Understanding the limits

Scripture Read: Romans 11:28-36 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Application: Mysteries are not something all of us like at times - especially when it comes to the answers to life's deepest questions. Paul makes it clear though in this passage that's the way it is. Can we live with that? Consider ...

Riches -  πλοῦτος ploútos - Paul goes back to the original sense of “fulness of goods,”

Unsearchable - ἀνεξερεύνητος anexereúnētos The exact connotation of the term implies the abandonment of all attempts to solve theoretically the question of what God is doing, so that Paul describes even his own answer as an attempt for which he cannot claim absolute validity.

Unfathomable = Same word^[1]

This is a big problem for us Lord – We have moved from being a people that seeks to understand You knowing that the thrill is in the trying. We never will fully comprehend You and we should be ok with that – our joy should come from the little discoveries along the way – getting to know You better each day a little at a time. Instead we have become a people that thinks we can figure You out and explain You in a system which not only we will believe but will fight against others who do not! We will divide the Body over theory! Black and white Biblical doctrine (no human explanation needed)  I will stand firm on and IT will divide – but theory has no power – we empower it and give it a life. Help us Lord to remember – it is always good and right to seek answers about Who You are and think through Your works – but never allow us to think we have arrived. We don’t want our brain to be that small!

---

Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.