God’s Knowledge is Limitless
Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? (Rom. 11:33-34)
As the One of whom there is no greater, God must be all-knowing. He must be able to see the big picture and fit all the particulars together in the best possible way.
Of significance is that Romans 11:33 does not say that God’s knowledge is deep, although it is. Rather, the riches of His wisdom and knowledge are deep. Out of His knowledge comes great benefit which He shares with us.
God’s Knowledge Enables Us to Know Our Own Heart, Thoughts, and Ways
For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 Jn. 3:20)
The psalmist asked God to search and know his heart, thoughts, and ways (Ps. 139:23-24) because he believed in the omniscience of God which included God having intimate knowledge of all there was to know about him (Ps. 139:1-4). David’s prayer was more for his own benefit, a request for God to make known to him what God already knew about him. This was important because God’s knowledge, taken to heart, would help keep David on track.
God’s Knowledge Keeps Us on Track
We will stay on track morally if we act like He knows our ways. We will stay on track attitudinally if we manage ourselves like He knows our thoughts. We will stay on track motivationally if we pursue life like He knows our hearts. We will stay on track in ministry if we serve like He knows the beginning from the end.
God’s Knowledge Takes Us Beyond Our Own Limitations
Our knowledge, in contrast to His, is so limited. If we don’t rely on His knowledge, we won’t always meet the challenges of ministry. We won’t always get it right. For example,
- We don’t know the motivations of people’s hearts and so sometimes we might misinterpret their behavior.
- We don’t always know the end and so sometimes we might give up prematurely.
- We don’t know all the possibilities and so sometimes we might get stuck in our methodology.
- We don’t usually know much beyond our own frame of reference and experience and so sometimes we might lead and serve according to our own limited perspective and personality bent.
We will falter in our ways if we do not trust in Him with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6) because we don’t see the big picture. We will be short-sighted in how we perceive hardships if we do not yield to His use of life’s difficulties to bring about a greater good. If we truly believe and live like God knows the beginning from the end, we will enjoy the reality of being “more than conquerors through Him” in all these things (Rom. 8:37).
Let’s acknowledge the futility of trusting in our own understanding and trust in the One who has unlimited knowledge. Let’s tap into the riches of God’s knowledge!
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I tend to let God’s knowledge of me freak me out. This article let’s me see that His knowledge works on my behalf so it’s both convicting and reassuring at the same time. Thanks!!
You make a good point, Patty, about this and so many other attributes of God, like His holiness, righteousness, etc. There is most certainly the aspect of these traits that should cause us to stand in awe and personal conviction of how we fall so short. When Isaiah saw the glory of God, His first reaction was “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). But, it didn’t end there. The angel touched his lips and the guilt was removed. Isaiah was then moved on into service. God’s intent is not for us to feel condemned because of who He is. Rather, He desires for us to get beyond and find reassurance, comfort, encouragement, and strength in who He is … even in those traits that, like His knowledge, initially bring conviction. Here’s another article you might find helpful: How will studying the character of God help my ministry?
Conviction & condemnation are two different things. Conviction does not have to lead to condemnation.
Thanks, Ben. We must remember verses like John 3:17 – “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” If the Holy Spirit is convicting us, it is going to lead to a greater end than simply making us feel guilty. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Cor. 7:10)