Really, what do you know?
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)
The Apostle Paul is not only overwhelmed with God’s endless wisdom and ways, but he contrasts it with the extremely limited abilities of man. He asks us all three very sharp, probing questions.
His first one is, “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” What he is asking is, “Who has ever figured out precisely what God is going to do?” Have you? Have you ever been able to figure out how God is going to handle the situations you get into? We all try, but it never turns out quite the way we think it will. There is always a little surprise to it that we never could have seen coming. I often become a little nervous when I hear someone project what they ‘know’ God is about to do, or even how and when. I usually say, “LORD, I can’t wait to see how You pull this off!” He never ceases to surprise me with His wondrous works!
Paul’s second question is, “Or who has been His counselor?” If you were to listen to the individual praying within a church prayer meeting, you will probably hear some tell God what He needs to do about a situation. “God, You just need to . . .” Who has ever suggested something that God has never thought of? God sees and knows things we could never know about that must take place. God’s solution is always right on many levels.
- Paul’s last question is, “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” That is, Who has ever given God something that He didn’t already have? Paul says, everything we are and have comes from Him. He gives to us; we don’t give to Him.
He concludes with this great outburst: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
God is the Creator of all things; all things come from Him. He is the Sustainer of all things; they all rely on Him.
As C. S. Lewis puts it, “To argue with God is to argue with the very Power that makes it possible to argue at all!” He is the ending purpose. All things will find their finish in Him. He is why all things exist. Therefore, to Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Beloved, let’s stop thinking we know exactly what God is going to do, and when! Let’s submit to His all-knowing leadership with great trust and love.
