you. Third, He loves to be pursued and the most awesome relationships are given to those who take God very seriously – so spend time with Him. Fourth He answers prayers in His ways in His time – yes, no, or wait. Fifth He will be glorified through the ultimate destruction of evil, so while He did not create evil (evil came by the choice of His created beings) – it is through evil that He is glorified and that His ultimate plan will be achieved in every individual life as well as overall. Sixth, He prizes humility and integrity in His children very highly.
Most significantly, He expects obedience and faithful perseverance from the true believer – albeit never perfectly attained – and even though success in these matters is also really from Him. There are many more principles to be lived by than these, but these are a few of the ones I think most important to remember. What do you think some other of these principles are?The message to us in conclusion – Never, ever quit. Rejoice in all things because He is there. Even our worst circumstances when encountered can allow us to experience and learn more about God. Just keep going.
