God MUST BE All-Knowing

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If God is the One of whom there is none greater, then He must be all-knowing (omniscient), meaning that He has complete, knowledge that is beyond measure (Ps. 147:4-5). If anyone knows something He does not know, then His knowledge is not perfect.

An All-Knowing God Knows the Big Picture

All-Knowing God - Omniscient
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An omniscient God knows what has happened, what will happen, and what is happening now. He knows the beginning and the end, hence the big picture. To be God, He must know how all the pieces fit together. Otherwise, He is just one of the many pieces — a part of, not above and beyond. Consequently He would not have sovereign rights.

Implication: Line up with God and His purposes who is able to claim, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please …'” (Isa. 46:9-10). Sometimes we act like we expect God to line up with our purposes, what we think is best, what we think should happen. But, we don’t know the beginning from the end. Let’s not lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6) when we have an all-knowing God.

An Omniscient God Knows What Will Happen Before It Occurs

Knowing the future is part of what sets the God of the Bible apart from other gods (Isa. 41:22-24; 44:6-8). Anyone can learn from history. To know what will happen, with total accuracy, before it occurs, can only be attributed to the true God. — “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” (Isa. 42:8-9)

Implication: While there are a lot of things we don’t understand about the foreknowledge of God, one thing we can be sure of is that it enables Him to work all things out for the good (Rom. 8:28-32; Jer. 29:11). This is a God we can trust to be for us now and through all eternity.

A God Who Knows All is Self-Sufficient

Someone who knows all there is to know doesn’t need counsel or instruction (Isa. 40:14). Romans 11:34 describes God as the One with such a reservoir of wisdom and knowledge that no one comes close to being His equal. Consequently, He is sufficient unto Himself, a prerequisite for being God. His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours (Isa. 55:9) that there isn’t anything we could tell Him that would improve His plans.

Implication: We can gain perspective in the realization that God doesn’t need our help in determining the right course of action. Who are we to tell Him what He should or shouldn’t do? Think about Job’s questions about the justice of his suffering. God responded by contrasting His power and knowledge with limited human knowledge (Job 38-41). To all of this, Job could only confess, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (Job. 42:1-3).

To Be All-Knowing God Must Know Even the Secrets of the Heart

God not only knows our observable behavior but also what is invisible, deep within that no one else can see or fully understand. He knows what we will say even before we open our mouths (1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 139:4; Matt. 6:8). Though we may fool others, He knows our guilt and innocence, whether we have a faithful or idolatrous heart (Ps. 44:21; 69:5; 1 Jn. 3:19-20).

Implication: Since there is no place we can hide from God and nothing we can hide from Him (Ps. 139:1-12), why not work in cooperation with God rather than fight against Him (Ps. 139:23)? — Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:13)

God’s omniscience is just one attribute. For an alphabetical listing of His attributes, check out the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download.

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Our Unfathomable God

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Our God is greater than any other force or being. And, He is greater than all that pertains to us.

— His greatness no one can fathom! (Ps. 145:3)

Our God is wiser than the wisest of men or spiritual beings.

— His understanding no one can fathom. (Isa. 40:28)

Unfathomable God in Greatness & Understanding

If we could grasp the greatness of our God and figure out all of His ways, He would fail to be God for He would be no greater or wiser than our understanding. But, with unfathomable greatness and wisdom, we have an infinite God who “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20).

Essential for Both God’s Greatness & Understanding to be Unfathomable

We find verses in Scripture where God’s greatness and might accompany His wisdom and understanding.

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. (Dan. 2:20)

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. (Ps. 147:5)

This essential combination brings reassurance for we can know that we have a God who will exercise His might with wisdom.

Creation of the Heavens and Earth: Think about the chaos had God merely brought things into existence without exercising wisdom so all the variety fit together in a coordinated and good functioning design.

But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. (Jer. 10:12)

He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. (Jer. 51:15)

Conclusion of the Heavens and Earth: Think about the judgment God would bring if only exercised by His mighty wrath and not accompanied by wisdom. All would undoubtedly be annihilated in the blink of an eye. His wisdom, however, bridles His great power so as to allow for the salvation of all who would come to Him.

… the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. … The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:7-9)

A God with unfathomable greatness and wisdom can be trusted to not only take care of us now and through eternity but also to do it well, in ways that are for the good. — And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

Learn more about Our Great God from A to Z. Click on the link to check out a resource that can be used for personal growth or as a discipleship tool. This resource looks at various attributes and ways of God using five different alphabetical renderings. Put all of those traits together and you’ll have to conclude that the God of the Bible truly is unfathomable for our finite minds.

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God is Wiser

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God is Wiser - His Understanding is Unfathomable
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You would probably agree that it took a very wise God to put all the variety, design, and order into the created world.

But how wise is He?

According to Isaiah 40:28, no one can fathom his understanding. His wisdom is so beyond our ability to comprehend that we don’t even have a point of comparison in any one or any thing. He knows all and He sees all, the beginning from the end, so nothing alludes His understanding of that which is best, just, and good.

If God’s understanding is unfathomable then God is wiser

… than human wisdom

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1 Cor. 1:20-21)

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Cor. 1:25)

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (1 Cor. 3:19-20)

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

… than even your best thoughts

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8-9)

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Prov. 14:12; 16:25)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

… than any counselor we might turn to

Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? (Isa. 40:13-14)

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)

… than the spiritual forces of evil

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Col. 2:15)

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (Eph. 3:10)

… than any kind of plot against Him

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. (Prov. 21:30)

When we humbly acknowledge how God is so much wiser than us or any other being, we are able to admit that He knows best. We will come to revere and trust Him more and more. As we do, we will learn to apply His wisdom to our lives.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (Ps. 111:10)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Prov. 9:10)

But, even then, we will merely be tapping in to the surface of the fullness of who He is — “the beginning of wisdom” — which means we will always have more to learn. Let’s not expect or demand to understand all. There will be things we won’t understand. We just need to keep revering and trusting Him because God’s wisdom is unfathomable.

Not only is God wiser but He is greater in all respects. Order the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download for alphabetical renderings of His various attributes which all exceed what anyone or anything else can achieve.

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Tapping into the Riches of the Knowledge of God

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The Knowledge of God is limitless.

Knowledge of God is Limitless and Rich
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.

How the Limitless Knowledge of God Helps Us

  1. The knowledge God has of us 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.

  1. 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.

  1. The knowledge of God, as opposed to our limited understanding, 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:

  • Because we can’t know the motivations of people’s hearts, sometimes we might misinterpret their behavior.
  • Since we don’t always know the end we sometimes might give up prematurely.
  • Not knowing all the possibilities at times, we sometimes might get stuck in our methodology.
  • Because we don’t usually know much beyond our own frame of reference and experience 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!

God’s knowledge is just one of many attributes we need to tap into. Get alphabetical listings of His attributes in the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download.

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Easter Points to the Wisdom of God

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From creation to the cross, God’s wisdom is exhibited for all to see, leaving us without excuse. At the root of God sending Jesus to die on the cross is God’s wisdom.  Easter points to the wisdom of God, contrasting it with the wisdom of the world.

Christ Crucified, Easter Points to the Wisdom of God“We preach Christ crucified … Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:23-24, 30). … Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”  (Col. 2:3).

Since Easter Points to the Wisdom of God, What Can We Learn about His Wisdom?

  1. Easter teaches us that wisdom involves preparation.  Beginning at the fall of man in Genesis 3 we see God laying the groundwork for his plan of redemption through Jesus.
  1. Easter reminds us that God not only uses wisdom in the preparation stages but also throughout the process.  Redemption is not just the end result of God’s wisdom but is enveloped in His wisdom from start to finish.  When God does something, He does it right.  “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Eph. 1:7-8).
  1. Easter shows God’s wisdom in getting to the root of man’s problem and addressing that problem with the best solution. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
  1. Easter let’s us know that wisdom is needed in the application of grace.   In redemption, the riches of God’s grace are “lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Eph. 1:8).

Yes, let’s think about wisdom at Easter.  This same wisdom of God that brings us salvation is available to us in our everyday living if we will just take the time to learn from Him.  Here are some resources about walking in His wisdom:

Easter points to the wisdom of God, giving us cause to worship Him.  Romans 11 lets us know that the rejection of Jesus by the Jews of His day opened the door for the Gentiles to “receive mercy as a result of their disobedience.”  What seemed like a closed door actually opened the door for His mercy to extend to even more people.  Then begins the doxology:  “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Rom. 11:33)

Remember, if it wasn’t for the unsearchable wisdom of God, there wouldn’t even be an Easter.

We certainly do have a wise God who deserves our praise and worship. Yet, as you can see in the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download, He is so, so much more. That resource provides five different renderings about who God is and what He does for us.

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